Page 70 - Biblical Theology Textbook - masters

Isaac
Isaac is a type in that both he and Jesus Christ were called by their fathers as the “only begotten” (John
3:16; 11:17), were children of the promise (Gal 4:28-29), experienced persecutions, and experienced
miraculous births. The sacrifice of Isaac is typical of the death of Christ for mankind. The first born of
Abraham was to be offered as a pleasing sacrifice to God. So was Jesus.

Other People Types.
Other typical persons include Benjamin (Luke 2:35), David (2 Sam 7:11-16), Joseph (Gen 30:22-24; Luke
1:35; Acts 15:14; Rom 11:11-12; Eph. 5:25-32), Joshua (John 1:17; Rom 8:2-4; Heb. 7:18-19; Gal 3:23-25),
Melchizedek (Gen 4; Ps 110:4; Heb. 5-7), Moses (Deut. 18:15-19; Exod. 3:7-10; Acts 7:25), and kinsman-
redeemer (Lev 25:48-49; Ruth 3:12-13; Heb. 2:14-15). On Kinsman-redeemer, Walvoord says that “Christ
fulfilled this by becoming Man and by having the sins of the world imputed to Him. The Old Testament
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redeemer had to be able to redeem even as Christ did in the New Testament” (Ruth 4:4-6; John 10:11,
18; 1 Peter 1:18).

Typical Events
There is a plethora of typical events. The first one is the clothing of Adam and Eve. By
clothing them, God demonstrated to them that He was going to supply what will cover the
shame of their sin [Gen 3:21; Job 29:14; Ps 132:9; Rom 3:22]). The preservation in the Ark
represented God’s deliverance of the righteous from the judgment that relied on Jesus’
sacrificial work [2 Pet 2:5]). Deliverance from Egypt through Passover represented God’s
deliverance of those people who will place their faith in Jesus Christ from God’s coming
wrath [Exod. 12]). The entrance into the land which was the land full of milk and honey is representative
of the place that Jesus Christ promised His disciples that He was going to prepare so that they can be
with Him when He comes back to get them.

Typical Things.

The Old Testament Sacrifices
Typical things include among others, the Old Testament sacrifices. Most scholars suggest
the book of Leviticus is the explanation of what Jesus Christ was going to do as the Great
High Priest. In Leviticus, we read that many kinds of sacrifices that were offered for the
atonement of people’s sins (Lev. 17:11). Walvoord notes that “The sacrifices of the Old
Testament are clearly intended to be a typical foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Christ.
Almost every aspect of the meaning of the death of Christ is anticipated.”
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Other Typical Things.
John F. Walvoord notes:

Several other typical things in the Old Testament could be mentioned. Aaron’s rod that budded is
typical of Christ’s resurrection (cf. Num. 17; Heb. 9:4). The brazen serpent of Numbers 21:5-9 bears
the testimony of Christ Himself that it is an important type (John 3:14-16). The smitten rock of
Exodus 17:5-7 is typical of Christ (1 Cor.10:4) and represents the fact that Christ smitten and
crucified provided the water of salvation which completely satisfies. Noah’s ark has represented to
the people of God of all ages the work of God in delivering His own from judgment. It is frequently

34 Ibid., p. 67.
35 Ibid., p. 71.

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