Original scientific paper

The Features and Meaning of the New Covenant (Berit Hadasah) in Jeremiah 31:31-34

Božo Lujić ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The article, »The Features and Meaning of the New Covenant (berit hadasah) in Jeremiah 31:31-34« analyses this text about the new covenant with a historical, critical, structural and semantic perspective. Namely, Jeremiah 31:31-34 is a unique passage not only in the Book of Jeremiah but also in the entire Old Testament. It is perceived as the peak of the Old Testament and a text with which it is possible to build bridges between the Old and New Testaments while at the same time destroying them. A proper interpretation can contribute to proper relations between Christians and Jews. Exegeses attribute the text to Deuteronomy, while today, to post-Deuteronomic succession even though they see certain traces of Jeremiah's thoughts in it. Taking into account its meaning and reception this text has its greatest significance in the Old Testament. Heb 8:8-12 cites this text and it is the longest citation in the Old and New Testaments. berit hadasah - new covenant - can be found only in this particular place in the Old Testament.
In analysing the text Jr 31:31-34 we started from the results of historical-critical research. At first, doubts were raised about Jeremiah being the author of this text (B. Duhm, R. Smend). Later, it was believed that Jeremiah had significant influence on elements of the text (P. Volz, G. von Rad), followed by theories of Deuteronomic reviews (W. Thiel, S. Herrmann, S. Bohmer), to the latest theories of post-Deuteronomic amendments (W. Groft).
Research then became intensive considering the actual term berit hadasah: whether this means the old but improved covenant - restitutio ad integrum (Chr. Levin) or in fact a »new covenant« which in essence is qualitatively identical to the covenant of Sinai (N. Lohfink), or the new covenant continues on from the old despite some differences (E. Zenger).
An analysis in an exegetic-theological context of Jr 31:31-34 sets the text in the »Book of Consolation«, (Jr 31-33) and notes that within the five prophecies of redemption, this text about the new covenant has a central place.
An analysis of the actual text 31:31-34 shows that the text represents the promise that is evident in the use of the future form of the verb krt. A lingual analysis shows the significance of the personal pronouns I - they where the I relates to God's emphasised actions compared to those who belong to the fathers and people that the Lord led out of Egypt, but equally so with current Judea and Israel. This creates a continuation in the violation of the covenant. On the contrary, God gives a »new covenant« to the heart of the people and nation. The consequence of that covenant on an anthropological basis is the realisation of God without limits, and of the forgiveness of sins. Above all it is important that the new covenant will not be breakable.
Are the old and new covenants identical? From the analysis we find: if the covenant is observed from God's perspective it is the same because it has the same intention by God and the same recipients are in question if the »new covenant« however, is observed from a human perspective then the »new covenant« is indeed new in some vital elements: God's and human will be one, the new covenant shall be realised and executed from within hence there will be no need for mediators, the new covenant will not be able to be broken and finally there will be a radical forgiveness of sins. The Old covenant was the law that acted outside while the new is founded on anthropology and creates a new man and then a new community. Is the new covenant old or new? It is old and new. Old - if there is continuity between the old and new but new because it represents a new beginning of a quality relationship that is different between God and people.

Keywords

new covenant; Torah; revelation within; cognition of God; forgiveness of sins

Hrčak ID:

50706

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/50706

Publication date:

14.4.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 2.746 *