Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and SignificanceA covenant, in biblical terms, is a solemn agreement or promise between God and humans, often involving commitments and obligations. It is a central theme throughout the Bible, illustrating the relationship between God and His people. Covenants are foundational to understanding God's unfolding plan of redemption and His interactions with humanity.
Major Biblical Covenants1.
The Noahic Covenant: After the flood, God made a covenant with Noah, promising never to destroy the earth with a flood again. The sign of this covenant is the rainbow.
Genesis 9:11 states, "I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."
2.
The Abrahamic Covenant: God made a covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars, land for his offspring, and that through him all nations would be blessed.
Genesis 12:2-3 records, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing."
3.
The Mosaic Covenant: Given at Mount Sinai, this covenant established the laws and commandments that the Israelites were to follow. It is often referred to as the Old Covenant.
Exodus 19:5-6 says, "Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine."
4.
The Davidic Covenant: God promised David that his throne would be established forever, a promise ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
2 Samuel 7:16 states, "Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever."
5.
The New Covenant: Prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, this covenant offers forgiveness of sins and a personal relationship with God.
Jeremiah 31:31-33 foretells, "The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah... I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts."
Theological ImplicationsCovenants in the Bible reveal God's faithfulness and His desire for a relationship with humanity. They demonstrate His grace, as He initiates and maintains these covenants despite human failure. The covenants also highlight the progressive revelation of God's redemptive plan, culminating in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and the prophets.
Covenant Symbols and SignsEach covenant often includes a sign or symbol as a reminder of God's promises. For example, the rainbow is the sign of the Noahic Covenant, circumcision is the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant, and the Sabbath is a sign of the Mosaic Covenant. The Lord's Supper is a sign of the New Covenant, as Jesus said in
Luke 22:20, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you."
ConclusionUnderstanding the biblical covenants is essential for grasping the overarching narrative of Scripture and God's unchanging commitment to His creation. Through these covenants, believers can see the continuity of God's promises and His ultimate plan for salvation through Jesus Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Lying between two extremes; middle; coming or done between; intervening; interposed; interjacent; as, an intermediate space or time; intermediate colors.
2. (v. i.) To come between; to intervene; to interpose.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
INTERMEDIATE, STATEin-ter-me'-di-at.
SeeESCHATOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
Greek
3326. meta -- with, among, after... modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative
succession) with which it is joined; occupying an
intermediate position between
...5516. chxs -- abbreviation for six hundred sixty-six
... The 22nd, 14th and an obsolete letter (stigma as a cross) of the Greek alphabet
(intermediate between the 5th and 6th), used as numbers; denoting respectively...
1722. en -- in, on, at, by, with
... fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality
(medially or constructively), ie A relation of rest (intermediate between eis...
Library
Whether an Angel Passes throughIntermediate Space?
... OF THE LOCAL MOVEMENT OF THE ANGELS (THREE ARTICLES) Whether an angel passes
throughintermediate space? Objection 1: It would seem...
The ChurchIntermediate Between the Shadows of the Law and the...
... Discourse V."Thallousa. Chapter VII."The ChurchIntermediate Between
the Shadows of the Law and the Realities of Heaven. If...
The Preservation of Our Bodies is Confirmed by the Resurrection...
... XXXI."The preservation of our bodies is confirmed by the resurrection and ascension
of Christ: the souls of the saints during theintermediate period are in...
The Free Will of Man is anIntermediate Power.
... A Treatise on the spirit and the letter, Chapter 58."The Free Will of Man
is anIntermediate Power. Let us then, first of all, lay...
Refutation of the views of the Heretics as to the Future Destiny...
... since they call him animal, will pass into the place of the Mother; that the souls
of the righteous shall psychically repose in theintermediate place;"when...
How the Demons Can Mediate Between Gods and Men if they have...
... How, then, are theyintermediate, when they have three things in common
with the lowest, and only one in common with the highest?...
Whether God Exists
... But neither can the sequence of efficient causes be infinite, for in every sequence
the first efficient cause is the cause of anintermediate cause, and an...
Whether God Exists?
... causes it is not possible to go on to infinity, because in all efficient causes
following in order, the first is the cause of theintermediate cause, and the...
The Mother Achamoth, when all Her Seed are Perfected, Shall Pass...
... shall pass into the Pleroma, accompanied by those men who are spiritual; the Demiurge,
with animal men, shall pass into theintermediate habitation; but all...
The Boys' Department in the Sunday School
...Intermediate and Senior Departments. The first of these is known as theIntermediate
and Senior Departmental organization. Its characteristic...
Thesaurus
Intermediate... 1. (a.) Lying between two extremes; middle; coming or done between; intervening;
interposed; interjacent; as, an
intermediate space or time;
intermediate colors
...Mean (93 Occurrences)
... 9. (a.) Occupying a middle position; middle; being about midway between extremes.
10. (a.)Intermediate in excellence of any kind. 11....
Intermediary (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Lying, coming, or done, between;
intermediate; as, an intermediary project. 2. (n.) One who, or...
Eschatology
... THE JUDGMENT IX. THE CONSUMMATE STATE X. THEINTERMEDIATE STATE XI.... This also
tends to give greater prominence to theintermediate state....
Parousia
... Besides, as in the Old Testament and theintermediate literature, "day of wrath,"
"last day," or simply "day" are used very frequently. See DAY OF THE LORD....
Between (2624 Occurrences)
... 6. (prep.) Inintermediate relation to, in respect to time, quantity, or degree;
as, between nine and ten o'clock. 7. (n.)Intermediate...
A (102073 Occurrences)
... A sharp (A/) is the name of a musical toneintermediate between A and B. -- A
flat (A/) is the name of a toneintermediate between A and G....
Salvation (386 Occurrences)
... Ritual Law II.INTERMEDIATE LITERATURE 1. General 2. The Law III. THE TEACHING...
the first. II.Intermediate Literature. 1. General: (1...
Mouth (534 Occurrences)
... THE JUDGMENT IX. THE CONSUMMATE STATE X. THEINTERMEDIATE STATE XI.... This also
tends to give greater prominence to theintermediate state....
Resurrection (42 Occurrences)
... RESURRECTION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ANDINTERMEDIATE LITERATURE 1. The Old Testament
2. The Righteous 3. The Unrighteous 4. Complete Denial III....
Resources
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