Source: Margaret Barker, Temple Theology: An Introduction (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 33–51.
Blood_Covenant_A_Cosmic_Blueprint.m4a
This topic from Margaret Barker's ”Temple Theology", centers on the Jerusalem Temple and creation's harmony, offers a crucial understanding often overshadowed by the more familiar Deuteronomic perspective. We will examine various covenants in the Old Testament, highlighting a pristine "eternal covenant" rooted in the divine plans and unity of creation, maintained by the high priesthood and linked to atonement. We will show that the abuse of knowledge by rebellious spiritual beings led to the breaking of this covenant and the subsequent disharmony of the world, a theme echoed in both Old and New Testament texts, as well as extra-biblical traditions like the Enoch literature, ultimately arguing that understanding this older temple theology is vital for grasping the deeper roots of Christian concepts and the true meaning of the "new covenant."
For many, the word "covenant" immediately brings to mind the Last Supper, when Jesus holds up a cup and says, "This is my blood of the new covenant." It feels like a familiar, foundational moment—the beginning of something entirely new.
But what if this idea is far older, deeper, and more cosmic than we've been led to believe? What if the concept of the covenant wasn't just a promise between God and a group of people, but the very blueprint of reality? Theological research into the Bible's oldest layers reveals a profound understanding of the covenant that has been largely overshadowed and hidden in plain sight.
This post will explore five of these surprising takeaways, digging beneath the surface of familiar words to uncover a forgotten world of meaning.