Tuesday, January 15, 2013

New or Renewed Covenant

The issue presented is whether the new covenant described in the Scriptures is really "new" or "renewed." The following are several translations of Jeremiah 31:31:

1. "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. NIV

2. "The day is coming," says the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. NLT

3. "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah...." ESV

4. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.... KJV

5. "See, the days are coming," declares YHVH, "when I shall make a renewed covenant with the house of Yisra'el and with the house of Yehudah...." The Scriptures

Only the Messianic Bible, The Scriptures, uses the word "renewed" in describing the covenant. Most versions translate the Hebrew word hadash as "new." The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament states as follows: "Hadash is used in the sense of 'repair' or 'rebuild' referring to cities (Isa 61:4), the temple (II Chron 24:4, 12), and the altar (II Chron 15:8). " A derivative of hadash is used in Jeremiah 31:31. That derivative is defined by the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament as: "new, new thing, fresh." While a case can may be made to translate hadash as either "new" or "renewed," I believe that renewed best captures the intent of the verse. I base my opinion on the following:

1. The covenant at Sinai was with the nation of Israel. The covenant described in Jeremiah 31 is with the house of Yisra'el and with the house of Yehudah. The same parties are involved. There are no new parties to the covenant established at Sinai. As much as Gentiles would like to think that the new covenant was established for them, the Scriptures make clear that the covenant was for the Jews alone. Remember, Yeshua said in Matthew 15:24: "He answered, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.'" NIV (Emphasis Supplied) This is why it is so important that Gentile believers understand that they are grafted into the root of Israel and not the opposite (Romans 11:17-19). Messianic Gentiles do not become Jews, but they do become citizens of the commonwealth of Israel. (Eph 2:11-12: "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called 'uncircumcised' by those who call themselves 'the circumcision' (which is done in the body by human hands) remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world." The underlined portion suggests that now that Gentile believers are a part of the covenant, that they are included as citizens in Israel as well.)

2. The covenant terms remain the same, only their location changes. At Sinai, the Torah was written on tablets of stone. Ezekiel 36 describes what will occur with the renewed covenant: "A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God." NRSV In the renewed covenant, the Torah will be placed on the hearts of mankind. However, the terms, i.e. The Torah, remain the same.

3. Dictionary.com defines "new" as: (a) of recent origin, production, purchase, etc.; (b) having but lately come or been brought into being: a new book. of a kind now existing or appearing for the first time; novel: (c) a new concept of the universe. having but lately or but now come into knowledge: a new chemical element. (d) unfamiliar or strange (often followed by to ): ideas new to us; to visit new lands. (e) having but lately come to a place, position, status, etc.: a reception for our new minister. When one considers both covenants, "new" just doesn't seem to accurately describe what is occurring.

4. I want to be clear that I am not calling someone anti-Semitic who disagrees with me. However, it seems to me that the idea of creating a "New Covenant" serves to replace the relationship that YHVH has with His chosen people the Jews. By calling it "new" we are encouraging a disconnect with what has occurred in the past. Using the translation "renewed" connects the ministry and sacrifice of Yeshua with Sinai. I think that should be preferred.

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