Was the covenant God established at Mt Sinai only between God and Israel? Gentiles could join that first covenant but the NT seems to indicate that. The Gentiles were foreigners to that covenant. Using the scripture only. Was the first covenant a covenant of legal works, a covenant of the flesh?
I asked AI the questions below.
(1) who the Sinai covenant was made with
(2) whether Gentiles were inside or outside of it, of the first covenant
(3) whether Scripture itself characterizes it as a covenant of “legal works” or “the flesh.”
(4) only use the scripture as the source
Here is the reply from AI to the three questions above.
1. Was the Sinai covenant only between God and Israel?
Yes. Scripture is explicit: the covenant at Sinai was made with Israel alone.
Key verses
Exodus 19:3–6
God speaks to
“the house of Jacob…the sons of Israel” and offers them the covenant.
Exodus 24:3–8
Israel alone responds,
“All that the LORD has spoken we will do,” and Moses sprinkles
the blood of the covenant on
the people of Israel.
Deuteronomy 5:2–3
“The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.
The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers,
but with us, all of us alive here today.”
This is one of the clearest declarations that the covenant was
specifically with the nation standing at Sinai.
Psalm 147:19–20
“He declares His word to Jacob…
He has not dealt thus with any nation.”
2. Could Gentiles enter the Sinai covenant?
Scripture shows that Gentiles could
join Israel and thus participate in the covenant—but they were
not native participants.
Foreigners could join—but only by becoming part of Israel
Exodus 12:48
“When a stranger sojourns with you and wants to keep the Passover…let all his males be circumcised; then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land.”
To join the covenant, a Gentile had to accept the covenant sign (
circumcision) and effectively be treated as an Israelite.
This means:
- Gentiles were not natural members of the Sinai covenant.
- They could join, but only by entering Israel through circumcision.
The NT confirms Gentiles were foreigners to this covenant
Ephesians 2:11–12
“You Gentiles in the flesh…were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise.”
This directly states:
- Gentiles were outside the Sinai covenant.
- They were foreigners to Israel’s covenants.
Thus the NT perfectly harmonizes with the OT: the Sinai covenant was not made with Gentiles.
3. Was the first covenant a covenant of “legal works”?
Yes—
Scripture itself describes the Sinai covenant as a covenant of works, contrasted with the new covenant of grace.
Paul: the Law is not of faith — it is works
Galatians 3:10–12
“The law is not of faith; rather ‘He who does them shall live by them.’”
This is a covenantal principle:
Life is obtained by doing → therefore it is a
works-based covenant.
Romans 10:5
“Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.”
This is the fundamental nature of the Sinai covenant:
“Do this and live.”
4. Was the first covenant a covenant “of the flesh”?
The NT says
yes, in several interconnected ways.
(A) It was based on the fleshly sign of circumcision
Galatians 4:23–24
Paul calls one covenant
“born according to the flesh.”
He directly connects this to
Mount Sinai (v.24–25).
(B) It relied on human obedience rather than the Spirit
Hebrews 8:9
“They did not continue in My covenant…”
The covenant depended on human ability (“the flesh”), not the Spirit.
(C) The law operates in the realm of the flesh
Romans 7:5–6
“While we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law…”
This ties the Mosaic law to the sphere of “flesh.”
(D) Paul contrasts the “letter” (Sinai) with the “Spirit” (New Covenant)
2 Corinthians 3:6–7
“The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life…
The ministry of death, carved in letters on stone…”
The “letter” = commandments engraved in stone = Sinai.
This is the sphere of “flesh,” not Spirit.
Summary (Scripture Only)
1. Was the Sinai covenant only with Israel?
Yes. (Ex 19; Dt 5:2–3; Ps 147:19–20)
2. Could Gentiles join?
Yes, but only by becoming part of Israel through circumcision.
They were
foreigners to the covenant by nature. (Ex 12:48; Eph 2:12)
3. Was the Sinai covenant a covenant of legal works?
Yes. Scripture itself says:
- “The law is not of faith.” (Gal 3:12)
- “He who does them shall live by them.” (Rom 10:5)
It was a
do-this-and-live covenant.
4. Was it a covenant of the flesh?
Yes.
- Associated with circumcision, a fleshly sign.
- Described as “according to the flesh” (Gal 4:23–24).
- Operates in the realm of the letter, not the Spirit (2 Cor 3:6).
Summary in Scripture
