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Chapter 11 - Major Covenants of the Bible
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While the Bible contains the record of covenants originating from both heaven and earth, those initiated by the “God of heaven” are most significant. Therefore, they are considered the major covenants of the Bible. 

The major covenants of the Bible constitute an interrelated series of formal agreements between God and His creation. They benefit His creation and ensure that He will perform as indicated.
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                    Initiated in Eternity and Fulfilled in Time
 
Congruent with God’s eternal purpose and plan, two of the major covenants of the Bible were initiated in eternity and fulfilled in time. They include the redemptive Eternal Covenant and the Renovation Covenant.

The Eternal Covenant was initiated by the members of the Godhead in eternity and fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the fullness of time. The Renovation Covenant was also initiated in eternity. It was fulfilled in time when God covenanted with the first man, Adam. 
    
                            Initiated in Time from Eternity
 
In contrast to the covenants initiated in eternity, five major covenants were initiated in time from eternity. Within the confines of time, God first covenanted with Noah (Noahic Covenant). It was a covenant for the benefit of mankind in general. In addition, God covenanted with Abram (Abrahamic Covenant), Moses (Mosaic Covenant), and David (Davidic Covenant). They were covenants for the benefit of the nation of Israel. In the future, God will initiate the New Covenant. It will also benefit the nation of Israel.
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Each contributing to the vindication of the divine nature, the seven major covenants of the Bible can be categorized as foundational; general and specific:
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Foundational Covenants
Description
References
Eternal Covenant
Isaiah 53:10; Acts 2:23-24; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 1:20-21
Renovation Covenant
  • The Renovation Covenant was also initiated in eternity and fulfilled in time. It was a conditional covenant of law whereby God renovated the heavens and the earth to make them suitable for a new type of creature; mankind. He then provided the first man, Adam, with a solitary, conditional covenantal stipulation. Congruent with His purpose to vindicate His nature, the continuation of mankind in a state of holiness and the corresponding suitability of the earth were conditioned on the human choice whether to obey the stipulation.  
Genesis 1:2-3:13; Job 38:4-7; Isaiah 24:4-6; Jeremiah 33:19-26
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General Covenant
Description
References
Noahic Covenant
  • The Noahic Covenant was an unconditional covenant of promise whereby God ensured the preservation of human life after the flood. First, the Noahic Covenant revised man’s relationship with the animal kingdom (Genesis 9:2-4). Second, it established human self-government (Genesis 9:5-6). Third, the Noahic Covenant was accompanied by a divine promise that there would never again be a worldwide flood (Genesis 9:8-11).
Genesis 8:20-9:11
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Specific Covenants
Description
References
Abrahamic Covenant
  • The Abrahamic Covenant was an unconditional covenant of promise between God and Abram (the progenitor of the nation of Israel) by which God ensured He would produce a great nation from Abram’s descendants and, thereby, bless all the nations of the earth.
Genesis 12:1-3; 7; 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 
17:1-8; 18:18; 22:18; Deuteronomy 29:1-30:10
Mosaic Covenant
  • The Mosaic Covenant was a conditional covenant of law between God and Moses (representing the nation of Israel) that provided a constitutional body of law for the formation and development of the nation of Israel.
Exodus 20:1-31:18
Davidic Covenant
  • The Davidic Covenant was an unconditional covenant of promise between God and David (representing the nation of Israel) that ensured leadership for the nation of Israel. 
2 Samuel 7:4-17; 1 Chronicles 17:4-15; 2 Chronicles 6:16; Psalm 89:3-4
New Covenant
  • The New Covenant is an unconditional covenant of promise for the nation of Israel. In the future, it will ensure the fulfillment of the stipulations of the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants.
Jeremiah 31:31-33; Ezekiel 36:26,27;
Hebrews 8:8-12
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The Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenants comprise a series of interrelated covenants. They either have been or will be initiated by God on earth exclusively to benefit the nation of Israel. The series of covenants are inclusive of both law and promise. Through covenantal law and promise, Israel is privileged to enjoy covenant partnership with God.   

In contrast, the distinct church of the New Testament is not a covenant partner with God. Instead, it is an unconditional beneficiary of the heavenly promise of the Eternal Covenant; union of life with God.


© 2022 James Hiatt
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