Are the OT and NT Dual Covenants?

The short answer is no.  Instead of dual covenants, the OT (Old Testament) is the solid foundation on which the NT (New Testament) is built.

The Old Testament was inspired by God's Holy Spirit to primarily explain the covenant God gave to Moses.  Numerous prophets, such as Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah expounded on these laws and called the people to repentance.  (King David and King Solomon also contributed to the OT writings).  These writings, called the Tanakh, are filled with types and shadows and promises that pointed the Hebrew people to a coming Messiah.

Examples of types and shadows and promises are:

             Genesis 3:15: "He [the Messiah] shall crush your head [Satan]."

             Numbers 21:4-9:  If a person was bitten by a viper, all he or she had to do was look at the pole and image Moses built to be saved and healed.  

             Leviticus 4: animals were commanded to be sacrificed to cover a person's sins. 

The New Testament writings, however, were inspired by the Holy Spirit to explain the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  As the Jewish Messiah, He perfectly lived as the God/man, thereby fulfilling the Old Covenant.

Examples of OT fulfillment:

  1.  Gen 3 is fulfilled by Hebrews 2:14 in which Jesus, by his death, destroys the devil. 
  2.  Num 21 is fulfilled by John 3:14-15 in which we look to Jesus on the cross and are saved and healed.
  3.  Lev 4 is fulfilled by John 1:29 in which Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb of God who  pays for a person's sins.

A beautiful building has a solid foundation.  But when we look at the structure, we do not say, "What a beautiful foundation;" we say, "What a beautiful building."

In the same way, the Tanakh is the solid foundation on which the New Covenant Christian fellowship is built.  The OT and NT are therefore not dual covenants existing side by side today.

The bottom line is:  the OT teaches Law; the NT teaches grace.  John 1:17 says, "The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (KJV).  

Comment or question?  My email is:  kenfredrick30@gmail.com.