Covenant (theology)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Covenants in theology refer to:
- A covenant between God and Israel Covenant (Israel)
- Various contracts between God and Man, including Covenant (biblical)
- A contract between God and the followers of Islam
In the Bahá'í Faith, agreements at two levels:
- A contract between God and humanity, that God will always reveal himself and never leave humanity adrift.
- A "lesser covenant" between Bahá'u'lláh and his followers wherein he appoints his eldest son as his successor, and the Bahá'ís agree to follow him (and by implication, whomever he appoints). The stated aim of this covenant is to secure the Bahá'í Faith from schisms. (See Bahá'í divisions)
Within Christianity there is Covenant Theology - various interpretations of a covenant surrounding Jesus's death and resurrection.
The word is also given religious meaning by its use in Biblical interpretation; for more see Covenant (Biblical). Covenant theology in particular focuses on various covenants between God and Israel, and between God and the Christian church; Dispensationalism, on the other hand, uses the terminology in a different sense, although the imagery of covenants is maintained. The book of Daniel speaks of the future Antichrist confirming a covenant with the many for "one week", which he subsequently breaks in the middle of the "week". It also refers to reference between Jews and God.
