S
STRUCTURE OF THE OLD COVENANT
It is important to understand the structure of the Old Covenant, and how it compared to ancient Near East treaty documents.
When one nation was conquered by another, the conquering nation would create an agreement with the conquered nation which stipulated the terms of their relationship, and the blessings and cursings for obedience or disobedience. The document would bear the seal or sign of the conquering nation on the document.
Two identical copies of the document would be created. One would be kept in the sanctuary of the conquering nation, and the other copy of the document would be kept in the sanctuary of the conquered nation.
The Old Covenant relationship between God and the nation of Israel was conducted in a similar manner.Note that two copies of the Ten Commandments were given by God to Moses. These two copies of the Ten Commandments were placed in the Ark of the Covenant. The word “ark” simply refers to the container that held the Covenant, thus the name "ark of the covenant".Note that both of the copies were placed in the Ark as God’s presence dwelt with Israel.
The Ten Commandments were a summary of the Old Covenant.The interpretation of the Ten Commandments, with much more detail, was contained in a handwritten document called the “book of the covenant”, which was held in a receptacle on the side of the Ark of the Covenant.
The book of the covenant was not separate from the Old Covenant in terms of being separate from the Old Covenant, though, as the Seventh Day Adventists and much of orthodox Christianity seems to teach. The book of the covenant was a more in-depth interpretation of the Ten Commandments, although it included additional civil and ceremonial laws. However the Ten Commandments are inseparable from the Old Covenant.
Notice how the Ten Commandments are called the covenant in these verses: Ex 31:18, 34:28, 4:13, 9:9, 11, 15, I Kings 8:9, 21. In addition, the New Testament does not treat them as separate when discussing them in verses which refer to their temporary nature. This is an in-depth conversation deserving of a separate thread.
The Sabbath commandment is in the center of the Ten Commandments in terms of word count in the Hebrew. The conquering nation would place its sign or seal in the center of their covenant with the conquered nation. In a similar way, the Sabbath commandment is placed directly in the center of the Ten Commandments.
In summary, the structure of the Old Covenant included the sign of the Sabbath, placed in the center of the Ten Commandments, which itself was the Covenant. Interpretation of the Covenant in greater detail was contained in the book of the covenant. However, the Ten Commandments themselves were the covenant.
Scripture teaches that the Old Covenant was only temporary, until Christ came. This is taught clearly Galatians 3, as well as the Scriptures in the summary I will list below. The Ten Commandments were the summary of this Old Covenant, and thus are no longer applicable AS A WHOLE. However, nine of the commandments are moral in nature and would continue under the New Covenant, but not because they were part of the Old Covenant. They continue because they are moral absolutes, and are repeated other places in the apostolic writings.
This distinction might not mean much to other Christians, but for ex Sabbathkeeper like me, it is very important to making sense of Scripture.
I highly suggest the book Sabbath in Christ by Dale Ratzlaff for a deeper treatment of this subject.
The Old Covenant was an agreement between God and the nation of Israel (Ex. 31:12-17). The Ten Commandments are a summary of the Old Covenant (Ex 31:18, 34:28; Deut 4:13, 9:9, 11). The Sabbath and physical circumcision were signs of the Old Covenant (Genesis 17:9-14, Exodus 31:12-18, 20:12). The Old Covenant is no longer in effect for anyone (2 Cor 3:4-18, Gal 3:17-25, Heb 8:13-9:4). The Sabbath, therefore, is not in effect for anyone (Gal 4:10, Rom 14:5-6, Col 2:16-17). Christians are under the New Covenant, which has different signs (baptism and the Lord’s Supper), higher demands and different commandments (Luke 22:20, Heb 9:15; Jn 13:34, 15:12, 17; Rom 13:10). The chief of those commandments is to love others as Christ loved us (Jn 13:34).
It is important to understand the structure of the Old Covenant, and how it compared to ancient Near East treaty documents.
When one nation was conquered by another, the conquering nation would create an agreement with the conquered nation which stipulated the terms of their relationship, and the blessings and cursings for obedience or disobedience. The document would bear the seal or sign of the conquering nation on the document.
Two identical copies of the document would be created. One would be kept in the sanctuary of the conquering nation, and the other copy of the document would be kept in the sanctuary of the conquered nation.
The Old Covenant relationship between God and the nation of Israel was conducted in a similar manner.Note that two copies of the Ten Commandments were given by God to Moses. These two copies of the Ten Commandments were placed in the Ark of the Covenant. The word “ark” simply refers to the container that held the Covenant, thus the name "ark of the covenant".Note that both of the copies were placed in the Ark as God’s presence dwelt with Israel.
The Ten Commandments were a summary of the Old Covenant.The interpretation of the Ten Commandments, with much more detail, was contained in a handwritten document called the “book of the covenant”, which was held in a receptacle on the side of the Ark of the Covenant.
The book of the covenant was not separate from the Old Covenant in terms of being separate from the Old Covenant, though, as the Seventh Day Adventists and much of orthodox Christianity seems to teach. The book of the covenant was a more in-depth interpretation of the Ten Commandments, although it included additional civil and ceremonial laws. However the Ten Commandments are inseparable from the Old Covenant.
Notice how the Ten Commandments are called the covenant in these verses: Ex 31:18, 34:28, 4:13, 9:9, 11, 15, I Kings 8:9, 21. In addition, the New Testament does not treat them as separate when discussing them in verses which refer to their temporary nature. This is an in-depth conversation deserving of a separate thread.
The Sabbath commandment is in the center of the Ten Commandments in terms of word count in the Hebrew. The conquering nation would place its sign or seal in the center of their covenant with the conquered nation. In a similar way, the Sabbath commandment is placed directly in the center of the Ten Commandments.
In summary, the structure of the Old Covenant included the sign of the Sabbath, placed in the center of the Ten Commandments, which itself was the Covenant. Interpretation of the Covenant in greater detail was contained in the book of the covenant. However, the Ten Commandments themselves were the covenant.
Scripture teaches that the Old Covenant was only temporary, until Christ came. This is taught clearly Galatians 3, as well as the Scriptures in the summary I will list below. The Ten Commandments were the summary of this Old Covenant, and thus are no longer applicable AS A WHOLE. However, nine of the commandments are moral in nature and would continue under the New Covenant, but not because they were part of the Old Covenant. They continue because they are moral absolutes, and are repeated other places in the apostolic writings.
This distinction might not mean much to other Christians, but for ex Sabbathkeeper like me, it is very important to making sense of Scripture.
I highly suggest the book Sabbath in Christ by Dale Ratzlaff for a deeper treatment of this subject.
The Old Covenant was an agreement between God and the nation of Israel (Ex. 31:12-17). The Ten Commandments are a summary of the Old Covenant (Ex 31:18, 34:28; Deut 4:13, 9:9, 11). The Sabbath and physical circumcision were signs of the Old Covenant (Genesis 17:9-14, Exodus 31:12-18, 20:12). The Old Covenant is no longer in effect for anyone (2 Cor 3:4-18, Gal 3:17-25, Heb 8:13-9:4). The Sabbath, therefore, is not in effect for anyone (Gal 4:10, Rom 14:5-6, Col 2:16-17). Christians are under the New Covenant, which has different signs (baptism and the Lord’s Supper), higher demands and different commandments (Luke 22:20, Heb 9:15; Jn 13:34, 15:12, 17; Rom 13:10). The chief of those commandments is to love others as Christ loved us (Jn 13:34).
Last edited:
