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Covenants Of The Bible, There Are Many Covenants - 2047 Words

In the Bible, there are many covenants. Through a series of covenants, God enters into people’s life and brings people together. The idea of the covenant has been described by Hugenberger as follows: â€Å"A covenant, in its normal sense, is an elected, as opposed to natural, relationship of obligation under oath.† (Jefferey 10) His definition follows that of Mendenhall, who defines covenant more broadly as a â€Å"solemn promise made binding by an oath, which may be either a verbal formula or a symbolic oath.† (Jefferey 10)Like a covenant, a contract is also a binding agreement between two parties that spells out the conditions and obligations of each party, and it also represents commitments, promises and obligations. Although covenants from God, which appear in both the Old and New Testaments, share similar traits with modern treaties or contracts, God’s covenants are still far more important and powerful than any modern treaty or contract. This will be proven by explaining covenants, more specifically, its origins, the traits involved, and how they differ from modern day contracts and treaties. First of all, covenants and contracts come from different origins. One is created by the supreme leader of the world - God; the other is originated from ordinary humankind. The idea of the contract evolves out of human institutions, but the idea of the covenant is rooted in the very nature of God. The stories in the Bible which speaks about the covenants give us anShow MoreRelatedEssay on Covenant Throughout The Old and New Testaments1319 Words   |  6 Pages Those contracts took on many forms and different customs were associated with each. These contracts also called covenants and have many different uses and meanings throughout the bible. Some commitments made in these covenants had been accompanied by self-maledictory oaths or curses that would have been implemented if the covenants were violated (New International Version 25). There are numerous ways to translate the word covenant, and many different types of covenants that are in use throughoutRead MoreThe Old Testament: The Five Covenants Essay1550 Words   |  7 Pagesword ‘covenant’ is, in the Old Testament, it is the Hebrew word ‘berith’ and is used many times in different texts. Some scholars my say that the word covenants is hard to find a true meaning. You will hear the word covenant throughout the Old Testament. I think sometimes when we hear the word covenant only one or two covenants come to mind. There are many covenants throughout the Bible. I will attempt to define and explain five covenants. These five covenants are: Noahic Covenant, AbrahamicRead MoreResearch Paper1634 Words   |  7 Pages A covenant is a promise or an agreement with binding obligations. (Arnold) In relations to the Bible it signifies God’s pledge to bless mankind. The characteristics of a covenant are such that they are irreversible and permanently binding. The Bible contains many covenants, most of which are contained in the Old Testament. One of which is prophesized in the Old Testament, and for Christians the promise is fulfilled in the New Testament. The major covenants in the Bible are the NoahicRead MoreThe Idea Of A Covenant1706 Words   |  7 PagesMany people have a different understanding of what the word â€Å"covenant† truly is but to the Catholic Church, it only has one correct meaning. According to the Catholic teaching, a covenant is said to be a binding agreement between man and God in which you cannot break. It is something not to be taken lightly but rather to heart however it is often compared to a contract which many feel are not similar in any form. With this i n mind, the purpose of this paper is to examine the notion of a covenantRead MoreCommon Biblical Theme1333 Words   |  6 Pagestheme of the Bible? If so how did you answer that question? My response to this question would be that we all must consider the fundamentals of the Bible. If the Bible is truly one book, the answer would have to be yes. This is most certainly the answer of Christian people from many places. Places with different languages, and a culture in which, for almost 2000 years, have continued to proclaim that the Bible is a revelation from God, our Heavenly Father. When looking through the Bible, you willRead MoreAnalysis Of The Bible : Course Facilitator Essay1160 Words   |  5 Pagesto interpret the Bible, however, there are many incorrect ways and much arguing over who is more correct. Most of this has to do with Satanists who go incognito as Christians in order to mislead man away from God. Many sincere people fall prey to these Satanists incognito, and through the