Jesus and the Jewish covenants

Abstract

Jesus established a New Covenant which we commemorate regularly at the Holy Communion. This New Covenant can only be fully appreciated in the context of the Old Testament (OT). This article explores the links between the New Covenant and the relevant covenants in the OT: the Noahic Covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant, the Sinai Covenant (including the Priestly Covenant), the Davidic Covenant and the prophecies of a New Covenant. Different tables illustrate the contents, the partners, the obligations and the signs of the individual covenants. The article discusses the connections between the different covenants to develop a comprehensive history of the covenants throughout the Bible. It begins in Genesis and concludes in the Book of Revelation. Particular focus is given to the so-called ‘covenant formula’. It is argued that, while the New Covenant annuls the Sinai Covenant, the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants live on it.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article illustrates that the life and work of Jesus cannot be understood without reference to his Jewish heritage. It therefore becomes clear that de-Judaising the Bible is simply impossible.