Definition and Significance

A 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 Covenants

1. 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 Implications

Covenants 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 Signs

Each 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."

Conclusion

Understanding 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.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.

INTERMEDIATE, STATE

in-ter-me'-di-at.

See ESCHATOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3326.htm - 8k

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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5516.htm - 6k

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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1722.htm - 8k

Whether an Angel Passes through Intermediate Space?
... OF THE LOCAL MOVEMENT OF THE ANGELS (THREE ARTICLES) Whether an angel passes
through intermediate space? Objection 1: It would seem ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether an angel passes through.htm

The Church Intermediate Between the Shadows of the Law and the ...
... Discourse V."Thallousa. Chapter VII."The Church Intermediate Between
the Shadows of the Law and the Realities of Heaven. If ...
/.../chapter vii the church intermediate between.htm

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 the intermediate period are in ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxi the preservation of our.htm

The Free Will of Man is an Intermediate Power.
... A Treatise on the spirit and the letter, Chapter 58."The Free Will of Man
is an Intermediate Power. Let us then, first of all, lay ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 58 the free will of.htm

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 the intermediate place;"when ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxix refutation of the views.htm

How the Demons Can Mediate Between Gods and Men if they have ...
... How, then, are they intermediate, when they have three things in common
with the lowest, and only one in common with the highest? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 13 how the demons can.htm

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 an intermediate cause, and an ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article three whether god exists.htm

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 the intermediate cause, and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether god exists.htm

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 the intermediate habitation; but all ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter vii the mother achamoth when.htm

The Boys' Department in the Sunday School
... Intermediate and Senior Departments. The first of these is known as the Intermediate
and Senior Departmental organization. Its characteristic ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/xi the boys department in.htm

Intermediate
... 1. (a.) Lying between two extremes; middle; coming or done between; intervening;
interposed; interjacent; as, an intermediate space or time; intermediate colors ...
/i/intermediate.htm - 6k

Mean (93 Occurrences)
... 9. (a.) Occupying a middle position; middle; being about midway between extremes.
10. (a.) Intermediate in excellence of any kind. 11. ...
/m/mean.htm - 40k

Intermediary (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Lying, coming, or done, between;
intermediate; as, an intermediary project. 2. (n.) One who, or ...
/i/intermediary.htm - 7k

Eschatology
... THE JUDGMENT IX. THE CONSUMMATE STATE X. THE INTERMEDIATE STATE XI. ... This also
tends to give greater prominence to the intermediate state. ...
/e/eschatology.htm - 70k

Parousia
... Besides, as in the Old Testament and the intermediate literature, "day of wrath,"
"last day," or simply "day" are used very frequently. See DAY OF THE LORD. ...
/p/parousia.htm - 36k

Between (2624 Occurrences)
... 6. (prep.) In intermediate relation to, in respect to time, quantity, or degree;
as, between nine and ten o'clock. 7. (n.) Intermediate...
/b/between.htm - 36k

A (102073 Occurrences)
... A sharp (A/) is the name of a musical tone intermediate between A and B. -- A
flat (A/) is the name of a tone intermediate between A and G. ...
/a/a.htm - 9k

Salvation (386 Occurrences)
... Ritual Law II. INTERMEDIATE LITERATURE 1. General 2. The Law III. THE TEACHING ...
the first. II. Intermediate Literature. 1. General: (1 ...
/s/salvation.htm - 67k

Mouth (534 Occurrences)
... THE JUDGMENT IX. THE CONSUMMATE STATE X. THE INTERMEDIATE STATE XI. ... This also
tends to give greater prominence to the intermediate state. ...
/m/mouth.htm - 91k

Resurrection (42 Occurrences)
... RESURRECTION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND INTERMEDIATE LITERATURE 1. The Old Testament
2. The Righteous 3. The Unrighteous 4. Complete Denial III. ...
/r/resurrection.htm - 93k

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