The expression “Jesus in the Old Testament” denotes the belief that the prophecies and other phenomena recorded in the first part of the Bible are prefiguration of the messiah who would be born some fifteen centuries after the last book of the Old Testament was written. The early Christians regarded the entire Old Testament as bearing witness to Christ. Types include Messianic prophecies (stated, predictive verses about the Messiah), typology (individuals or events in the OT as “types” of Christ) and symbolic “shadows” (rituals or objects that foreshadow Him). For example: Genesis 3:15 is the first Messianic promise, Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 are intricate prophecies on Jesus’ suffering, and people like Adam, Moses, and David are types of Jesus. In this article, I will take a look at what these patterns look like: I will define what the subject is, give a summary basing on how prophecies, types, and shadows foreshadow Christ, and then examine specific examples from the Torah (Law), the Prophets, and the Writings. In all two words such as Jesus in the Old Testament, Messianic prophecies, typology, will be employed to point out the chief topics.
What Are The Messianic Old Testament Prophecies?
It also offers scores of verses from the Old Testament which are believed by Christians to be references to the future Messiah. Indeed the theologians of old observed: God “foretold beforehand the redemption, which He was about to execute by His incarnate Son in type and shadow, in promise and prophecy. Biblical scholars identify well over a thousand prophecies in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) with scores if not hundreds of these being considered Messianic in nature. Classic examples include:
- Genesis 3:15 – God says, in the aftermath of the Fall, that the woman’s “seed” would crush the serpent’s head. This first promise of the Gospel (the protoevangelium) is considered by some Christian traditions as a prophetic revelation of the New Testament and the Christian Church.
- Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem…from you, shall come forth…one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old.” That Messiahs birthplace will be Bethlehem and that His existence will be from everlasting. The New Testament fulfillment is recorded at Matthew 2:5–6.
- Isaiah 53 – “The Suffering Servant” passage that depicts a righteous man who is “pierced for our transgressions” and carries the sins of humanity. Christians understand this as an unambiguous messianic prophecy which is fulfilled by Jesus’ crucifixion and atoning death.
- Psalm 22 – The lament of David starts with “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” and uses the striking imagery: hands and feet pierced, clothing lot.“ Jesus cites its opening words while on the cross (Mark 15:34), and the crucifixion language of the psalm is considered to be prophetic of His sufferings.
- Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6–7 – Isaiah prophesies about a child named Immanuel (or “God with us”), born of a virgin, and a son given names such as “Mighty God” who will rule on David’s throne forever. The Gospels quote Isa 7:14 concerning Jesus’ virgin birth (Matthew 1:22–23), and apply Davidic promises (Isaiah 9) to Him.
- Daniel 7:13–14 – Daniel has a vision of “one like a son of man” receiving an eternal kingdom from the Ancient of Days. [Jesus] often refers to Himself as “the Son of Man,” connecting with this messianic, divine figure.
- Zechariah 9:9 – Predicts that the king of Jerusalem will be “humble, and riding on a donkey.” This prophesy is actually quoted in the Gospels as being fulfilled in Jesus’ Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:4–5).
- Other passages – Many other passages are interpreted as Messianic (for example, the Branch from Jesse of Is. 11.1–10; the new covenant of Jer. 31.31–34; the piercing of Zech. 12.10, etc.). Early Christians and Jewish scholars have identified dozens, or even hundreds, of such prophecies, from Jesus’s lineage and miracles to his suffering and resurrection.
Summary: Hundreds of verses of the Old Testament (some count over 300, pointing to Christologically Messianic prophecy) are interpreted in Christian tradition.to be referring to Jesus’ life, death, and eternal rule. Each prophecy focuses on something else about the Messiah (i.e, Isaiah 53 focuses on atonement while Micah 5:2 focuses on birthplace and Davidic kingship).
What Does the Old Testament Have to Say About the Messiah (The Torah/Pentateuch)?
What Does Genesis Say About Christ?
The first glimmers of Messianic hope are to be found in Genesis. In Genesis 3:15 God says the woman’s seed – namely, someone who will come from the woman at a later time—that individual will bruise the serpent (that is, Satan), which means it will overcome evil. This “seed” promise is generally regarded the first specific prophecy of Christ. Right after (Gen 3:21) God clothes Adam and Eve with animal skins- the first sacrifice offered by God. This is evidence of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice, as Genesis 3:21 “prefigure[s] His Son’s sacrifice”. So Genesis 3 foretells of a Redeemer and also shows God’s provision as a covering for sin.
The fathers then prefigure Christ in later Genesis. The covenant with Abraham is a promise that “through your offspring shall all nations be blessed” (Gen 22:18), a promise that Christians believe is carried out in Jesus (expressly does the New Testament refer to Christ as the offspring of Abraham in whom the nations are blessed). Abraham’s offering of Isaac (Genesis 22) also is a harbinger of the supreme offering: on Moriah Isaac bore the wood for his own sacrifice up the third day, then on the spot God offered a ram instead. This “type” of God sparing Abraham’s son and providing a substitute for him intimates the gospel (Genesis 22:10–14‐cf. John 3:16). For instance, the emphasis of the narrative on Abraham’s “only son” and the three day trip to Moriah (Gen 22:4) are frequently seen as an allusion to the concept of God giving His “only son” in three days (Christ’s death and resurrection).
What is the importance of Noah’s Ark?
Noah’s Ark is another very important Christ type. God told Noah to make a ginormous arc with exactly one door (Genesis 6:14–16). Just one door was available through which Noah’s family could be saved from the Flood, and that ark was the only way of escape from judgment. As one writer writes, “Now, observe, God gave definite direction… one door, God gave no variableness. There was only one way of salvation… The ark was the only salvation from the approaching flood. In Christian theology, the Ark is considered a type of Christ (the “only way” to God) and of baptism (1 Peter 3:20–21 likens the flood to baptism). The symbolism is that salvation was by the door of the ark, and that salvation is by Christ alone (John 10:7–9).
How Do the Patriarch Point to Jesus?
Besides from Abraham, there are other patriarchal types of Christ. comparison contradistinction Isaac does bear the wood up the mountain (Gen 22:6–7) as a sacrifice, this being a type of what Christ endures with the cross. Jacob dreamed of a ladder that extended to heaven (Gen 28:12–13) representing Christ as the connecting bridge between God and man (cf. John 1:51). Joseph is about as straightforward a human type as there is: Betrayed by his brothers for silver, went down to Egypt and later was raised up to redeem a multitude of people. This story is also the counterpoint of Jesus, betrayed by Judas for coins, dying and reborn so that we may be saved. Indeed, Joseph’s story contains numeric tropes: Joseph had 11 brothers and was promoted above 11 head-butlers, a counterpoint to Jesus’s selection of 12 disciples; Joseph was sold for silver, as Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver; Joseph was thrown into a pit for three days and then restored, as Jesus was interred and then arose on the third day. You find many authors stating that Joseph is the Old Testament figure who best illustrates the life of Jesus11.
Why is Moses a Figure of Christ?
Moses is commonly referred to as the great Lawgiver and Redeemer of Israel, and he is a type of Christ in several respects. As Moses led Israel out of slavery and up Sinai to receive the Law, so Jesus leads believers out of sin and up a mountain to deliver the greater Law of the new covenant. One typological interpretation reads: ‘Moses was in very truth a type of Christ, as the typical Redeemer of the Old Testament.’ They were both very special mediators between God and man (Moses in the Old, Jesus as the final Mediator in the New). Moses was delivered at birth by a miracle and experienced water deliverance (the sea of reeds); Jesus was brought as a baby into and out of Egypt and nourishes with the water of life. The similarities persist, as Moses was provided with manna from heaven that he might give Israel to eat (see John 6:31–35 where this is later applied to Christ as the Bread of Life). In the end, Moses is a “type” of the Prophet and Savior to come, so “Jesus goes down into Egypt, up out of Egypt, through the water, into the wilderness” as Moses did. What Christians believe is that these similarities are intentional, and they point to Christ.
What Symbols of Sacrifice Prefigure Christ?
The Torah is the sacrificial system and the ritual, they are full of symbolic meaning about the Messiah. God’s provision of animal skins in Eden was a crude “covering” for sin from the beginning, and all the way through the Law, bulls, goats, lambs, and grain offerings had to be offered in the place of sinners. These sacrifices themselves, are a shadow of good things to come (Hebrews 10:1) because they illustrate the necessity of atonement and allude to the vicarious nature of God’s provision of atonement. To take one example, the Passover celebration (Exodus 12) saved Israel when its blood was applied to the doorposts of each Israelite’s house; then latter John the Baptist identifies Jesus with the memorable words “behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), clearly identifying Christ with the Passover. Similarly with the day of atonement sacrifices and the scapegoat (Leviticus 16) which represent Christ’s once-for-all atonement. All the sacrifices of the Tabernacle and Temple were just meant to emphasize that forgiveness comes from a substituted death – which is ultimately found in Jesus. Thus, the whole animal sacrifice “system” is a “shadow” that points to Christ’s redemptive work.
What Are The Prophetic Books Of The Bible About Jesus Predicting?
What Does Isaiah’s Prophecy Say About the Messiah?
Some of the clearest Messianic prophecies are found in the book of Isaiah. More Than the Promises of a Virgin-Born “Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14) and being a “child to us … Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6–7), Isaiah 53 is an unambiguous picture of Christ’s atoning death. It talks of a servant who is “pierced for our transgression” and “crushed for our iniquities,” who is made to bear sins and to offer himself as a “guilt offering.” Christians understand the “Suffering Servant” directly as being the Messiah. As one commentary points out, “Isaiah 53 must be understood as referring to the coming Davidic King, the Messiah … He would die to atone for our sins, then rise again… There is only one man to whom this can refer, Jesus Christ!”. This chapter is quoted in the new testament by Jesus (Luke 22:37) and the apostles (Acts 8:32–35) and applied as being fulfilled by Jesus, so its importance as a prophecy of Christ is highlighted.
What do the Minor Prophets say about the Messiah?
There are also significant messianic predictions among the Minor Prophets. For example, in Micah 5:2 we read: But you, Bethlehem … out of you shall come for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old. This verse was cited as a direct reference to Jesus by the Jewish leaders in Matthew 2:5–6 in recognizing Bethlehem as the prophesied birthplace. The language “from old, from ancient days” indicates eternal pre-existence, as befitting the divine Messiah. Hosea 11:1 (“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt”) to Jesus’ return from Egypt (Matt. 2:15). Zechariah 12:10 and 13:7 use language of servant that will be picked up later in the NT and Zechariah 9:9’s entering as king on a donkey (as mentioned above) was fulfilled directly in Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem. So in the shorter prophecies the seer league of Israel’s Redeemer is also the fulness forms in type of an offering to Jehovah.
What is the Connection Between Daniel’s Visions and Christ?
The Book of Daniel offers apocalyptic visions that Christians link to Jesus. Daniel 9:25–26 refers to the ‘anointed one’ (Messiah) who is to be ‘cut off’ after a certain number of ‘sevens’, allusions that Christians interpret as fulfilled in the passsion of Christ. Daniel 7:13–14 depicts that “one like a son of man” receives an eternal kingdom and dominion and Jesus in the Gospels is declaring Him “Son of Man” over and over again pointing to His fulfillment of this prophecy! A lot is going on in these passages (they are from the same prophecy, with the same heavenly being speaking to him), but the main thing is that Daniel is imagining some kind of divine figure and some kind of eternal kingdom — themes that Christians understand to refer to Jesus’ ministry and death (and eventual return).
How The Ketuvim Reveal Yeshua?
What Do the Psalms Say About the Messiah?
