Part 1 – Significance of the KJV Bible’s Use of the Words ‘Covenant’ and ‘Testament’

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Covenant or Testament?.

The verse below is one of the two mentions of the “new testament” in Paul’s epistles, written to the members of the Gentile church that Paul called “the body of Christ.” But, what does Paul mean when he says we of Christ’s body are “able ministers of the new testament?

“[God] Who also hath made us [grace believers today] able ministers of the new testament; NOT of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)

Is he referring to Israel’s “new Covenant” as seen in Jeremiah 31:31-33?

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32  Not according to the [old] covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I Will Put My Law In Their Inward Parts, and Write It In Their Hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jer. 31:31-33

The words ‘testament’ and ‘covenant’ seem to be used interchangeably in Scripture but in fact they actually are quite different words. So long as we keep their definitions straight, the matter is simple. While people use “covenant” and “testament” interchangeably in normal conversation, it’s best to leave them in their respective verses as seen in the KJV Bible. Most modern Bible versions are corrupted, removing references to the “new testament” and inserting “new covenant,” thereby altering their meanings.

The Greek word diathēkē for “testament” is the same as for “covenant,” but they are different terms in English. The KJV translators used the word “testament” to emphasize a special teaching as we will see.

  • A “testament” hinges upon “the Death of The Testator(Heb. 9:16-17). More on this later.
  • A “covenant” appears in our KJV some 295 times, mostly in the O.T. Genesis through Malachi, but only 20 times from Matthew through Revelation. A “covenant” is a Contract or Agreement. In the Bible it is used for an agreement or promise such as God made with various people in the O.T.; e.g., Noah, Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and the National Israel.

Paul clearly wrote how that Gentile grace believers have had and still have NO Covenant Status.

“That at that time ye [Gentiles] were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and Strangers from the COVENANTS of PROMISE, having no hope, and without God in the world:” Eph. 2:12

The word “testament,” is a more specific term than “covenant.” The word “testament” is a term from the Latin ‘testamentum,’ related toa testator’s last will and testament.’ “TESTAMENT” appears 14 times in our KJV ONLY as seen in the books of Matt. through Rev. Note in the verses below how that the new testament” relates to Jesus’ death and “SHED BLOOD.”

  • Matt. 26:28: “this is MY [Jesus’] blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
  • Mark 14:24: “… This is MY blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.”
  • Luke 22:20b: “… This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you [all Israel].”

Understanding Paul’s Grace Epistle’s Reference to ‘The New Testament

Paul wrote how God “made us [grace believers today] able ministers of the new testament. 2 Corinthians 3:6.  Note that Paul also wrote this below during the early Acts period, quoting Jesus speaking to His Jewish “little flock” disciples concerning the bread and wine of the so-called ‘communion table’ as “the cup is the new testament in my blood” in vss. 24-25 below. We must realize Paul wrote this while Paul was still going to “the JEW FIRST,” writing 1st and 2nd CorinthiansDuring The Acts Period. In 1Cor 1:2 Paul had told them to follow him ‘but” “keep the ordinances [Grk. paradosis, Jew’s tradition]”

“For I [Paul] have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he [Jesus] had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my [physical] body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” 1Cor. 11:23-25

Paul then continues in 1Cor. 11:27-34 saying some frightening things. Paul said ‘taking the cup and bread “unworthily (v27) would bringjudgment, chastening (v31) and the damnation (v28) in the form of sickness or death (v30) for the offenders. Obviously, these are performance based conditional punishment statements prove that Paul cannot be addressing the GENTILE GRACE BELIEVERS Who HAVE NO SUCH LAWS during this age of “the grace of God.” Rather, Paul must have been addressing the Messianic Christians believers of Israel’s “little flock” (Luke 12:32).

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s [physical] body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep [are dead]. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. 1 Corinthians 11:27-34

This above hardly sounds like grace-age grace to me. Under the Lord’s pure grace-age today, ALL external religious ritual observances are eliminated, such as those listed here in Colossians.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat [food], or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” Col. 2:16 

Paul says Grace must be 100% or it is not grace!

“And if by grace, then is it NO MORE of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.” Romans 11:6a (KJV)

“…ye are NOT under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14b (KJV)

Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:6 clearly says this about the grace believer’s blessings of the “new testament” – they are ‘not Law based.’

“[God] Who also hath made us [the grace believers] able ministers of [the blessings of] the new testament; NOT OF THE LETTER [the LAW], but of the spirit: for THE LETTER KILLETH, but the spirit giveth life.” 2 Corinthians. 3:6

How can we explain Paul words in 1Cor. 11:27-34, above? Christians need to understand that 1Corinthians was written during the Acts the transition period from Israel’s performance based, Law Program to Paul’s Grace based program for the Gentile “body of Christ.” Note that he communion of Lord’s table, women’s head coverings, and the charismatic gifts of that Acts period were mainly among the 12 Messianic Apostles before Paul’s conversion, and continued for a time only during the Acts period when Paul was going to the Jew first.” As such these were in place temporarily, ceasing with the Acts transition period.

(For more detail. http://www.artlicursi.com/articles/part-3-%E2%80%93-acts-%E2%80%98transition-period%E2%80%99 )

If Paul’s warning of judgment and punishment unto death for taking the bread and wine “unworthily” are for us today, then perhaps we also might today add Paul’s admonition concerning women’s ‘head coverings’ as seen in 1Cor. 11:5-6. All these items mainly appear only in the early Acts Period when “the twelve” were preaching to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” and phased out by the end of the Acts period. Note the change to come as note by Paul saying 1Corinthians 14:18, “I speak in tongues more than ye all,” but also having said the charismatic gifts will cease; e.g., tongues, they shall cease(1 Cor 13:8, see below).

“I [Paul] thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 1 Corinthians 14:18 (KJV)

Charity never faileth: but whether there be PROPHECIES, they shall fail; whether there be TONGUES, they shall cease; whether there be [a word of] knowledge, it shall vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:8 (KJV)