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Jesus is almost always seen in light of the New Testament.
Rightly so, I mean… The New Testament is defined by Jesus.
But, Jesus, and what he did is also found in the Old Testament.
While not everything in the Bible is about, or points to Jesus, there are many places, events, and people that foreshadow him.
Biblical Typology
A type in biblical theology is a person, event, or institution in the Old Testament that prefigures and foreshadows a future reality in the New Testament.
Types are symbolic correspondences established by God, wherein the type serves as a model or pattern that is fulfilled in the antitype, typically associated with Jesus, or what he did on the cross.
When studying the OT, you’ll come across many of these!
Adam as a Type of Christ: Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:45
Adam is often referred to as a "type" of Christ, called the "Last Adam" by Paul. Where Adam's disobedience brought sin and death into the world, Christ's obedience brought righteousness and life.
Melchizedek as a Type of Christ: Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7
Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, is seen as a type of Christ in his role as a priest-king who blesses Abraham. Hebrews 7 explicitly describes Melchizedek as a prefiguration of Christ, who is the eternal High Priest, surpassing the Levitical priesthood.
Moses as a Type of Christ: Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22-23
Moses is a type of Christ as a prophet and leader. Just as Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, Christ leads His followers out of the slavery of sin. Moses' role as a mediator of the old covenant points to Christ's superior role as the mediator of the new covenant.
Joseph as a Type of Christ: Genesis 37-50
Joseph's life mirrors Christ's in several ways, including his betrayal by his brothers, unjust suffering, and eventual rise to a position of saving power. Joseph's forgiveness and provision for his family, despite their betrayal, reflect Christ's forgiveness and provision for humanity.
The Passover Lamb: Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 5:7
The Passover lamb, sacrificed to spare the Israelites from the final plague in Egypt, is a profound type of Christ. Just as the lamb's blood applied to the doorposts saved the Israelites, Christ's blood, the "Lamb of God," saves believers from sin and death.
David as a Kingly Type of Christ: 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Luke 1:32-33
David, the shepherd king, is a precursor to Christ in his role as the King of Israel. The promises made to David about his dynasty find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who is declared to be the Son of David and whose kingdom will have no end.
Jonah as a Type of Christ: Jonah 1-4; Matthew 12:40
Jesus Himself draws a parallel between Jonah's three days and nights in the belly of the great fish and His own death and resurrection, highlighting Jonah as a sign pointing to Him.
This explanation of Biblical typology was taken directly out of my new, free eBook I’m creating to help Christians better understand the Bible!
Over 125 hours have been put into its development so far — and I want it to be completely free, and high quality as a token of appreciation for your support of what I’ve been doing.
You can get your hands on it next newsletter :)
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