Page 4 - Christology - Student Textbook

of Christ. A study of Christological typology includes about fifty important types of Christ— about
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half of the recognized total in the entire field of typology.” On the other hand, Walvoord defines
typology as that which is “concerned with (1) typical persons; (2) typical events; (3) typical things; (4)
typical institutions; and (5) typical ceremonies.”
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Radicalisms that must be avoided in typology

John F. Walvoord notes that one of the extremes that must be avoided is the limitation of typology
only to instances that are clearly authorized in the NT. The other is considering typology in every
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situation in the OT to the neglect of the exegesis of Scripture and that within its context.
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Typical Persons
Aaron
Collaboration of both the OT and NT passages strongly suggest that the priesthood of Aaron was a
direct representation of that of Christ’s. In Hebrews, we read that the honor of being the high priest
was not something somebody can just take upon himself. Instead, it was a calling from God (Heb.
5:4). Also, Jesus Christ was appointed to minister on behalf of His people after the order of
Melchizedek (Heb. 5:5-6). Because Christ was from that order, His was superior than that of Aaron.
Aaron conducted his priestly ministration in the old Mosaic covenant while Christ ministered in the
New Covenant (Heb. 8:6). Walvoord notes that “while Hebrews brings out the contrast between
Aaron and Christ, there is obviously a typical foreshadowing of Christ in the Aaronic priesthood in
the person of Aaron.”
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Abel
In John 10, Christ is presented as the great Shepherd due to His care
for His sheep. In the Old Testament, Abel offered the sacrifice which
was accepted by God and led to his death. His brother Cain, as a
representative of the world, out of jealously, killed him. Jesus Christ
offered a sacrifice to God on behalf of people’s sins. Therefore, Abel
is a type in that he portrayed the attitude of a true shepherd in his
offering and in his death.

Adam
In Romans 5:14, Adam is the representative of the old creation while Jesus Christ is the
representative of the new creation. Through one-man, sin came into the whole world, but through
the death of one man, grace abounded for many (Rom 5:12, 15). So, Adam is called the first Adam,
and Jesus Christ is called the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45-47). So, Adam is a type in that just like Christ
who is the representative of all those who are being born in spirit; Adam is the representative of all
those who are being born in sin.

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

2 Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language, 2 ed.
nd
3 Walvoord, Jesus Christ our Lord, 63.

4 Walvoord, Jesus Christ our Lord, 63.
5 Ibid.

6 Ibid., 64.

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