testament Summary and Overview

occurs twelve times in the New Testament (Heb. 9:15, etc.) as the rendering of the Gr. diatheke, which is twenty times rendered "covenant" in the Authorized Version, and always so in the Revised Version. The Vulgate translates incorrectly by testamentum, whence the names "Old" and "New Testament," by which we now designate the two sections into which the Bible is divided. (See BIBLE T0000580.)

TES'TAMENT Heb 9:15. The word "testament," when applied to our Scriptures (as "the Old and New Testaments"), is used in the same sense with "covenant." The old covenant is spoken of in Ex 24:8, and the new in Matt 26:28. The former was ratified by the blood of sacrifices, and the latter (of which the other was a type) was ratified by the blood of Christ.
The chief and most important use of the word covenant is in relation to the two great dispensations which are distinguished as the old and new, or as the covenant of the law and the covenant of the gospel. The former was made with the children of Israel through Moses, and rested much in the outward ceremonies and observances which the law enjoined (meats and drinks, and divers washings and carnal ordinances). The new covenant was made through Christ, sealed by his own blood, and secures to every believer the blessings of salvation and eternal life. Comp. Ex 20:24; Gal 3; Heb 8. The titles "Old and New Testaments" arose from the inaccurate rendering of the word "covenant" by testamentum in the Latin Vulgate.

"Testament" for each of the two divisions of the Bible comes from the Latin Vulgate version. In Matthew 26:28, "this is My blood of the new testament" would perhaps better be translated "covenant," for a testament does not require blood shedding. Still, here and in the original (Exodus 24:8) quoted by Christ the idea of testamentary disposition enters. For his blood was the seal of the testament. See below. Moses by "covenant" means one giving the heavenly inheritance (typified by Canaan) after the testator's death, which was represented by the sacrificial blood he sprinkled. Paul by testament means one with conditions, and so far a covenant, the conditions being fulfilled by Christ, not by us. We must indeed believe, but even this God works in His people (Ephesians 2:8). Hebrews 9:17, "a testament is in force after men are dead," just as the Old Testament covenant was in force only in connection with slain sacrificial victims which represent the death of Christ. The fact of the death must be "brought forward" (Hebrews 9:16) to give effect to the will. The word" death," not sacrifice or slaying, shows that "testament" is meant in Hebrews 9:15-20. These requisites of a "testament" here concur: 1. The Testator. 2. The heirs. 3. Goods. 4. The Testator's death. 5. The fact of His death brought forward. In Matthew 26:28 two additional requisites appear. 6. Witnesses, His disciples. 7. The seal, the sacrament of the Lord's supper, the sign of His blood, wherewith the testament is sealed. The heir is ordinarily the successor of him who dies, and who so ceases to have possession. But Christ comes to life again, and is Himself (including all that He had), in the power of tits now endless life, His people's inheritance; in His being heir (Hebrews 1:2; Psalm 2:8) they are heirs.(See COVENANT; HEIR; WILLS.)