The Psalms, written largely by King David, include such music and prayers. There are multiple Psalms which are directly quoted in the New Testament, with a clear understanding that they are prophecies of Jesus being fulfilled, by the writer of that section of the New Testament. So we observed vivid Psalms 22 matching the crucifixion. Others are Psalm 2 (“You are my Son; today I have begotten you”) and Psalm 110:1 (“The LORD said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool’”), both of which were quoted from the Gospels and Acts as proof that Christ was the son of God and had been exalted.divine. Jesus Himself claimed all of the Hebrew Scriptures (which Psalms is a part of) testify of Him, and He explained them to His disciples (Luke 24:27). One commentator notes that Jesus is seen as “the great singer behind all the Psalms” in the Scriptures, reflecting the point that the words of David take full flight in the person of Christ. The pattern is that David’s psalms foreshadow the suffering, kingship and victory of the Messiah whom Christians believe Jesus embodies.
Are There Other Writings Darkening the Messiah?
Yes. For instance, the Book of Ruth (while not overtly Messianic) is often interpreted as a premonotory work for redemption, in which Boaz (a kinsman-redeemer) serves as a type of the Christ. The book of Proverbs and the book of Ecclesiastes belong to the Wisdom literature, and Lamentations draws on the themes of wisdom and the suffering righteous. The chronicler’s observation that “the scepter shall not depart from Judah” (1 Chron. 17:14), and the permanence of the Davidic dynasty. The genealogies in Chronicles and Ezra/Nehemiah themselves, however, also converge in the Davidic lineage of the messiah. So in the end, the Writings (Ketuvim) uphold the same expectation: The Messiah will be a son of David who realizes in himself all the righteous longings set forth in the Psalms and then some.
What Are Old Testament “Types” and “Shadows” of Christ?
What do we mean by typology in exegesis?
Typology is the examination of how persons, events, or institutions in the Old Testament are seen as having their fulfillment or perfection in Christ. A type is an inspired Proto-“PICTURE” or “PATTERN” of a thing to come. One source in theology describes it as “pictorial representations or reflections of peoples who are not yet born”. The latter is the antitype (Christ and His work). For instance, Adam is said to be a “type” of Christ in that Adam’s act resulted in sin and death (the first man), while Jesus, as the “last Adam”, brings righteousness and life (1 Corinthians 15:45). Then another author states, “Jesus was the 2nd Adam, the ideal law-keeper… the suffering servant, the ideal high priest, and dozens more” such functions that are role played throughout the OT. In other words, there are several people of the Old Testament whose identity is imprinted on who Christ would be.
What is the significance of the Old Testament being a “shadow” of Christ?
With that said, shadows are OT symbols and rituals that are completely imperfect portrayals of Jesus. As Stokes puts it, these shadows “fall short of being adequate representations of the real human being”. For example, the sacrifices in the Tabernacle were only a repetition of the temporary covering of sin - they pictured Christ’s final once-for-all sacrifice, but they themselves were but a shadow (Hebrews 10:1). Similarly, the sabbath, the ark of the covenant, the temple worship are all shadows. The unifying concept is that God “unveiled his plan of redemption” over time so that early believers caught only “a dim forecast” of what was subsequently realized in Christ. So, for us, every real type and shadow in the Old Testament is a pointer to Jesus.
Can you share a few of types/ shadows of Christ?
Yes. A few major personality types are:
- Adam: The initial individual to sin; Jesus is referred as the “last Adam” who conquers death and sin (Romans 5:12–21). God’s promise in Genesis that the seed of the woman will bruise the serpent’s head is a reference to Christ.
- Abel: A righteous innocent murdered by his sibling (Cain kills Abel) – Abel’s killing is associated with blood soaked ground that cues the notion of innocent or undue suffering; Abel’s martyrdom is often taken as a prototype of the innocent and undeserved suffering of Jesus (Hebrews 11:4 emphasizes Abel’s faith).
- Joseph: Sold as a slave by his brothers for silver, thrown into a well but made powerful in order to rescue nations. This is a reflection of Jesus being sold for 30 pieces of silver (Judas), His death and resurrection, to bring salvation to many.