sincerity of their belief, persuade others that their misunderstanding is the correct way. Do not trust a person s sincerity. Read the Bible and pray to God for understanding and read the Bible again. It helpsRead MoreThe Religion Of The Bible1537 Words   |  7 Pagesthings that has helped us to teach in order to grow has been the Covenant Affirmations. One affirmation, the centrality of the Scripture, has been at the core of our ministry at Elements. We have always stood upon the belief that the Bible is the ultimate source on Christian living. This was our stance even before we affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church. The Bible stands alone in this area. At our church, the Bible is the center of our preaching, teaching and small groups. Our smallRead More Promises To Keep Essay1279 Words   |  6 PagesPromises To Keep The covenant has been a major theme in the books of Genesis and Exodus. A covenant is an agreement between two parties, which is not intended to be broken. On several occasions, God has established a covenant with certain people in order to bless them. In return, they would love, serve, and obey Him as their one true God. The first major covenant God made was with Noah. During Noah’s time, the world became a haven of wickedness in a multitude of ways. God’s heart was grievedRead MoreCovenant Theology: The Relationship of the Jewish People to God and Israel764 Words   |  3 PagesCovenant theology: The relationship of the Jewish people to God and Israel In the Torah, the bond between Israel and God is negotiated in terms of a covenant, or a legal obligation. The relation of man to the Deity was also conceived of in Biblical times as a covenant concluded by God with certain men or nations, from which all laws derived their sanctity and perpetuity. God, when creating the heavens and the earth, made a covenant with them to observe the rules of day and night (Covenant, 1906Read MoreAbrahamic Covenant of Grace Essay1231 Words   |  5 PagesCOVENANT OF GRACE The New Testament portion of the Bible is widely accepted as the book of hope, grace, love and forgiveness. However, the Old Testament also provides evidence of God’s grace and love for his people. Richard Dawkins opposes this view of the Old Testament God .Richard Dawkins in his book, The God of Delusion states that the God of the Old Testament is a God who is unjust, unforgiving, and vindictive amongst many other negative human nature attributes. Richard Dawkins view of God

The Natural Cycle of Humanity and the Decay of Modern Society in The Wasteland Free Essays

There is no romance, no passion, only a mundane circular sequence of events, â€Å"crowds of people, walking round in a ring† (56). In The Wasteland, by T. S. We will write a custom essay sample on The Natural Cycle of Humanity and the Decay of Modern Society in The Wasteland or any similar topic only for you Order Now Eliot, the society of the twentieth century is described as detached, dreary and monotonous. It is a collection of dysfunctional relationships and tedious tasks, saturated with an anxiety about death. There is a parallel between the atrophy of society and the land destroyed during the Second World War. To escape a routine and apathetic existence, humans strive for the unattainable, to overcome the limits of humanity. However any departure from the natural cycle of the human world leads to the emergence of the wasteland. Although death haunts the speakers in the poem, it is liberation in comparison to the horror of the wasteland. There is persistent angst and fear of death in the poem, yet death is everywhere. The many speakers in the poem wish for immortality and to overcome the confines of humanity. In â€Å"The Burial of the Dead† the woman, anxious about her fate, goes to see the fortune-teller, Madame Sosostris, who pulls out the â€Å"Hanged Man† tarot card and warns her to â€Å"fear death by water† (55). The fortune-teller’s words reoccur later in â€Å"Death by Water†, a description of the grotesque death of â€Å"Phlebas the Phoenician. † His death, symbolized by â€Å"the whirlpool,† confirms that there is no regeneration; there is no return from â€Å"the whirlpool. † The realization of the fortune implies that fate cannot be defeated. In â€Å"What the Thunder Said† Eliot again states that there is no escape from death: â€Å"He who was living in now dead/ We who are living are now dying† (328-329). In â€Å"The Burial of the Dead† the speaker desires to abandon memories, he describes spring as cruel; it causes sorrowful memories to resurface, while â€Å"winter kept us warm/ covering Earth in forgetful snow† (5-6). What he does not realize is that human existence is a collection of fragments that distinct memories in an ongoing cycle, illustrated in the first stanza of â€Å"The Burial of the Dead. † Abandonment of memories leads to a futile existence. The wasteland first appears in the second stanza of â€Å"The Burial of the Dead† contrasting the first stanza, which is full of life and memories. The narrator is separated from the natural course of existence and is addressing a person of the human world, â€Å"Son of man (†¦ ) for you only know a heap of broken images† (20-23). The listener is part of the human cycle, he is still part of time: â€Å"Your shadow at morning striding behind you/ Or your shadow rising to meet you† (28-29). He does not understand the true fear that comes once time ceases to exist the way the speaker does: â€Å"I will show you fear in a handful of dust† (30). The speaker has disconnected from society and drifted into the wasteland, suggested by Eliot’s diction: â€Å"stony rubbish†, â€Å"dead tree†, â€Å"dry stone†, â€Å"dust†. Only there has he discovered the true meaning of fear; an unearthly abyss. The wasteland is a situation or a place more terrifying than human imagination can conceive. It is complete emptiness, devoid of the structures of person, place and time. Without time memories become meaningless repetitions and cease to exist. The epigram at the beginning of the poem introduces the immortal character Sibyl. Sybil is detached from the rest of the world by her cursed immortality and lives withering away and shriveled up, longing for death, the only escape from her suffering. The other immortal character in the poem, Tiresias, is â€Å"blind, throbbing between two lives† (line 218), also alienated from the human world, not only by his immortality but also because he is a hermaphrodite. Sybil and Tiresias’s separation from the sequence of life compel them to lead a miserable existence. The voices of these immortal characters portray how only once immortality is experienced can death become a salvation, a place of peace. The modern relationships that Eliot portrays are devoid of love, companionship and desire. The theme â€Å"when love fails, a wasteland develops† is recurring throughout the poem. The author constantly alludes to the legend of the Fisher King. In the legend, The Fisher King was hurt and became impotent and ill, disabling him to care for his kingdom. He was left alone to lead a meaningless life, fishing. Without his love the land deteriorated, lost its fertility and perished into the wasteland. Similarly, in the modern society, alienation from the natural world and a depletion of love leads to decay. The woman in â€Å"A Game of Chess† attempts to speak to her significant other, distressed about their relationship. She pleads with him to stay with her, to speak to her and to share his thoughts with her (111-113). He is detached, remaining silent and thinking only of death. The man has separated from humanity while the woman remains part of the cyclical existence. The couple remains together yet their relationship has become a wasteland; there is nothing between them. In â€Å"A Game of Chess†, Lil and Albert’s relationship is presented though a conversation in a pub. Lil is revolting to Albert, he tells her that he cannot even bare to look at her (144). Lil’s body is disintegrating, a consequence of the pills, given to her by the pharmacist, that she took to induce an abortion. They caused her to drastically age and lose her teeth. Lil’s desire to not have children is portrayed as unnatural, â€Å"What you get married for it you don’t want children? † (164). Lil’s actions lead to her body becoming a wasteland. The encounter between the banker and the typist in â€Å"The Fire Sermon† again manifests the absence of love. Their meeting is solely sexual and devoid of any feelings. Even the sex holds no pleasure and is non-reproductive. The woman is indifferent to their relations and upon his departure thinks: â€Å"Well now that’s over: and I’m glad it’s over† (252), as if she had completed another chore. These series of affairs reflect the atmosphere of the society, the lack of intimacy and the disconnection of human relations. The wasteland is a consequence of the failure to care, to love, to give birth and to partake in the cycle. T. S Eliot creates a parallel between the wretched land of the Fisher King and the slaughter, destruction and ruin created by World War II. The barren landscape left by World War II reflects the inner decay of humanity the same way the sterile land of the Fisher King is an outward projection of his inner sickness. The desolate landscape of the wasteland described in the beginning of the poem, returns along with the character of the Fisher King. Eliot describes the miserable condition of the wasteland, sterile, dry and unbearable. He creates a surreal image of a desert â€Å"mountains of rock