The New Covenant

1.      Covenant ---  a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word berith is always thus translated. Berith is derived from a root which means “to cut,” and hence a covenant is a “cutting,” with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18, 19).

The corresponding word in the New Testament Greek is diatheke, which is, however, rendered “testament” generally in the Authorized Version. It ought to be rendered, just as the word berith of the Old Testament, “covenant.” [1]

                                                              i.      ב רִית berith [ber·eeth]  allied(1), allies (1) covenant(275), covenants(1), El-berith (1), league(2), treaty(4).[2]

                                                            ii.      διαθήκη (diathēkē) [dee·ath·ay·kay], 1. making of a covenant, promise in a solemn agreement (Mk 14:24; Lk 1:72; 22:20; Ac 3:25; 7:8; Ro 11:27; 1Co 11:25; 2Co 3:6; Gal 4:24; Eph 2:12; Heb 7:22; 12:24; 13:20) 2. covenant, the content of an agreement between two parties (Gal 3:15); 3. testament, making of a will (Heb 9:16, 17) [3]

1. Old Covenant - God will be central to His people
1. Conditions of Covenant

                                                               i.      I will be your God

                                                             ii.      You'll be My people

                                                            iii.      I will dwell among you

                                                           iv.      Blessings if you obey 10 Commandments

1. .

1. New Covenant – We will obey God because we love Him NOT because of laws.
1. Amos 8:11-12 = Jesus ended the 400 yr. silence/famine from God #. Jer. 31:31-33. Under this new covenant, God would write His Law on human hearts.[4]
2. Matt 22:37-40
3. Old= Extrinsically motivated
4. New = Intrinsically motivated

1. Jesus is focus of Both Covenants

[5]

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[1]Easton, M.G.: Easton's Bible Dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996, c1897

[2]Thomas, Robert L.: New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition. Anaheim : Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998, 1981, S. H1285

[3]Swanson, James: Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Greek (New Testament). electronic ed. Oak Harbor : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997, S. DBLG 1347, #3

[4]Hayford, Jack W. ; Thomas Nelson Publishers: Hayford's Bible Handbook. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995

[5]Geisler, Norman L. ; Nix, William E.: A General Introduction to the Bible. Rev. and expanded. Chicago : Moody Press, 1996, c1986, S. 22