New Testament, TERM

The word testament

This section explains the etymological background of the term 'testament' in 'New Testament'. In Christian theology, the New Testament is seen as the fulfillment of the Old (Mosaic) covenant. However, there is disagreement with Jewish interpretations, which do not accept the Christian claim that this was prophesied in the Book of Jeremiah. The section elaborates on the linguistic nuances, detailing how the Hebrew word 'brit' meaning 'covenant' or 'alliance' was translated into Greek as 'diatheke', meaning 'will' or 'testament', which then carried into Latin as 'testamentum'. This translation had significant theological implications for how these sacred texts were perceived in relation to Jesus' death.

The phrase New Testament as the collection of scriptures

This section covers the historical development of the phrase 'New Testament' to refer to the collection of Christian scriptures from the first and second centuries. The term traces back to Tertullian and his efforts to distinguish between the Old and New Testaments, where the New Testament was seen as a continuation and fulfillment of the Old Testament. By the fourth century, a distinction between the two collections was well established, though the contents were not strictly defined. The New Testament serves as the fulfillment of the Old, with the same 'testator', Christ, who brings a new covenant that completes what was begun with the old covenant.