COVENANT

1
COVENANT

• INTRODUCTION
• PART I

2
WHAT IS A COVENANT?

• A SACRED AGREEMENT
• A SACRED FAMILY BOND OF KINSHIP
• THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE BIBLEUNIFYING BOTH THE
  OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENT

3
HOW MANY COVENANTS APPEAR IN THE BIBLE?

• FIVE COVENANTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
• ADAMMARRIAGE COVENANT
• NOAHFAMILY COVENANT
• ABRAHAMTRIBAL COVENANT
• MOSESNATIONAL COVENANT
• DAVIDDYNASTIC KINGDOM COVENANT

4
WHAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT COVENANT?

• NEW COVENANT OF JESUSUNIVERSAL KINGDOM
  COVENANT (CATHOLIC)PROMISING SALVATION TO ALL
  PEOPLE
• IN THE GOSPELS, JESUS MENTIONS THE WORD
  COVENANT ONLY ONCEAT THE LAST SUPPER, WHEN
  INSTITUTING THE EUCHARIST
• THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD, WHICH
  WILL BE SHED FOR YOU.

5
HOW DOES A COVENANT DIFFER FROM A CONTRACT?

• CONTRACT
• EXCHANGE OF PROPERTY
• USUALLY MONEY FOR GOODS/ SERVICES

• COVENANT
• EXCHANGE OF PERSONS IN RELATIONSHIP
• I AM YOURS/
• YOU ARE MINE

6
COVENANT VS CONTRACT

• CONTRACT
• ESTABLISHES A PARTNERSHIPTEMPORARY
• BREAKABLE WHEN ONE PARTY FAILS TO FULFILL
  TERMSBREACH OF CONTRACT CONTRACT ENDED

• COVENANT
• ESTABLISHES A SACRED KINSHIPPERMANENT, FAMILIAL
• UNBREAKABLEMAY BE VIOLATED, BUT RELATIONSHIP
  REMAINS A REALITY

7
COVENANT VS CONTRACT

• CONTRACT
• BASED ON EXCHANGE OF PROMISES
• SEALED BY NAME (SIGNATURE)
• VERBAL
• FOR PERSONAL, PRIVATE PURPOSES

• COVENANT
• BASED ON OATH (SACRAMENTUM)A PROMISE IN GODS
  NAME
• SEALED BY RITUAL ACT (HANDSHAKE, MEAL,
  SACRIFICE)
• SWORN FOR PUBLIC GOOD-- TO MINISTER PUBLIC
  SERVICE (MEDICINE, LAW)

8
COVENANT

• ONE WHO FORMS A COVENANT BY SWEARING AN OATH
• CALLS UPON GODS HOLY NAME FOR HELP
• IN ORDER TO FULFILL A PROMISE WHICH REQUIRES
  RESOURCES BEYOND HUMAN CAPABILITIES
• AND WHICH MAKES GODS JUDGMENT/JUSTICE OPERATIVE
  (IF OATH BROKEN)

9
SMALL GROUP REFLECTION/DISCUSSION

• WHAT ARE SOME AGREEMENTS YOU HAVE MADE?
• WERE THEY BASED ON LOVE? LEGALITY? SOMETHING
  ELSE?
• HOW BINDING WAS EACH AGREEMENT? WERE ANY BROKEN?
• WERE YOUR AGREEMENTS MORE LIKE A CONTRACT? A
  COVENANT? EXPLAIN HOW?
• BE PREPARED TO SHARE RESPONSES