Scriptural Types

In the studies “Jesus in Genesis” and “Jesus in Exodus” you will come across characters and actions in the Old Testament referred to a “Types of Jesus”. Understanding what this means is critical to proper Bible study.

Paraphrasing a Bible dictionary: A Scriptural type is a biblical person, thing, action, or event that foreshadows new truths, new actions, or future events.

In the Old Testament, Moses acted as a type of Jesus when he delivered God’s chosen people from their bondage in Egypt. This “typically” looked forward to Jesus who would deliver God’s elect from their bondage to sin.

A likeness will exist between the type (Moses in this case) and the antitype (Jesus) but the antitype is always greater and more complete in the action or attribute.

Having a knowledge of the New Testament enables us to see God’s work in the Old Testament more fully. What God did through the Old Testament patriarchs takes on a deeper meaning as we connect their spiritual journey with what Christ was later to do.