without water†, â€Å"endless plains†, â€Å"cracked earth† (370), and â€Å"bats with baby faces in the violet light† (380). This place transforms into the barren kingdom of the Fisher King, suggested by â€Å"the empty chapel†, which is an allusion to the Chapel Perilous. In the legend of the Holy Grail, Parsifal found the Holy Grail in the Chapel Perilous and life returned to the land. However, in the empty chapel in the poem there are only â€Å"dry bones†, signifying that vitality will not return to the land like it does in the legend. Instead society continues to decay illustrated in the line â€Å"London Bridge is falling down† (427). In reality there is no Holy Grail, there is no change: â€Å"I sat upon the shore/ Fishing with the arid plain behind me† (424-425). The banal, circular sequence of human life continues. Eliot explores the themes of life, death, immortality and alienation throughout The Wasteland. These themes are examined in various historical contexts, from ancient myths to the modern society and tied together by the immortal characters, Sibyl and Tiresias. Disconnected by the varying historical context and the many narrators, T. S. Eliot’s style of writing in The Wasteland mirrors the disintegrated moments that give meaning to human life. Human life is cyclical, routine and mundane with memories as the only specks of color on an otherwise gray canvas. Death is not an ending; it is only part of the cycle. Immortality, the desire to forget and deprivation of emotion and of love are unnatural and create a partition from the human world where the wasteland appears. Modern Society consists of failed relationships and hollow humans existing in the â€Å"Unreal City. † Its loss of fertility and love results in the emergence of a wasteland. How to cite The Natural Cycle of Humanity and the Decay of Modern Society in The Wasteland, Papers

Shylock Diary Entry free essay sample

The bond state, I can take pound of flesh from any part of his body. Also the bond was sealed today with his blood. It is like father Abraham laid mercy on me by giving this chance, a chance to make revenge on Christians and Antonio. Oh, the name Antonio angers me , he the one who called me a dog, spat on me in the Rialto and called me unbeliever and his reasons is that I am Jew. When the day comes in three months from now and he can’t pay the three thousand ducats. I will say to him look to your bond!!! I will not give mercy for him. In the other hand maybe if I do lay mercy on him and , if all ships does not come back in three months and thus Bassanio won Portia’s hand in marriage , I can get the money that they owe thrice as much. We will write a custom essay sample on Shylock Diary Entry or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Also, if neither that happens I can make them my slaves for life because I’m see as a fiend or a devil. He hates me because I am Jew and I lend money with interest. What I his problem with us Jew, we are human like them. In an instance if you poison a Jew and a Christian both of them will die. What else then he expect me to do if I don’t lend money; Jews are only entitled as professional bankers. We can’t own land, we could not seek for any other jobs and we are mistreated and their reason is that we are a Jew. Is it because we can’t accept their god and entitle him like another prophet or is it because a Jew killed Jesus who is also a Jew? O father Abraham helped me have peace of mind Launcelot is giving me headache, how slow is he. I know need to know need to go cause I might loss more money if I do not go now. July 29 1601 Today my servant Lancealot, Gobbo’s son informed me that he wants to serve Bassanio. He who is a Christian that borrowed money from me and used Antonio as a bond. Oh, that little merry devil will indeed will leave me today. He says Bassanio is giving out new uniform for his new servants that are going to Belmont with him to woo Portia. Ay, what a proud, they borrowed money from me and not only that they took my servant , also with the money theyve borrowed. Gladly, oh dear to hear, Lancealot also informed me that Bassanio, is celebrating a feast to night ,indeed. I did not thought that three thousand will washed away this easily, oh my, my , I forget that Bassanio is on the line here. Bassanio who live the high life with out his reach . the one who owe money to everyone to a lot of people . what a truly wasteful man he is. Tonight I will see him throw away his money that might guarantee me more money of revenge!!. I just feel disgusted that they only invited me to flatter me . also , I don’t want to go because last night I dream of money bags and I feel something fishy will happen tonight by that I may regret . tonight ill just go to see Bassanio waste his money