1. Note: the bare promise that God would make a new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34) did not make this plain. Indeed, it was not until some time after the blood of the New Covenant had been shed that its full significance was unfolded by Paul, "an able minister of the New Covenant."

2. This is why Paul is never called a minister of the Abrahamic, Mosaic or Davidic Covenants, but only of the New Covenant (II Cor. 3:5,6).

3. It should be noted, however, that not until after the conversion of Paul do we have the baptism of those already rejoicing in salvation and, needless to say, Paul could not, and did not, proclaim baptism for the remission of sins as Peter before him had done.