In biblical terms, the concept of "ratification" involves the formal confirmation or validation of a covenant, promise, or agreement. This concept is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where God establishes covenants with His people, and these covenants are often ratified through specific acts or signs.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the ratification of covenants is a significant theme. One of the earliest examples is the covenant God made with Noah after the flood. In Genesis 9:11-17, God promises never to destroy the earth with a flood again, and He ratifies this covenant with the sign of the rainbow: "I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth" (Genesis 9:13).

Another prominent example is the covenant with Abraham. In Genesis 15, God ratifies His promise to Abraham by a solemn ceremony involving the cutting of animals, a common ancient Near Eastern practice for covenant ratification. God passes between the pieces, symbolizing His commitment to the covenant: "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your descendants I have given this land'" (Genesis 15:18).

The Mosaic Covenant is ratified in Exodus 24, where Moses reads the Book of the Covenant to the people, and they respond, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient" (Exodus 24:7). Moses then sprinkles the blood of the sacrifices on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words" (Exodus 24:8).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of ratification is most clearly seen in the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ. The Last Supper is a pivotal moment where Jesus speaks of the New Covenant ratified by His blood: "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you" (Luke 22:20). This act signifies the fulfillment and ratification of the promises made in the Old Testament, now realized through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ.

The Epistle to the Hebrews elaborates on this theme, emphasizing that the New Covenant is superior to the old because it is established on better promises and ratified by the perfect sacrifice of Christ. Hebrews 9:15 states, "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant" .

Theological Implications

The ratification of covenants in the Bible underscores the faithfulness and sovereignty of God. It highlights His commitment to His promises and His desire for a relationship with His people. The ratification acts serve as tangible assurances of God's unchanging nature and His plan for redemption through Jesus Christ. The New Covenant, ratified by Christ's blood, assures believers of eternal life and a restored relationship with God, fulfilling the prophetic promises of the Old Testament and establishing a new era of grace and truth.3316. mesites -- an arbitrator, a mediator
... 3316 (a "mediator") intervenes to restore peace between two parties,
especially as it fulfills a compact or ratifies a covenant. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3316.htm - 7k

Treats of How God Suspends the Soul in Prayer by a Trance, Ecstasy ...
... You will learn how His Majesty ratifies these espousals; probably this is done when
He ravishes the soul by ecstasies, thus depriving it of its faculties; if ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter iv treats of how.htm

The Eternity of God
... Hebrews 1:1. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.' The doubling of the word
ratifies the certainty of it, as the doubling of Pharaoh's dream. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/3 the eternity of god.htm

On Sacraments in General
... II. A sacrament, therefore, is a sacred and visible sign or token and seal instituted
by God, by which he ratifies to his covenant people the gracious promise ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lx on sacraments in.htm

Simon's Explanation of the Three Last Books of the Pentateuch.
... For as touch, by seizing the things that are seen by the other senses, sums them
up and ratifies them, testing what is rough, or warm, or clammy, (or cold); so ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xi simons explanation of the.htm

The First Epistle of St. Peter
... people, who are thereby bound to God. The blood ratifies the compact or bond
between God and the people. Peter's point is that the new ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the first epistle of st.htm

Appendix: Polemical Fragments
... For, as in the case of parliament, even if the king have pardoned a man, it must
be ratified; but if parliament ratifies without the king, or refuses to ratify ...
/.../pascal/pensees/section xiv appendix polemical fragments.htm

Treatise on the Priesthood. Book iii.
... to bind, but only the body: whereas this binding lays hold of the soul and penetrates
the heavens; and what priests do here below God ratifies above, and the ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/treatise on the priesthood book 3.htm

'The Love of Thine Espousals'
... Ver. margin). It ratifies the compact on both sides. God 'hath made' it, in accepting
the sprinkled blood; they have made it, in being sprinkled therewith. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the love of thine espousals.htm

Election Confirmed by the Calling of God. The Reprobate Bring Upon ...
... Some make man a fellow-worker with God in such a sense, that man's suffrage ratifies
election, so that, according to them, the will of man is superior to the ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 24 election confirmed by.htm

Introduction.
... place that the Creed of the 318 (the original Nicene Creed) remain untouched; and
on account of those who impugn the Holy Spirit, it ratifies and confirms the ...
/.../vincent/the commonitory of vincent of lerins/introduction.htm

Ratifies (1 Occurrence)
...Ratifies (1 Occurrence). Matthew 26:28 for this is my blood which is to be poured
out for many for the remission of sins--the blood which ratifies the Covenant. ...
/r/ratifies.htm - 6k

Lord's (548 Occurrences)
... In this ordinance Christ ratifies his promises to his people, and they on their
part solemnly consecrate themselves to him and to his entire service. ...
/l/lord's.htm - 88k

Ratified (5 Occurrences)

/r/ratified.htm - 7k

Rating (1 Occurrence)

/r/rating.htm - 6k

Seal (47 Occurrences)
... fasten it. 5. (n.) That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; that
which authenticates; that which secures; assurance. 6. (n ...
/s/seal.htm - 38k

Sanction (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Solemn or ceremonious ratification; an official act of a superior by which
he ratifies and gives validity to the act of some other person or body ...
/s/sanction.htm - 7k

Covenant (309 Occurrences)
... Thus Christ fulfils the type in a twofold way: He is the sacrifice upon which the
covenant is based, whose blood ratifies it, and He is also, like Moses, the ...
/c/covenant.htm - 101k

New (1850 Occurrences)
... Thus Christ fulfils the type in a twofold way: He is the sacrifice upon which the
covenant is based, whose blood ratifies it, and He is also, like Moses, the ...
/n/new.htm - 101k

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