July 12, 2019

Theology 23 — New Covenant

56 minutes

We are now in our second-to-last episode in this 24-part theology class, covering the major biblical doctrines as well as various counterarguments. Today we will focus our time on the New Covenant. We’ll make our way through biblical history in order to understand the grand sweep of the bible, paying special attention to the old and new covenants. Of special note for this lecture is what happened when Gentiles started entering Jewish Christianity. We’ll briefly touch upon the first Jerusalem council, Judaizers, and Paul’s capitulation to Jame’s request. Lastly, we’ll see how Paul’s epistles as well as Hebrews make it clear that neither Jewish nor Gentile Christians need to keep the law in order to be saved.

—— Notes ——

New Covenant Basics

testamentum: covenant, testament, will

your bible has one main division between Malachi and Matthew

Old Testament relates to the old covenant and NT to the new that came through Christ

Jer 31.31-34 is the origin for all talk about the new covenant

Jesus’ ministry

new wine into new wine skins

antitheses in Sermon on the Mount

Last supper is when Jesus talks about his death as ratifying the new covenant in his blood

nothing happens until the Gentiles start to come in

Historical Progression

Gentiles begin entering the church

Samaritans?

Ethiopian treasurer (he’s the first!)

Cornelius, the Italian soldier

Peter confronted for entering the house of “uncircumcised men” and eating with them (Acts 11.3)

Peter defends his actions by telling them God accepted them so how could he stand in the way?

speaking in tongues => God granted them spirit => God accepts them => Peter baptized them, accepting them into the family (Acts 11.15-18)

The Antioch Church (lots of Gentiles enter)

some Christians preached in Antioch to Greeks (Acts 11.19-21)

The Jerusalem leadership sent Barnabas (Acts 11.22)

Barnabas “saw the grace of God” and “he was glad” and lived there (Acts 11.23-24)

Barnabas went to get Paul and ministered together in Antioch for a year (Acts 11.25-26)

Antioch was B&P’s home base before going on missionary trips

Paul’s Influence

Cyprus: proconsul Sergius Paulus believed (Acts 13.6-12)

Pisidian Antioch: B&P turn to Gentiles (Acts 13.45-47)

other cities: Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, then reverse order and go back to Antioch

Controversy Breaks Out

read Acts 14.27-15.5

Paul confronts Peter: “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews” (Gal 2.14)

Jerusalem Council

first council meets: council called to deal with controversy over Gentiles coming in

Peter talks about Cornelius

Barnabas & Paul tell about what God has done among the Gentiles

James speaks

they pen an official letter (Acts 15.23-29)

double standard

allows for table fellowship

Some “Judaizers” teach Gentiles need to keep the Law, especially in Galatian churches Paul started

Paul writes to congregations, strongly arguing against Law-keeping

Gal 2.19-21 righteousness does not come through the law

Gal 3.10-29 no one is justified by the law; Christ redeemed us from the law’s curse for disobedience by becoming a curse; Abrahamic promises before law; God gave law to deal with transgressions until the offspring of Ab. came; law was guardian until Christ came; now that faith

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By Sean P Finnegan

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