Part 4 – Covenant or Testament

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Two Israels.

Now let’s consider the meaning of Israel’s promised “new covenant” (Jer. 31:31-33).

Though Israel was divided in two after Solomon’s reign as King of Israel, the promise of a “new covenant” was unto the whole house of believing Israel that consists of Judah (southern two tribes, Judah and Benjamin) and Israel (the northern 10 Tribes).

“For finding fault with them (Israel), he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a ‘new covenant’ with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 13In that he saith, A ‘new covenant,’ he hath made the first ‘old.’ Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:8, 13)

Jesus of Nazareth’s Messianic believers were the first “new covenant” believers of “the Israel of God” (Gal 6:16).

These members of His “flock” were:

a) are racially Israelites,

b) were baptized with John’s “baptism unto repentance,”

c) heard Jesus of Nazareth’s declaration of the Kingdom “at hand,” and,

d) and they responded in faith to the offer of “the gospel of the kingdom” that Jesus and the Twelve Apostles preached in the early Acts period. This Acts period was before Stephen was stoned Acts 7 and before Paul’s conversion in Acts 9. Paul then received “the revelation of the mystery” (Rom. 16:25), the “mystery… gospel of grace” “for ye Gentiles (Eph. 3:1-5).

What does Paul mean here writing to Gentiles concerning them being “able ministers of the new testament”

“(God) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” (2 Cor. 3:6)?

Can Paul mean Israel’s “new covenant” promised seen of Jeremiah 31:31-33?

Unfortunately, the words testament and covenant seem to have been used interchangeably in the corrupted modern Bible translations, but in fact testament and covenant have two different meanings. We must keep them straight and leave them in their respective verses per the KJV. Most modern Bibles (NKJV, NIV, NASB, ESV, etc.) remove references to the “new testamentand insert “new covenant.”

Yes, the Greek word for “testament” is the same as for “covenant,” but they are different terms as defined in English. The English KJV translators carefully used the word “testament” where necessary to emphasize its very special significance, which has to do with the members of “the body of Christ” being heirs of God.” The “body of Christ” has have no covenant, Old or New (Eph. 2:2). I will now explain why we should not use “covenant” and “testament” interchangeably.

A COVENANT:

Our English word “covenant” in Greek is diatheke. It appears in our KJV ~295 times, mostly in the O.T., pertaining to Israel, but 20 times in the N.T., pertaining to Israel. The word “covenant” is a contract or agreement between two (2) parties, such as God made with; Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and National Israel.

The “Old Covenant” was a conditional bilateral agreement that God made with the Israelites; based upon compliance, IF thou.” Under it the Israelites were required to obey God and keepThe Law,” and in return He would protect and bless them (Deut. 30:15–18; 1 Sam. 12:14–15). The Old Covenant” was in effect during the dispensation of “the Law.” The “old covenant” is in comparison to the new covenant, which is a better covenant” (Heb. 8:6), as was promised to Israel in Jeremiah 31:31, 33.

A TESTAMENT:

The word “testament” is more specific than “covenant.” Our English word “testament” is from the Latin testamentum, ‘a will.’ “Testament” appears fourteen times in our KJV Bibles, from Matt. - Rev. With the “new testament,” God has done all the work, leaving us as “heirs of God, (Rom 8:17) the effective cross-work of Jesus. Note below words Jesus’ blood and death relate to a “new testament.”

  • Mat. 26:28: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
  • Mark 14:24: “And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.”
  • Luke 22:20b: “… This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
  • 1 Corinthians 11:25: “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”
  • 2 Corinthians 3:6: “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”
  • 2 Corinthians 3:14: “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament (Law); which vail is done away in Christ.”
  • Hebrews 7:22: “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.”
  • Hebrews 9:15: “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
  • Hebrews 9:16-17: “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.” For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
  • Hebrews 9:18: “Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.”
  • Hebrews 9:20: “Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.”

Notice in the verses above that “testament” is generally used in conjunction with the blood and death of “Jesus.” This is what makes for the special contract called a “testament.” Perhaps you can reread the verses above, keeping this in mind.

Read and pay close attention to Heb. 9:16-17 concerning how a testament is of force only after the death of the testator. Jesus Christ had to die on the cross before the New Testament” could be introduced to God’s “heirs.” In legal terms, we talk about someone’s “last will and testament,” a legally binding document to manage one’s estate after his death with regard to his “heirs.” Our KJV Bible carefully uses the word “testament” in just this sense, being used in connection with Jesus Christ’s death at Calvary. He rose from the dead as “the Spirit of life” to dispense an inheritance into His believing heirs. Thus, Paul wrote here of the members of “the body of Christ” as God’s heirs.”

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…” (Rom. 8:16-17)