Promises, Promises… The Difference between Promises, Contracts and Covenants in the Old Testament (and in the Church)

Promise Informal Do not need to have a ceremony Can be broken easily (even if it is bad to do so) There is a plan that one side will do something for another; there may be a sharing between the sides of something I promise to clean my room

Two Types of Promises: Promise Kept Promise Broken

Contract vs. Covenant Contract A mutual agreement between two or more people Legal consequences Both have responsibilities to carry out the contract Yours is yours and mine is mine Can be broken I have a contract to work at St. Paul’s parish Covenant A mutual agreement between two people It can have legal consequences Ceremony is needed Cannot be broken Usually both sides have responsibilities Makes you mine and me yours Forms a family Snow White and Prince Charming get married

Contract vs. Covenant Contract Example:Covenant Example: