‘I will make an everlasting covenant with you . . . ’ (Isaiah 55:3). ‘Covenant’ is a major theme in the Bible, and many Christian thinkers across the centuries have made it the organizing principle by which they understand the Old and New Testaments. The biblical material is undoubtedly plentiful, but some specific texts are also much disputed. In this stimulating overview, Paul Williamson offers fresh readings of many passages that contribute to the theme of covenant, highlights its significance for biblical theology, and explores its role within God’s unfolding purpose. He concludes that covenant is essentially ‘a solemn commitment, guaranteeing promises undertaken by one or both parties, sealed with an oath’, and that its primary function is to advance God’s creative purpose of universal blessing, from its inception in the primeval period to its consummation in the new heavens and the new earth.
Contents
1 Biblical theology and the covenant concept
Biblical theology, covenant and the unity of Scripture
The place of covenant in
biblical scholarship
The role of the covenant concept in Scripture
The meaning of covenant terminology used in Scripture
2 Covenant and God’s universal purpose
Covenant in its biblical-theological context
Creation and the divine purpose
The question of a covenant with Adam
3 God’s universal covenant with Noah
Introduction of the covenant idea
Covenant and (re-)creation
Ratification of the universal covenant
Human obligations of the universal covenant
Divine obligations and sign of the universal covenant
God’s universal covenant elsewhere in the Old Testament
Theological significance of the universal covenant
A creation covenant?
4 God’s programmatic covenants with the patriarchs
The patriarchal covenants in their biblical-theological framework
The programmatic agenda The patriarchal covenants
The covenant heirs
5 God’s national covenant with Israel
The national covenant in biblical-theological context
The revelatory purpose of the national covenant
The ratification of the covenant at Sinai
The sign of the Mosaic covenant: sabbath
The covenantal significance of the tabernacle
The covenantal status of the Levitical priesthood
The breaking of the covenant and its re-establishment
The covenant and Israel’s cult Covenantal renewal at Moab
Subsequent renewals of the national covenant
6 God’s royal covenant with David
The literary and historical context of the dynastic oracle
The promissory focus of the dynastic oracle
David’s response to the dynastic oracle
Subsequent reflection on the royal covenant
The royal covenant in the latter prophets
The royal covenant in the purpose of God
7 God’s new covenant anticipated by the prophets
Introduction
Jeremiah’s ‘new covenant’ text
Other anticipations of a future covenant
Other possible allusions to the anticipated ‘new covenant’
Drawing the various strands together
8 God’s new covenant inaugurated through Jesus
Introduction
The new covenant in the Gospels
The new covenant in Acts
The new covenant in Paul
The new covenant in Hebrews
The ultimate consummation
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