The New Testament itself teaches that the Old Testament contains “types,” “shadows,” copies, patterns, symbols, and anticipations that find their fulfillment in Christ. Jesus Himself taught that Moses and the Prophets spoke about Him (Luke 24:27, 44–47; John 5:39). Paul explicitly calls Adam “a type of the one who was to come” (Romans 5:14), calls Israel’s wilderness experiences “examples” (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11), and identifies the wilderness rock with Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). Hebrews repeatedly calls Old Testament institutions “copies,” “shadows,” and “patterns” of heavenly realities fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 8:5; 9:23–24; 10:1).
Billy Graham used to emphasize that the Old Testament prepares the way for Christ and that its sacrificial system was fulfilled in Christ's once-for-all sacrifice.
DTS material likewise explicitly discusses Old Testament typology, including Isaac and Solomon as “typical sons,” the lion and lamb as “typical animals,” and king and priest as “typical offices.”
At the same time, not every interesting similarity is a biblical type. Conservative evangelical scholarship rightly warns against turning every detail of an Old Testament story into a hidden code. A responsible typology has a genuine correspondence established by Scripture and ultimately points forward to a greater fulfillment. DTS's discussion of New Testament typology stresses attention to the original Old Testament context rather than free-form allegory.
So below I will distinguish explicit/strong biblical types from legitimate but less explicit typological patterns.
The Old Testament: Types, Shadows and Pictures Pointing to Christ
I. THE PEOPLE WHO PREFIGURE CHRIST
1. Adam → Christ, the Last Adam
OT: Genesis 1–3
NT: Romans 5:12–21; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22, 45–49
Adam was the head of the first humanity. Through his disobedience came sin and death.
Christ is the Last Adam, the head of a new humanity. Through His obedience come righteousness and life.
Picture:
Adam failed in a garden through temptation. Christ obeyed in a garden under temptation.
Adam's sin brought death.
Christ's obedience brings life.
This is one of the clearest biblical types because Paul explicitly calls Adam “a type of the one who was to come” (Romans 5:14).
2. Abel → Christ, the righteous sufferer
OT: Genesis 4:1–10
NT: Hebrews 11:4; 12:24; Matthew 23:35
Abel was righteous, yet his brother hated and murdered him.
Hebrews 12:24 contrasts “the sprinkled blood” of Jesus with Abel's blood.
Picture: the innocent righteous man whose blood cries out because of injustice, ultimately surpassed by Christ's blood, which speaks of a better redemption.
3. Noah → Christ's salvation and judgment
OT: Genesis 6–9
NT: Matthew 24:37–39; Luke 17:26–27; 1 Peter 3:20–21; 2 Peter 2:5
Noah lived in a world under divine judgment, yet God provided a means of salvation through the ark.
Peter explicitly connects the flood/ark with baptism and salvation imagery (1 Peter 3:20–21).
Picture: God judges sin, but provides one divinely appointed means of deliverance.
The ark itself is not literally Jesus, but it is a powerful biblical picture of salvation through God's appointed provision.
4. Melchizedek → Christ, the eternal Priest-King
OT: Genesis 14:17–20; Psalm 110:4
NT: Hebrews 5:5–10; 6:20; 7:1–28
Melchizedek was simultaneously king and priest.
Psalm 110 prophetically says of Messiah:
“You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews develops the comparison extensively.
Picture: Christ is the ultimate Priest-King, whose priesthood surpasses the Levitical priesthood.
5. Abraham → the Father who gives His beloved Son
OT: Genesis 22:1–19
NT: John 3:16; Romans 8:32; Hebrews 11:17–19
Abraham was commanded to offer Isaac, his beloved son.
God ultimately provided the ram instead.
Genesis 22 therefore becomes one of Scripture's great pictures of substitution.
Picture: a beloved son offered, a substitute provided, and resurrection imagery.
Hebrews 11:19 says Abraham considered that God could raise Isaac from the dead.
6. Isaac → Christ, the beloved Son
OT: Genesis 22
NT: Hebrews 11:17–19; Romans 8:32
Isaac was the promised son, uniquely beloved, and willingly placed upon the altar.
Picture: the beloved son who is offered and figuratively received back from death.
We should be careful, however: Isaac is not identical to Christ in every detail. Biblical typology involves correspondence, not exact equivalence.
7. Joseph → Christ, the rejected and exalted Savior
OT: Genesis 37–50
NT: Acts 7:9–14; Philippians 2:5–11; John 1:11
Joseph is one of the most remarkable Christlike patterns in Genesis.
Joseph was:
- loved by his father
- hated by his brothers
- rejected
- sold
- falsely accused
- humiliated
- exalted
- given authority
- used by God to save many lives
- reconciled with those who had rejected him
Genesis 50:20 captures the pattern:
God took what wicked people meant for evil and used it for good.
Picture: Christ was rejected, suffered unjustly, was exalted, and became the means of salvation.
The Joseph/Christ parallels are widely recognized in evangelical teaching, including material associated with the MacArthur Study Bible tradition.
8. Moses → Christ, the greater Deliverer and Prophet
OT: Exodus 1–20; Deuteronomy 18:15–19
NT: Acts 3:22–23; 7:37; Hebrews 3:1–6
Moses delivered Israel from physical bondage.
Jesus delivers His people from slavery to sin.
Moses mediated God's covenant.
Christ mediates the New Covenant.
Moses gave God's Law.
Christ fulfills the Law and brings the fullness of God's revelation.
Picture: Moses is a servant in God's house; Christ is Son over God's house (Hebrews 3:5–6).
9. Joshua → Jesus, the greater Joshua
The Hebrew name Joshua and the Greek name Jesus correspond in meaning: “The LORD saves.”
OT: Joshua 1–24
NT: Hebrews 4:8–11
Joshua brought Israel into the promised land and gave them a measure of earthly rest.
Hebrews says that if Joshua had given them ultimate rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
Picture: Joshua points toward the greater salvation and rest found in Christ.
10. David → Christ, the greater King
OT: 1 Samuel 16–31; 2 Samuel 5–7; Psalm 2; Psalm 16; Psalm 22
NT: Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:32–33; Acts 2:25–36; 13:22–23
David was God's anointed king.
Jesus is the Son of David, the ultimate Davidic King.
God promised David:
2 Samuel 7:12–16
a throne and kingdom ultimately fulfilled in Messiah.
Picture: David's kingdom anticipates Christ's everlasting kingdom.
11. Solomon → Christ, the greater King
OT: 1 Kings 1–11
NT: Matthew 12:42
Jesus explicitly said:
“Something greater than Solomon is here.”
Solomon possessed extraordinary wisdom, wealth, glory and a kingdom of peace.
Christ is infinitely greater.
Picture: Solomon's wisdom and kingdom anticipate the greater wisdom and kingdom of Christ.
DTS material specifically identifies Solomon among the “typical sons.”
12. Boaz → Christ, the Redeemer
OT: Ruth 2–4
NT: Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19
Boaz acts as a kinsman-redeemer for Ruth.
Christ became truly human, our brother according to His humanity, and redeemed us at great cost.
Picture: the redeemer who possesses both the willingness and the right to redeem.
This is a legitimate typological picture, though Scripture does not explicitly say, “Boaz is a type of Christ.”
13. Jonah → Christ's death and resurrection
OT: Jonah 1–2
NT: Matthew 12:39–41
This one is explicit.
Jesus Himself says:
“Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Picture: Jonah's three-day experience points to Christ's burial and resurrection.
II. OLD TESTAMENT EVENTS THAT FORESHADOW CHRIST'S WORK
14. The Exodus → Redemption
OT: Exodus 1–15
NT: 1 Corinthians 10:1–11; Luke 9:30–31
Israel was enslaved.
God redeemed them through the blood of the Passover lamb and brought them through the Red Sea.
Paul says these things happened as examples for believers (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11).
Picture: slavery → redemption → deliverance → covenant → journey toward God's promised inheritance.
Christ accomplishes the greater redemption from sin.
15. Passover → Christ our Passover Lamb
OT: Exodus 12
NT: John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19; Revelation 5:6–12
This is among the clearest types in Scripture.
The Passover lamb had to be:
- without blemish
- sacrificed
- associated with deliverance from judgment
- its blood marking those who were spared
Paul explicitly says:
“Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
Picture: the innocent substitute whose blood brings deliverance from judgment.
16. The Red Sea → Deliverance
OT: Exodus 14
NT: 1 Corinthians 10:1–2
Paul specifically describes Israel as having been “baptized into Moses” in the cloud and sea.
Picture: leaving the old life of slavery and entering a new identity as God's redeemed people.
17. The Wilderness Journey → The Christian pilgrimage
OT: Exodus 16–Numbers 21
NT: 1 Corinthians 10:1–13; Hebrews 3–4
Israel's wilderness experience becomes a warning and example for Christians.
Picture: redemption does not mean we should presume upon God. God's redeemed people are called to trust and obey Him.
18. The Manna → Christ, the Bread of Life
OT: Exodus 16
NT: John 6:31–35, 48–58
Israel ate bread from heaven.
Jesus says:
“I am the bread of life.”
The manna sustained physical life temporarily.
Christ gives eternal life.
Picture: God provides supernatural bread for His people; Christ is the true Bread from heaven.
19. The Water from the Rock → Christ
OT: Exodus 17:1–7; Numbers 20:1–13
NT: 1 Corinthians 10:4
This is extraordinarily clear because Paul actually writes:
“The Rock was Christ.”
Israel was dying of thirst.
God provided water from the rock.
Picture: Christ is the divine provision from whom spiritual life flows.
20. The Bronze Serpent → Christ lifted up on the cross
OT: Numbers 21:4–9
NT: John 3:14–16
This is one of the strongest explicit types in the Bible.
Israel was dying from snake bites.
God instructed Moses to lift up the bronze serpent.
Those who looked lived.
Jesus says:
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
Picture: sinful, dying people look in faith to God's appointed provision and live.
III. THE TABERNACLE AS A MASSIVE PICTURE OF CHRIST
This is one of the richest areas of biblical typology.
OT: Exodus 25–40
NT: Hebrews 8–10; John 1:14; John 2:19–21
God repeatedly told Moses:
“See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”
Hebrews 8:5.
The earthly tabernacle was a copy and shadow of heavenly realities.
21. The Tabernacle itself → Christ
Exodus 25:8–9
John 1:14
Hebrews 8:1–5; 9:11–12
The tabernacle was where God's presence dwelt among His people.
Christ came in the flesh and “dwelt” among us (John 1:14).
22. The Holy of Holies → God's immediate presence
Exodus 26:33–34
Hebrews 9:3–8; 10:19–22
Only the high priest could enter, and only once a year.
Christ opened the way into God's presence through His blood.
23. The veil → Christ's flesh
Exodus 26:31–33
Matthew 27:50–51
Hebrews 10:19–20
When Jesus died, the temple veil was torn.
Hebrews connects access to God with Christ's flesh.
Picture: what separated sinful humanity from God's holy presence is removed through Christ's sacrificial death.
24. The bronze altar → Christ's sacrifice
Exodus 27:1–8
Hebrews 9:11–14; 10:10–14
The altar was where sacrifices were offered.
Christ offered Himself once for all.
25. The laver → cleansing
Exodus 30:17–21
John 13:5–10
Ephesians 5:25–27; Titus 3:5
The priests washed before ministering.
The New Testament repeatedly connects Christ's work with cleansing and sanctification.
26. The lampstand → Christ, the Light
Exodus 25:31–40
John 8:12; 9:5
The lampstand provided light in the Holy Place.
Jesus declares:
“I am the light of the world.”
27. The bread of the Presence → Christ, the Bread of Life
Exodus 25:23–30; Leviticus 24:5–9
John 6:32–35
The bread continually represented God's provision and fellowship.
Christ is the true Bread from heaven.
28. The incense altar → Christ's intercession
Exodus 30:1–10
Psalm 141:2
Revelation 8:3–4
Hebrews 7:25
Incense is associated with prayer.
Christ continually intercedes for His people.
29. The mercy seat → Christ's atoning sacrifice
Exodus 25:17–22; Leviticus 16:14–16
Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:5–15
The mercy seat was where sacrificial blood was presented on the Day of Atonement.
Romans 3:25 uses the language of the atoning sacrifice/propitiation in connection with Christ.
Picture: God's justice and mercy meet through sacrificial blood.
IV. THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM → CHRIST'S FINAL SACRIFICE
Hebrews 10:1 gives us the governing principle:
“The law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities.”
30. Burnt offering → complete consecration
OT: Leviticus 1
NT: Ephesians 5:2
Christ offered Himself completely to God.
31. Grain offering → Christ's perfect devotion
OT: Leviticus 2
NT: John 6:38; Philippians 2:5–8
The grain offering was associated with dedication and thanksgiving.
Christ perfectly obeyed the Father's will.
32. Peace offering → reconciliation and fellowship
OT: Leviticus 3
NT: Romans 5:1, 10–11; Ephesians 2:13–18
The peace offering celebrated fellowship with God.
Christ brings peace between God and sinners.
33. Sin offering → Christ bearing sin
OT: Leviticus 4
NT: 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24
The sin offering dealt with sin and guilt.
Christ “bore our sins in his body on the tree.”
34. Guilt offering → Christ paying our debt
OT: Leviticus 5:14–6:7
NT: Isaiah 53:10; 1 Peter 3:18
Isaiah 53 uses sacrificial/guilt-offering language in describing the suffering Servant.
Picture: Christ bears the guilt and penalty of His people.
35. The Day of Atonement → Christ's once-for-all atonement
OT: Leviticus 16
NT: Hebrews 9:6–14; 10:1–14
The high priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year.
Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all.
36. The scapegoat → Christ bearing our sins away
OT: Leviticus 16:20–22
NT: Isaiah 53:4–6, 11–12; 1 Peter 2:24
Israel's sins were symbolically placed upon the scapegoat and carried away.
Christ bears our sins.
Picture: guilt is removed from the guilty and borne by the substitute.
V. THE PRIESTHOOD → CHRIST OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST
37. Aaron → Christ the greater High Priest
OT: Exodus 28–29; Leviticus 16
NT: Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:1–10; 7:23–28
Aaron represented Israel before God.
Christ represents His people before the Father.
But Aaron was mortal and sinful.
Christ is sinless and eternal.
38. The High Priest entering God's presence → Christ entering heaven
Leviticus 16
Hebrews 9:11–12, 24
The earthly high priest entered the earthly Holy of Holies.
Christ entered the true heavenly presence of God.
VI. THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL
The feasts are especially significant because several find explicit New Testament fulfillment.
39. Passover → Christ's death
Leviticus 23:4–5
1 Corinthians 5:7
Christ is our Passover Lamb.
40. Feast of Unleavened Bread → Christ's sinless sacrifice
Leviticus 23:6–8
1 Corinthians 5:6–8
Leaven frequently symbolizes corruption in Scripture.
Christ is the sinless Savior.
41. Firstfruits → Christ's resurrection
Leviticus 23:9–14
1 Corinthians 15:20–23
This is explicit.
Paul calls Christ:
“the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
The firstfruits anticipated the larger harvest.
Christ's resurrection guarantees the resurrection of His people.
42. Feast of Weeks/Pentecost → the Spirit and harvest
Leviticus 23:15–22
Acts 2:1–41
The Feast of Weeks involved harvest.
The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, and a great spiritual harvest followed.
This is a strong canonical pattern, although we should distinguish it from explicit statements that directly call something a “type.”
43. Feast of Trumpets → future gathering and kingdom
Leviticus 23:23–25
Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Trumpets accompany major eschatological events.
This is a legitimate biblical pattern, but we should be cautious about claiming that every detail of the Feast of Trumpets predicts a particular end-times event.
44. Day of Atonement → Christ's final atonement
Leviticus 23:26–32
Hebrews 9–10
This is one of the clearest fulfillments.
45. Feast of Booths/Tabernacles → God's dwelling with His people
Leviticus 23:33–43
John 1:14; Revelation 21:3
Israel remembered God's provision in the wilderness.
Ultimately God will dwell permanently with His redeemed people.
VII. OBJECTS AND SYMBOLS
46. The bronze serpent → Christ
Numbers 21:8–9 → John 3:14–16
One of the clearest direct examples.
47. The rock → Christ
Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:8–11 → 1 Corinthians 10:4
Paul explicitly identifies the rock with Christ.
48. The blood → Christ's blood
Leviticus 17:11
Matthew 26:28
Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18–19
Leviticus teaches the significance of blood in atonement.
Christ fulfills the sacrificial meaning.
49. The cities of refuge → Christ as refuge
Numbers 35:9–34
Hebrews 6:18
The cities provided protection for someone who had accidentally killed another person.
Hebrews describes believers as those who have “fled for refuge” to God.
This is a beautiful typological picture, though less explicit than Passover or the bronze serpent.
50. The veil → access through Christ
Exodus 26:31–33 → Matthew 27:51 → Hebrews 10:19–20
One of the most beautiful connections in Scripture.
The barrier is removed because Christ has opened the way.
VIII. THE KINGDOM AND COVENANTS POINTING TO CHRIST
51. The Abrahamic Covenant → Christ and blessing to the nations
OT: Genesis 12:1–3; 17:1–8; 22:15–18
NT: Galatians 3:8, 16, 29
Paul explicitly says the promise to Abraham ultimately reaches its fulfillment in Christ:
“The Scripture… preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham.”
And:
“The promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring… who is Christ.”
52. The Davidic Covenant → Christ the eternal King
OT: 2 Samuel 7:12–16
NT: Luke 1:32–33; Acts 2:30–36
God promised David an everlasting throne.
Jesus is the ultimate Davidic King.
53. The New Covenant promised in the OT → Christ
OT: Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:25–27
NT: Luke 22:20; Hebrews 8:6–13; 10:15–17
The Old Testament promises a future covenant involving:
- forgiveness
- transformed hearts
- God's law written within
- intimate knowledge of God
- the work of God's Spirit
Jesus says:
“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
IX. THE OLD TESTAMENT OFFICES → CHRIST
Jesus fulfills three major offices.
54. Prophet → Christ the ultimate Prophet
OT: Deuteronomy 18:15–19
NT: Acts 3:22–23; Hebrews 1:1–2
Moses said God would raise up a prophet like him.
The apostles apply this to Christ.
55. Priest → Christ the Great High Priest
OT: Psalm 110:4
NT: Hebrews 4:14; 7:17–28
Christ represents humanity before God and offers Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice.
56. King → Christ the King of kings
OT: Psalm 2; 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 72
NT: Luke 1:32–33; Revelation 19:16
Israel's kings were imperfect shadows.
Jesus is the perfect and eternal King.
X. THE TEMPLE → CHRIST
57. Temple → Christ's body
OT: 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 6–7
NT: John 2:19–21
Jesus said:
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
John explains that Jesus was speaking about His body.
58. God's dwelling → Christ
Exodus 25:8
John 1:14
God's presence dwelt among Israel in the tabernacle.
In Christ, God came among humanity in the flesh.
XI. THE LAND AND REST
59. Canaan's rest → Christ's greater rest
OT: Joshua 21:43–45
NT: Hebrews 3:7–4:11
Joshua brought Israel into the land.
Yet Hebrews says God's promise of rest remained open.
Therefore Canaan was not the final reality.
Christ provides the greater rest.
XII. THE WILDERNESS AS A PICTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
60. Israel's journey → the believer's journey
OT: Exodus–Numbers
NT: 1 Corinthians 10:1–13; Hebrews 3:7–19
Israel was redeemed from Egypt but still had to walk by faith.
The Christian has been redeemed but is called to persevere in faith and obedience.
Paul says these things happened as examples and warnings.
XIII. IMPORTANT MESSIANIC PATTERNS IN THE PSALMS AND PROPHETS
These are not always technically “types.” Many are direct messianic prophecies, and we should not confuse prophecy with typology.
61. The suffering righteous man → Christ
Psalm 22 → Matthew 27; John 19
Psalm 22 contains remarkable correspondence with Christ's crucifixion.
62. The suffering Servant → Christ
Isaiah 52:13–53:12 → Acts 8:30–35; 1 Peter 2:22–25
Isaiah describes the Servant who:
- is rejected
- suffers
- bears sin
- is pierced
- dies
- is buried
- is vindicated
- brings salvation to many
The New Testament explicitly applies this to Jesus.
63. Immanuel → Christ
Isaiah 7:14 → Matthew 1:22–23
Matthew explicitly applies Isaiah's prophecy to Christ.
64. The Branch → Christ
Isaiah 11:1–10; Jeremiah 23:5–6; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12–13
The Branch becomes a messianic designation.
Christ is the righteous Davidic ruler.
65. The Shepherd → Christ
Ezekiel 34:11–24 → John 10:1–18
God promises that He Himself will shepherd His scattered sheep.
Jesus then declares:
“I am the good shepherd.”
66. The stone → Christ
Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16 → Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:10–12; 1 Peter 2:4–8
The rejected stone becomes the cornerstone.
Jesus is the fulfillment.
67. The Son of Man → Christ
Daniel 7:13–14 → Matthew 26:63–64; Revelation 1:13
Daniel sees the Son of Man receiving everlasting dominion.
Jesus repeatedly uses this title for Himself.
68. The Lion of Judah → Christ
Genesis 49:8–10 → Revelation 5:5
Judah's royal imagery points forward to the Messiah.
