Types

An OT institution, person, place or event regarded as anticipating the person of Jesus Christ or some aspect of the Christian faith or life.

OT foreshadowings of Jesus Christ

Luke 24:25–27 See also Luke 24:44; 1 Peter 1:10–12

Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

OT institutions as types

The Sabbath: Jesus Christ's finished work

Hebrews 4:3–6 See also Genesis 2:2–3; Hebrews 4:9–10

Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: “So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world. For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.” And again, as He says in the passage above: “They shall never enter My rest.” Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience,

Marriage: Jesus Christ's union with his people

Ephesians 5:30–32 See also Genesis 2:22–24 Adam may be viewed as a figure of Jesus Christ, and Eve, of the church, formed in Christ, loved and united with him; Psalm 45:10–11; Matthew 9:15, Matthew 25:1; John 3:29; Ephesians 5:25–27; Revelation 19:7, Revelation 21:2

For we are members of His body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.

Circumcision: believers' union with Christ

Colossians 2:11 See also Genesis 17:9–14; Romans 2:29; Philippians 3:3

In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.

The tabernacle: Jesus Christ's coming among his people

John 1:14 The context shows that “The Word” is Jesus Christ; “made his dwelling” involves the idea of pitching a tent and reflects the tabernacle which was pitched among the Israelites and filled with God's glory; so Christ has pitched his tent among his people and revealed his glory. See also Exodus 25:8, Exodus 40:34–35

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The tabernacle: the way to God

Hebrews 9:11–12 See also Exodus 25:22, Exodus 30:6, Exodus 30:36; Numbers 17:4; Hebrews 9:8, Hebrews 10:19–22

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.

The high priesthood: Jesus Christ as intercessor

Hebrews 7:23–28 See also Exodus 29:1–7; Leviticus 16:11–17; Hebrews 4:14–16, Hebrews 5:1–5 Jesus Christ, the great high priest, is both human and divine; Hebrews 9:11–12, Hebrews 10:11–12 Note the contrast between the many OT sacrifices and Jesus Christ's once-for-all offering of himself.

Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly befits us — One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

The priesthood: Christian worship and service

Hebrews 13:15–16 See also Exodus 19:6, Exodus 29:8–9; 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Sacrifices: Jesus Christ as substitute

Romans 3:25 See also Leviticus 4:13–15, Leviticus 4:25–35 Hands laid on the head of the sacrifice symbolised the transfer of guilt and its consequences to another. A perfect animal was required; Isaiah 53:4–12; Mark 15:25–37; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 3:18

God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

Sacrifice: believers' consecration

Romans 12:1 See also Leviticus 1:1–9; Numbers 15:1–12; Philippians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:6

Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

The day of atonement: Jesus Christ as sin-bearer

Hebrews 9:28 See also Leviticus 16:1–34; Hebrews 9:7

so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

Passover: deliverance from judgment

1 Corinthians 5:7 See also Exodus 12:1–16; Matthew 26:17 parallels Mark 14:12, Luke 22:7; Matthew 26:26–29 parallels Mark 14:22–25, Luke 22:14–20; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18–19

Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Redemption: release from sin

Matthew 20:28 parallel Mark 10:45 “Redemption” and “ransom” both involve buying back that which has been lost. See also Exodus 13:11–13, Exodus 21:28–32; Job 19:25; Psalm 78:35; Isaiah 41:14; Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 6:20GAL 1 Corinthians 3:13, Galatians 4:5 Ephesians 1:7 Blood is the ransom price for the forgiveness of sin; 1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:15

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

The temple: the church

2 Corinthians 6:16 See also 1 Kings 6:1, 1 Kings 8:10–13; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:21–22; 1 Peter 2:5

What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

OT places as types

The promised land: rest in Christ

Hebrews 4:8–11 See also Joshua 1:13, Joshua 11:23, Joshua 14:15

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

Jerusalem: the glorified church

Revelation 21:1–3 See also 2 Samuel 5:4–5; Psalm 122:1–9; Isaiah 62:6–7; Zechariah 2:3–5; Hebrews 12:22–23; Revelation 3:12, Revelation 21:9–10

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

Babylon: enmity to Jesus Christ

Revelation 17:5 Some take Babylon to represent the world, some the apostate church, some a city. See also Isaiah 13:19–22; Revelation 18:2–3

And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

OT people as types

Israel: the church

1 Peter 2:9 See also Genesis 12:1–3; Exodus 19:6; Romans 9:6–8; Galatians 6:16; Ephesians 2:19

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Adam: Jesus Christ as the head of his people

1 Corinthians 15:21–22 See also Genesis 3:17–19; Romans 5:12–20 Just as Adam was the representative of all humanity in the fall, so Jesus Christ is the representative of all who inherit salvation.

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Abraham: justifying faith in Jesus Christ

Romans 4:18–25 See also Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6–9

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb. Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited— for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

Melchizedek: Jesus Christ as priest-king

Hebrews 7:1–3 See also Genesis 14:17–20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:11–17

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

Sarah and Hagar: grace and law

Galatians 4:22–26 See also Genesis 16:1–6, Genesis 21:10; Galatians 4:27–31

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise. These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

David: Jesus Christ as king, shepherd and sufferer

Luke 1:31–33 See also 2 Samuel 7:11–16; Psalm 78:70–72, Psalm 89:19–37; John 13:18; Psalm 41:9; Revelation 22:16

Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

Solomon: Jesus Christ as wise ruler

Matthew 12:42 See also 1 Kings 3:5–12

The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

OT events as types

Noah's ark: salvation

1 Peter 3:20–21 See also Genesis 7:7

who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Abraham offering Isaac: God giving his Son

Romans 8:32 See also Genesis 22:9–14

He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

Crossing the Red Sea: Christian commitment

1 Corinthians 10:1–2 See also Exodus 14:15–22

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Water from a rock: Jesus Christ's provision

1 Corinthians 10:4 See also Exodus 17:5–6

and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

The bronze snake: Jesus Christ, the object of faith

John 3:14–15 See also Numbers 21:4–9

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.