Appendix E
Notes on Covenants in the Bible Part 2
By Lambert Dolphin

Mainline Covenants

One special set of these covenants might well be called “mainline” covenants because
they are connected one after another in a line, all the way from the first promise God made to
Eve (that one of her sons would be the Messiah, the Savior of mankind), down through
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, (rather than Ishmael or Esau for example), through King David and
ending in Jesus Christ. Both Joseph and Mary are descended from David though through
different family lines as the NT genealogies in Matthew and Luke detail.

I. The Edenic Covenant
Man is charged with responsibility for propagating the race, subduing the earth,
exercising dominion over the animals, caring for the garden in Eden, and refraining from eating
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. See Genesis 1:28-30 and Genesis 2:16, 17.

II. The Adamic Covenant
See Genesis 3. The consequences of man’s fall necessitated a changed relationship
between man and God including the following elements: (1) A curse on the serpent: Genesis
3:14, Romans 16:20, 2 Corinthians 11:3,14, Rev. 12:9. (2) The first promise of a redeemer (the
proto-evangelium). Messiah would come in the line of Seth, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Judah and David. (3) A changed state of woman including bondage and subservience to
man’s headship, and suffering and pain in motherhood. (4) Loss of the garden in Eden as a
dwelling place and light occupation changed to heavy burden of work because of a cursed earth.
(5) Inevitable sorrow and disappointment in life. (6) Shortened life span and tragedy of death.

III. The Noahic Covenant
This unconditional covenant with Noah (which affects all mankind) establishes principles
for all government, and includes the following: (1) Sanctity of all human life established. Man
responsible to protect life, even to capital punishment. (2) A Promise that another universal flood
will not occur and the ground will not be cursed further. (3) Man’s relationship to the animals
and to nature is confirmed (Genesis 8:22, 9:2). (4) Man, presumably a vegetarian before the
flood, is now allowed to eat meat. (5) Special characteristics are assigned to the three sons of
Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. See Genesis 8:21-9:17.

IV. The Abrahamic Covenant
This is an unconditional covenant. (1) God gave Abraham the promise of a great nation—
primarily meaning Israel, but also includes great peoples in the line of Ishmael and Abraham’s
others sons. In all Abraham, had eight sons, six through his second wife Keturah after Sarah died
(Genesis 25:3). Two peoples descended from Abraham are named specially. They are an earthly
group (Israel) “as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore,” and a heavenly group (the
true church) “as numerous as the stars in the heavens.” These two “family trees” form the subject
of the mainstream of redemptive history in the Bible. (2) Abraham was chosen to be the father of
numerous descendants, to be blessed personally, to be personally honored, to be a channel of
blessing to others. (3) Those who bless Abraham are to be blessed and those who curse him will
be cursed. Blessings on the nations are to come through Abraham. (4) Reaffirmation of the
promise of a Messiah was made by God to Abraham. There are four major passages in Genesis
specific to this covenant: Genesis 12:1-7; 13:14-17, 15:1-21; and 22:15-18.

The Covenant with Abraham Is Restated and Confirmed To Isaac by The Lord
See Genesis 26:1-5.
The Covenant with Abraham Is Restated and Confirmed To Jacob by The Lord
See Genesis 28:10-15.

V. The Mosaic Covenant
This was a conditional covenant that was connected with the giving of the Law at Sinai,
and the Levitical priesthood.
The Law condemns all men. See Exodus 19 and following.
The New Testament Comments on the Mosaic (Old) Covenant
See especially 2 Corinthians 3:7-9, Romans 3:19-20, and Hebrews 10:1-10.

VI. The Covenant of the Land
This partly conditional covenant has several parts: (1) dispersion of the Jews was to be a
consequence of disobedience. (2) Future repentance will be accomplished by God. (3) God will
re-gather his scattered people and restore them to the land. (4) The people of Israel will be
brought to the Lord as a nation. (5) The enemies and oppressors of Israel will be punished. (6)
Future national prosperity and preeminence is guaranteed. See Deuteronomy 28-30. 28, 29 and
Amos 9:9-15. Because of this covenant, the right of the Jews to live in the land is conditional
upon their behavior.
The New Testament Promises God Will Resume His Fulfillment of Various Covenants with
Israel
See Acts 15:14-18 and Romans 11:26, 27. The Old Testament Concurs on this: Isaiah
11:11,12, Jeremiah 23:3-8, Ezekiel 37:21-25, Hosea 2:14-16, Hosea 3, Joel 3:1-8 and Amos
9:11-15.

VII. The Davidic Covenant
This covenant features (1) a temple in Israel, (2) a kingdom in perpetuity, (3) a throne,
i.e., royal authority in the line of David, and (4) chastisement on sons for their disobedience. The
promise of Messiah in the line of David is confirmed. See 2 Samuel 7:8-16, Isaiah 1:24-28 and
Psalm 89.

VIII. The New Covenant
This is an everlasting, unconditional covenant imparting a renewed mind and heart to the
recipients; restored favor and blessing for Israel; complete and final forgiveness and removal of
sins; indwelling of the Holy Spirit; a rebuilt temple in Israel (Ezekiel 37:26,27a); cessation of
war; and institution of world peace. The Greek word diatheke is used interchangeably 15 times in
the New Testament for “covenant” and “testament.” See Matthew 26:26-28, Jeremiah 31,
Hebrews 8:8-13.