Prelude: The creation mandate (Gen 1:26-28)
- Not a covenant
- Establishes functional expectations for humanity
- humans as God's images/idols
- be fruitful,multiply, and fill
- subdue/subjugate, dominion/rule
- divine covenant promises are based on these elements
A Covenant is
- A major theological theme in Scripture
- בְּרִית (Heb. berith) - Covenant, agreement, contract, treaty
- A relationship with promises, sometimes bilateral, sometimes unilateral.
- Characteristics of a covenant
- Some type of divine sanction/punishment is stipulated for those who break the agreement
- Usually ratified with an oath
- Characteristics of a divine-human covenant
- Ratifies an already forged or existing elective relationship
- Ratification process involves the making of promises through a verbal or ritual
We're interested in covenants that Yahweh makes with humans.
Was there an Adamic Covenant?
- The vast majority of contemporary scholars completely dismiss this idea
- There are no explicit references to such a covenant
- What about Hosea 6:7?
- Interpretation of this verse is extremely difficult (Williamson, 55)
- Arguably referencing a town in the Promised Land (Josh 3:16)
- Ths rendering is strengthened by the context of the verse
Noah (Gen 8:20-9:17)
- First human-divine covenant href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%206%3A18&version=ESV">Genesis 6:18
- Universal
- Promises
- The rhythm of creation will continue (Gen 8:22)
- No more destruction of "all flesh" by flood (Gen 9:11-17)
- creation mandate repeated (Gen 9:1, 7)
- A new "Adam and Eve"
End of Session 1
Abram/Abraham
- Patriarchal
- Initial contact (Gen 12:1-3)
- National covenant (Gen 15)
- National/International (Gen 17)
- Sacrifice & Royal Grant (Gen 22)
End of Session 2
Sinai/Moses (Exod 19:3-8; 24:3,7)
- National
- A perpetual Levitical priesthood (Num 25:10-13)
End of Session 3
King David (2 Sam 7:8-17)
- Royal
- Heb. בְּרִית not used here but is explicitly labeled as such elsewhere (2 Sam 23:5; 2 Kgs 8:19; Ps 89:3; 132:11)
The New
- A spiritually-renewed and reconstituted Israel
- Jeremiah 33:14-26
- Ezek 36:26-36