1.

A COVENANT:
O THE TERM “TESTAMENT” OFTEN REFERS TO A COVENANT OR AGREEMENT.

FOR INSTANCE, IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD MADE A COVENANT WITH

ISRAEL AT MOUNT SINAI, ESTABLISHING THEM AS HIS PEOPLE AND GIVING
THEM HIS LAWS (EXODUS 19:3–6; 20:1–17; 24). THE BIBLE IS DIVIDED INTO TWO
PARTS: THE OLD TESTAMENT, CONTAINING WRITINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
COVENANT MADE WITH ISRAEL, AND THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHICH UNFOLDS
THE AGREEMENT GOD HAS MADE WITH HUMANKIND THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
(MATTHEW 26:28; 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23–25; HEBREWS 8:6–8).
2. A WILL:
O IN GALATIANS 3:15–17, THE WORD “TESTAMENT” REFERS TO A WILL OR AN

AGREEMENT FOR DISPOSING OF A PERSON’S PROPERTY UPON DEATH, SIMILAR

TO A LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. PAUL COMPARES THE COVENANT GOD
MADE WITH ABRAHAM TO A LEGALLY BINDING WILL, WHERE PROMISES ARE
SET DOWN FOR AN HEIR.
3. A COVENANT:
O THE TERM “TESTAMENT” OFTEN REFERS TO A COVENANT OR AGREEMENT.

FOR INSTANCE, IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD MADE A COVENANT WITH

ISRAEL AT MOUNT SINAI, ESTABLISHING THEM AS HIS PEOPLE AND GIVING
THEM HIS LAWS (EXODUS 19:3–6; 20:1–17; 24). THE BIBLE IS DIVIDED INTO TWO
PARTS: THE OLD TESTAMENT, CONTAINING WRITINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
COVENANT MADE WITH ISRAEL, AND THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHICH UNFOLDS
THE AGREEMENT GOD HAS MADE WITH HUMANKIND THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
(MATTHEW 26:28; 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23–25; HEBREWS 8:6–8).
4. A BLESSING:
O ANOTHER CONTEXT FOR “TESTAMENT” IS A BLESSING OFFERED BY A FATHER

TO HIS CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THE BLESSING OF A FIRSTBORN SON. THESE

BLESSINGS ARE OFTEN GIVEN WHEN THE FATHER IS OLD AND NEARING
DEATH. EXAMPLES INCLUDE ISAAC’S BLESSING UPON JACOB (GENESIS 27:1–46)
AND JACOB’S BLESSING OF HIS TWELVE SONS AND TWO GRANDSONS (GENESIS
48—49).
5. A LITERARY GENRE:
O THE WORD “TESTAMENT” ALSO DEVELOPED INTO A LITERARY GENRE IN

JEWISH LITERATURE. INITIALLY CENTERED AROUND PARENTAL BLESSINGS OF

PATRIARCHS AND CHAMPIONS OF ISRAEL (SUCH AS MOSES’ FINAL BLESSING
UPON THE PEOPLE IN DEUTERONOMY 33:1–29), THIS GENRE EXPANDED TO
INCLUDE TEACHINGS, WISDOM, AND COMMENTARY FROM HISTORICAL
HEROES ON CURRENT EVENTS.