Revelation identifies Jesus as:
“the Lion of the tribe of Judah.”
69. The Lamb → Christ
Exodus 12; Isaiah 53:7 → John 1:29; Acts 8:32–35; Revelation 5
The sacrificial lamb becomes one of the Bible's central pictures of Christ.
Jesus is simultaneously:
the Lamb who dies
and
the Lion who reigns.
DTS material specifically notes the lion and lamb as significant Old Testament typological imagery.
XIV. THE BIGGER PICTURE
If you step back, something remarkable happens.
The Old Testament gives us many different pictures of the same coming Savior:
| OT Picture | What it anticipates in Christ |
|---|---|
| Adam | Last Adam |
| Abel | Righteous suffering |
| Noah/Ark | Salvation from judgment |
| Abraham | Father/Son sacrifice |
| Isaac | Beloved son |
| Joseph | Rejected then exalted savior |
| Melchizedek | Priest-King |
| Moses | Deliverer/Prophet |
| Joshua | Greater Savior and Rest-Giver |
| Boaz | Redeemer |
| David | King |
| Solomon | Greater King/Wisdom |
| Passover Lamb | Sacrifice |
| Manna | Bread of Life |
| Rock | Spiritual life |
| Bronze serpent | Christ lifted up |
| Tabernacle | God's dwelling |
| Veil | Access to God through Christ |
| Altar | Sacrifice |
| Mercy seat | Atonement |
| High Priest | Great High Priest |
| Scapegoat | Sin-bearer |
| Cities of refuge | Refuge |
| Canaan | Greater rest |
| Davidic Covenant | Eternal kingdom |
| New Covenant | Forgiveness and transformed hearts |
| Suffering Servant | Substitutionary suffering |
| Shepherd | Good Shepherd |
| Stone | Cornerstone |
| Lion | King |
| Lamb | Sacrifice |
| Son of Man | Everlasting ruler |
And this is the really beautiful part
The Old Testament doesn't merely give us one picture of Jesus.
It gives us a gallery.
Jesus is:
the Last Adam who succeeds where Adam failed.
the Ark of salvation toward which the flood narrative points.
the Lamb who dies in the place of the guilty.
the Redeemer who purchases His people.
the greater Joseph who is rejected by His brothers yet exalted to save them.
the greater Moses who delivers His people from a greater slavery.
the greater Joshua who brings His people into a greater rest.
the greater David who reigns forever.
the greater Solomon whose wisdom and kingdom surpass Solomon's.
the Bread from Heaven who gives eternal life.
the Rock from whom living water flows.
the true Temple where God's presence dwells.
the Great High Priest who enters God's presence for us.
the Mercy Seat where God's justice and mercy meet.
the perfect Sacrifice that makes all the repeated sacrifices unnecessary.
the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep.
the suffering Servant who bears our sins.
the Lion of Judah who conquers.
the Lamb of God who was slain.
the King of kings who will reign forever.
And this is precisely why Jesus could say to the disciples on the road to Emmaus:
Luke 24:27 — He explained “in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
Then He summarized it again:
Luke 24:44 — “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
That is not merely a preacher's imaginative way of reading the Old Testament. Jesus Himself taught His disciples to read the Old Testament as a unified story that finds its fulfillment in Him.
Billy Graham made essentially this same central point: the Old Testament is not obsolete Christian Scripture but the part of God's revelation that prepares us for Christ, and the sacrificial system finds its fulfillment in Christ's once-for-all sacrifice.
One important correction to keep us honest
I would not tell people, “Everything in the Old Testament is a type of Jesus.”
That goes farther than Scripture does.
Instead:
Everything in Scripture is part of God's unified revelation, and the Old Testament progressively prepares us for, promises, pictures, prophesies, and anticipates the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Some passages are explicit types.
Some are direct prophecies.
Some are historical examples.
Some establish patterns that reach their climax in Christ.
And some are simply historical events that teach us about God and His dealings with humanity.
That distinction is important if we want to teach the Bible faithfully rather than make every Old Testament detail mean something it never claimed to mean.
DTS's own material reflects this careful approach, and its review of G. K. Beale's work specifically emphasizes that legitimate typology is not merely allegory and must take the original Old Testament context seriously.
The central truth, however, is wonderfully solid:
The Old Testament is not merely a collection of stories that happened before Jesus. It is the opening movement of God's unfolding redemptive story, and Jesus Christ is its promised destination. KnowGod.org
