Covenants and Dispensations
By
Dr. Hal Harless
September 18 & 25, 2003
Covenants
I. What is a covenant?
A. Binding obligation based upon an oath
1. Rituals acting out the oath
a. Sacrifice
1) Gen 15
2) Mati’ilu
b. Meal
B. Not a contract
1. Difference between covenants and contracts
2. Need for escape clauses points to binding nature of
covenants
a. Gen 24:1-9
b. Josh 2:8-21
II. Types of covenant
A. Suzerain/vassal
1. Preamble: “I am X . . .”
2. Historical Introduction
3. Provisions/Stipulations
4. Deposition Instructions
5. Divine witnesses
6. Curses and blessings
B. Parity
1. Marriage: Mal 2:14
2. Non-aggression: Gen 21:23-31; Gen 31:44-54
C. Grant
III. Divine Covenants
A. Edenic: Gen 2:15-17
B. Adamic: Gen 3:8-21
C. Noahic: Gen 8:20-9:17
D. Abrahamic: Gen 12:1-3, 7; 13:14-17; 15:4-21; 17:1-21;
2:16-18
E. Land: Deut 29-30
F. Davidic: 2 Sam 7:8-17; 1 Chr 17:7-15 (called a “covenant” in
Ps 89:3, 28, 34, 39)
G. New: Jer 31:31-37
1. Gentiles participate in Christ: Eph 2:11-22
H. Mosaic: Exod 20:1-17ff.; Deut (esp. 27-28, blessings and
curses)
1. End of Mosaic covenant
a. Rom 10:4
b. 2 Cor 3:7-11
c. Gal 3:19-4:7
d. Eph 2:14-16
e. Col 2:13-14
f. Heb 7:11-18
g. Heb 8:7-13
Dispensations
I. What is a dispensation?
A. Definition
1. Greek oikonomia
(“house rule”) is behind English words like “economy.”
a. Oikonomia is the task of an oikonomos
(“steward, house manager”).
b. Eph 3:1–12: Grace.
Cf. 1 Tim 1:4: God’s administration is by faith.
c. Eph 1:10: “fullness of times” = Kingdom
2. Ryrie, “A distinguishable economy in the out-working of
God’s purpose.”
a. Differences
1) Something changed after the fall?
2) Something changed with the giving of the Law?
3) Something changed at the Cross?
4) Something will be different when Jesus returns and sets up
His kingdom?
b. Distinguishable
1) Passive not active
2) Dispensations describe and
covenants prescribe!
3) Dispensations often begin with covenants
c. God’s point of view: Dispensation is economy
d. Man’s point of view: Dispensation is responsibility
3. US example
a. As if US Constitution were a covenant …
b. President Bush administers the stipulations of the
covenant/constitution. Hence, we
describe this as the Bush administration or dispensation.
c. His term in office is the Bush era or age.
d. Imperfect analogy
1) The US Constitution is not a covenant.
2) In dispensations, there are often several covenants in
effect.
3) A dispensation is God’s administration not man’s.
B. Contrast
1. Covenant
a. Active cause vs. passive description
2. Age
a. Dispensations take place during a period of time.
b. They are not synonymous with the period of time.
3. Cycle of human failure/divine judgment accompanies
dispensations, but does not define them.
4. Some discern transitions, again not an integral part of
dispensations.
II. Dispensations in the Bible
A. Innocence
1. Scripture: Gen 1:1–3:7
2. Covenant
a. Edenic
1) SUZERAIN/VASSAL
3. Responsibility: Don’t eat from the one tree
4. Failure: The Fall
B. Conscience
1. Scripture: Gen 3:8–8:19
2. Covenant
a. Adamic (NEW)
1) SUZERAIN/VASSAL
2) Curse on Serpent
3) Curse on Woman
4) Curse on Man
3. Responsibility: Obey conscience
4. Failure: Mankind so sinful that the Flood was required
C. Human Government
1. Scripture: Gen 8:20–11:9
2. Covenants
a. Adamic
b. Noahic (NEW)
1) Grant of the
Earth—Rule for God
2) No more Floods
3) Don’t eat blood
4) Don’t murder
3. Responsibility: Mankind to rule for God
4. Failure: The Tower of Babel
D. Promise
1. Scripture: Gen 11:10–Exod 18:27 (Rom 4:13–15; Gal 3:16–18)
2. Covenants
a. Adamic
b. Noahic
c. Abrahamic (NEW)
1) GRANT
2) Land
3) Seed
4) Blessing
3. Responsibility: Trust God and dwell in the Land
4. Failure: Lack of trust.
End up slaves in Egypt. God
judges Egypt in the Exodus.
E. Law
1. Scripture: Exod 19:1–Matt 27:50; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:46;
John 19:30 (Rom 10:4 NIV)
2. Covenants
a. Adamic
b. Noahic
c. Abrahamic
d. Mosaic (NEW)
1) SUZERAIN/VASSAL
2) 613 commands
3) Sacrificial system (Faith)
e. Land (LATER)
1) GRANT
2) Relates to Abrahamic covenant Land
promise
3) Grant of land but punishment for sin
4) 3 exiles: Assyria, Babylon, Rome
5) Then a Return (Under Grace)
f. Davidic (LATER)
1) GRANT
2) Relates to Abrahamic covenant
Seed promise
3) House/dynasty (Descendant rule forever)
4) Kingdom (Israel will exist to rule over)
5) Throne
3. Responsibility: Obey God
4. Failure: Broke Law and exiled. Gentiles cursed God’s people and were judged.
F. Grace
1. Scripture: Matt 27:51; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47; John
19:31–Rev 19:21 (Heb 9:15–18)
2. Covenants
a. Adamic
b. Noahic
c. Abrahamic
d. Land
e. Davidic
f. New (NEW)
1) GRANT
2) Relates to Abrahamic covenant
Blessing promise
3) Therefore, extends to Gentiles in
Christ
4) Forgiveness
5) New covenant stipulations written on hearts
6) Relationship with God
3. Responsibility: Trust in Jesus
4. Failure: Most don’t trust in Jesus. Rapture and Tribulation.
G. Kingdom or Millennium
1. Scripture: Rev 20:1–15
2. Covenant(s)
a. Adamic
b. Noahic
c. Abrahamic
d. Land
e. Davidic
f. New (NEW)
3. Responsibility: Trust in Jesus and obey His perfect
government
4. Failure: Rebellion at the end of the 1,000y (Rev 20:7–15)
H. New Heavens and New Earth
1. Scripture: Rev 21:1–22:21
2. Covenant(s)
a. Noahic
b. Abrahamic
c. Land
d. Davidic
e. New (NEW)
3. Responsibility: Serve God forever as perfect people in a
perfect world!
III. So what?
A. Resolves difficulties
1. Cain (Gen 4:15) and Lamech (Gen 4:23–24) killed and were not
put to death, but Gen 9:6 commands the death penalty (Conscience vs. Human
Government)?
2. Why did Adam and Eve’s children marry their sisters, Abraham
marry his half-sister (Gen 20:12), and Jacob marry both Rachel and Leah when
Lev 18:9, 18 forbid it (Conscience & Promise vs. Law)?
3. Incest in Lev 18:8; Deut 22:22 was punished by death, but 1
Cor 5:1–5 with excommunication (Law vs. Grace)?
B. Big Picture
1. Progressive revelation and understanding Scripture
2. History demonstrates mankind’s failure and God’s
righteousness (Eph 3:9–10).
3. History is under control (Eph 3:11)