The Difference Between Covenant and Testament

The Difference Between Covenant and Testament

The Bible is a story of God's relationship with humanity, presented through two major frameworks: covenants and testaments. These frameworks reveal how God has interacted with His people at different times in history and highlight His unfolding plan of redemption. To properly understand the Bible, it is essential to distinguish between the Old Covenant, the New Covenant, and the New Testament. This article will clarify their differences, timings, and significance, while addressing how we as believers ought to understand and apply scripture in the right context.

The Old Covenant: Israel’s Conditional Agreement Under the Law

The Old Covenant was a formal agreement established between God and Israel, made at Mount Sinai, where God gave His Law and instructions to Moses for the nation. This covenant was conditional, meaning that the blessings God promised—such as material prosperity, land inheritance, and protection—depended on Israel's obedience to His commandments. The Old Covenant emphasized external compliance to a legal code and served as a way to teach humanity about God’s holiness and the sinfulness of mankind.

The blessings of the Old Covenant were tied to obedience, as outlined in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. These blessings included abundant crops, military success, and God's direct presence among the people. However, failure to obey led to curses, as described in Deuteronomy 28:15-68, which highlighted the consequences of turning away from God. The sacrificial system was central to the Old Covenant, as the blood of animals temporarily atoned for sin, providing a means for Israel to maintain fellowship with God.

The purpose of the Old Covenant was not simply to create a legal system for Israel but to reveal humanity’s need for a Saviour. By showing that no one could perfectly fulfill the Law, it prepared the way for Christ. Paul explains in Galatians 3:24, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The Old Covenant demonstrated that human effort alone cannot achieve righteousness before God.

The New Covenant: A Future Promise for Israel’s Restoration

The New Covenant was promised by God through prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, offering Israel a future hope of restoration. Unlike the Old Covenant, the New Covenant is unconditional, emphasizing God's promises to transform the hearts of His people, forgive their sins, and establish an everlasting relationship with them.

The New Covenant is described in Jeremiah 31:31-34, where God says, “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.” This covenant involves a transformed heart, as God writes His laws within His people and grants them the ability to walk in His ways. Ezekiel 36:26-27 further highlights this promise, saying, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.”

Although Christ’s death on the cross established the basis for the New Covenant, it has not yet been fully enacted. The New Covenant will be fulfilled in the future when Jesus returns to set up His millennial kingdom. During this time, Israel will be restored as God’s chosen nation, living in obedience and experiencing the promises of forgiveness, renewed hearts, and direct fellowship with the Lord.

It is important to note that the New Covenant is specific to Israel and not applicable to believers in the current age of grace. While it is often referenced in the New Testament, its full implementation awaits Christ’s second coming.

The Testament for the Grace Dispensation: God’s Gift Through Christ’s Death

The New Testament, activated by Christ’s death, governs the current dispensation of grace. Unlike covenants, the testament is not a mutual agreement between God and Israel, but rather a unilateral declaration of God’s will for all mankind. It is rooted in Christ’s finished work on the cross and extends God’s promise and spiritual blessings and to all who place their faith in Him.

The New Testament is described in Hebrews 9:15-17, which explains, “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.” Jesus’ death made the New Testament effective, ushering in salvation by grace through faith. This testament applies to believers today—Jews and Gentiles alike—and is characterized by unconditional spiritual blessings.

Under the New Testament, God offers eternal life (Romans 6:23; Titus 3:7; Galatians 6:8), forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7), and the indwelling presence of Christ through His Word (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27; Romans 8:10). Believers are adopted into God’s family as co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17) and receive a heavenly inheritance (Ephesians 1:11; Colossians 1:12; Romans 8:17). Unlike the Old Covenant, the New Testament does not demand adherence to the Law but is based entirely on grace through Christ.

The New Testament reflects the freedom believers now have in Christ. Paul writes in Romans 6:14, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” This freedom allows believers to live in confidence, knowing their salvation is secure and their relationship with God is based on faith, not works.

Covenant vs. Testament: A Combined Summary

The following table highlights the key distinctions between the Old Covenant, New Covenant, and New Testament:

Aspect	Old Covenant	New Covenant	New Testament
Definition	Agreement between God and Israel.	Future promise of restoration for Israel.	God’s will offering blessings through Christ.
Participants	God and Israel.	God and Israel in the millennial kingdom.	God and all believers in Christ in this time.
Conditions	Obedience required for blessings.	Fulfilled by God’s promises to Israel.	Freely given, not based on works.
Key Promises	Land, nationhood, material blessings.	Spiritual restoration, a new heart, obedience.	Salvation, eternal life, spiritual blessings.
Basis	Mosaic Law and sacrifices.	Future fulfillment during Christ’s reign.	Christ’s death and resurrection.
Applicability Today	Fulfilled and ended by Christ’s death.	Not yet in effect; applies to Israel in the future.	Fully applicable to believers now.

Rightly Dividing Scripture for Proper Context

Now friends, let's cover an important key to fully understanding the above, not just as facts from scripture, but as a heart's conviction. The principle of rightly dividing scripture, as referenced in 2 Timothy 2:15, is critical for understanding the context and application of any biblical teachings. To rightly divide means to interpret scripture accurately by recognizing the distinct ways God interacts with humanity across dispensations. It ensures that readers apply the Bible’s truths in their proper context without confusing the covenants with the testament.

Rightly dividing provides clarity about the Old Covenant’s focus on Israel and the Law, the New Covenant’s future restoration of Israel, and the New Testament’s offer of grace to believers today. It also helps believers understand that they are no longer under the Law but under grace, living in the freedom Christ has provided.

Without rightly dividing, one will get confused by misapplying scripture, such as trying to adhere to Old Covenant practices or misunderstanding the promises of the New Covenant as applying to the Church. This is a common scenario today where various traditions and ordinances and teachings are applied to the body of Christ which are things that were never taught by Paul and are wholly under the doctrine of Israel. They typically bring misunderstandings, disputes, wrong practises, and division. They ultimately skew grace, Galatians 5:3-4, by placing the believer under law or under some form of performance doctrine. By understanding dispensational distinctions, believers can approach scripture with confidence and avoid confusion.

Conclusion and Encouragement

The distinctions between the Old Covenant, New Covenant, and New Testament reveal God’s unfolding plan of redemption, from Israel’s relationship under the Law to the current age of grace. Understanding these differences is vital to rightly interpreting scripture and living in the freedom Christ has provided.

As believers, we are under the New Testament, enjoying salvation, spiritual blessings, and eternal inheritance through Christ’s finished work. When we believe this, it will bring assurance, clarity, and confidence in God’s Word and promises.

I hope this knowledge will encourage you to study the Bible in the right context, by rightly dividing the Word, keeping its teachings in context and applying its truths correctly. Share these truths with others so that they too may grasp the incredible grace God has extended to us as believers in this New Testament through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.