Why do you think the Covenant is so central to the Old Testament?

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I’ve joined a new bible group and they are very serious about bible study! I feel I’m not smart enough to keep up with the topics they’re proposing! Some of them have/are studying theology so they’re digging deep and looking for evidence within the bible to support their opinions. I feel I need the (name removed by moderator)ut of others to help me formulate my answers before we meet again.

The question they posed was: Why do you think the Covenant is so central to the Old Testament?

Another group member suggested I start with: the Jews and monotheism, the gift of scripture. God intervening with the history of the Jews- what God has done for them (the covenant with Moses, Abraham, the promise land, Noah and the Ark, Adam and Eve, referring to chapters 1-3 in Genesis.)

Some questions they proposed were:
How is God presented in each of the passages?

· What is God’s relationship with men and women in the two passages?

· What does God command the man to do in the two passages?

· What statements recur often in Genesis chapter 1?

What key features of the covenant are there in Genesis 17:5-7?

I just don’t know where to start!
What passage would you reference? I’m a deer in the headlights!
 
Excellent source, and the older, original version is the better one (as in most matters).

OP, if you read this source and respond, I guarantee you will have a more profound understanding of the meaning of the Covenant than any other members of your Bible group.
Remember too that covenant is a legal and moral partnership between G-d and humanity, in which each party promises something important to the other. The soul of Judaism is based on such a partnership.
 
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MsRachelC said:
I’ve joined a new bible group and they are very serious about bible study! I feel I’m not smart enough to keep up with the topics they’re proposing! Some of them have/are studying theology so they’re digging deep and looking for evidence within the bible to support their opinions. I feel I need the (name removed by moderator)ut of others to help me formulate my answers before we meet again.

The question they posed was: Why do you think the Covenant is so central to the Old Testament?

Another group member suggested I start with: the Jews and monotheism, the gift of scripture. God intervening with the history of the Jews- what God has done for them (the covenant with Moses, Abraham, the promise land, Noah and the Ark, Adam and Eve, referring to chapters 1-3 in Genesis.)

Some questions they proposed were:
How is God presented in each of the passages?

· What is God’s relationship with men and women in the two passages?

· What does God command the man to do in the two passages?

· What statements recur often in Genesis chapter 1?

What key features of the covenant are there in Genesis 17:5-7?

I just don’t know where to start!
What passage would you reference? I’m a deer in the headlights!
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In the Old Covenant, from the first covenant with Abraham (circumcision was prescribed “You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.”
Genesis 17), and the second through Moses (the covenant at Sinai), God formed his people and revealed his law to them and the response at Sinai was “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” (Exodus 19:1-8)

The New Covenant is to establish on earth the one Body of Christ .

See: Isa 6:2-3. Rev 4-5; 6:9-11; 7:1-8; 14:1; 21:9; cf. 12
 
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MsRachelC said:
The question they posed was: Why do you think the Covenant is so central to the Old Testament?
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Are they asking “why is the notion of ‘covenant’ central?”, or “why is the Mosaic Covenant central?” I think I’d give different answers to each question.

It seems they’re asking the former question, and not the latter. The simple answer would seem to be “because a ‘covenant’ is the formalization of a relationship, and the Bible is all about our relationship with God…”!
 
i would start by asking which Covenant, as there are a few. Is this a Catholic group?

Which biblical translation is being used.

In your reading of Genesis , 1:1-3 has some academic debate regarding the original Biblical Hebrew and translations, and what that means Theologically. Dont get confused if you come across it.
 
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MsRachelC said:
Why do you think the Covenant is so central to the Old Testament?
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That sounds like Covenant theology. I believe it is Dr. Scott Hahn’s specialty.


Enjoy!
… I feel I need the (name removed by moderator)ut of others to help me formulate my answers before we meet again.
Click to expand...
When will that be?
The question they posed was: Why do you think the Covenant is so central to the Old Testament?
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According to Dr. Hahn, “covenant” is not the same as “contract”. A Covenant is a relationship that one establishes within a family. Or, that creates a family. Thus, what some people call a marriage contract is actually a covenant between man and woman and God, which establishes a family.

Thus, God established the covenant of matrimony in order that man might reflect the family of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Another group member suggested I start with: the Jews and monotheism, the gift of scripture. God intervening with the history of the Jews- what God has done for them (the covenant with Moses, Abraham, the promise land, Noah and the Ark, Adam and Eve, referring to chapters 1-3 in Genesis.)
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Not sure what he’s talking about, unless he is referring to what Dr. Hahn calls the 6 covenants.

It began with Adam and Eve, the marital covenant.
Then, with Noah, family covenant.
Then, Abraham, tribal covenant.
Then Moses, national covenant.
Then David, national Kingdom.
Then Jesus, international Kingdom.
Some questions they proposed were:
How is God presented in each of the passages?
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As Father.
· What is God’s relationship with men and women in the two passages?
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? Father? Which two passages?
· What does God command the man to do in the two passages?
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Till the garden?
· What statements recur often in Genesis chapter 1?
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the next day?
What key features of the covenant are there in Genesis 17:5-7?
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Don’t know.
I just don’t know where to start!
What passage would you reference? I’m a deer in the headlights!
Click to expand...
Google Dr. Scott Hahn and Covenant theology.
 
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