- Moses: Savior of the people of Israel, intermediary with the Law (Deuteronomy 18:15 anticipates “a prophet like Moses”). He brings people through water up from Egypt; Jesus leads through baptism and gives new law on a mountain.
- David: King, who was also a shepherd and anointed by God. Israel’s covenant states that David’s throne is eternal (2 Samuel 7). Jesus is designated time and time again as the “Son of David” and he is recognized as the Good Shepherd, the ever-reigning King. Not only that but both David and Jesus would be betrayed ( David by Ahithophel, Jesus by Judas) and both men would be successful against their enemies.
- Others: There are others: Folks like Noah (the ark-object of salvation), Melchizedek (the king-priest from Salem, used in the book of Hebrews as typological of Christ’s priesthood), and Joshua (the Hebrew for Jesus, leading into the Promised Land) also 8 echo elements about the work of Christ.
These examples show that important OT figures and events are the types of Christ. Every one of them is a type, shadow, or a figure of Jesus ” in a different capacity: Adam as the federal head of the human race, Joseph as the savior from the famine, Moses as mediator, David as king, etc. These all are types which prepare the way, that show us who Jesus is.
Bridge: But Where Does the Old Testament ‘Fit’ in Christian Theology Generally?
The Old Testament’s larger purpose in Christian theology is to prepare us for Christ, who is yet to come. The Old Testament is reflective of the very natures, laws, and agreements of God, and includes the promise of a Savior. We all are aware that Christians believe that “all Scripture” (i.e., the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings) bears witness to Jesus. As Jesus Himself expounded from “Moses and all the Prophets” (i.e., the entire Old Testament), “the things concerning himself” to His disciples (Luke 24:27). In other words, it is not the OT which is an amputated or outdated promise, but the preparatory revelation of God. It lays the groundwork for the New Covenant by demonstrating mans need for redemption and pointing to the hope of a Redeemer through types, shadows, and explicit promises.
What about other related questions regarding the Old Testament?
Why do Christians apply verses such as Isaiah 53 to Jesus?
Isaiah 53 is held by Christians to be a description of the messiah, because its details are seen to correspond to the mission of Jesus. The chapter tells of a servant who is unjustly victimized, carries sin, is “pierced” and “crushed,” and then is vindicated by God. Early Christians and New Testament authors regarded these descriptions as being realized in Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection. The New Testament specifically associates Isaiah 53 with Jesus (see Acts 8:32–35). So Christian theology says Isaiah’s “suffering servant” is Jesus Christ, the very one “by whom alone” Isaiah’s description is fulfilled.
How many prophecies are in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah?
Estimates vary. One standard introduction listed more than 1,200 passages of prophecy in the Old Testament (comprising 8,352 verses). Many of those (hundreds, in some estimates) are considered Messianic. For instance, the book of Isaiah alone includes approximately 50 verses that Christians believe are predictive of Jesus. In the end, it comes down to the fact that there are lots of prophecies in the Old Testament, and those same prophecies were believed by Christians in the 1st century to have been fulfilled by the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
What is the meaning of biblical typology?
Typology is what you might call the theological art of seeing Christ foreshadowed in earlier Scripture. A type is a “type” is an event or person in the Old Testament which foreshadows something that will take place with Christ or in Christ. For instance, Abel is a “type” of Christ in that an innocent man’s blood was spilt (Genesis 4) and the woman’s seed crushing the serpent (Genesis 3:15) is a type of Christ defeating Satan. This view is based on the fact that God “revealed Himself” in stages so that ancient events “foreshadowed” later ones.
Can you cite an example of an Old Testament ritual that is a type of Jesus?
Yes. The Judaic Passover is an archetypal type of Christ. In Exodus 12, a lamb was slain and its blood applied to the doorposts so that God would pass over the homes during judgment. The New Testament even refers to Jesus as “our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7). It was at Passover when Jesus Christ was crucified, and His death paid for the salvation that the lamb represented. So also, the sacrifices (with goats and scapegoats) of the Day of Atonement prefigure Christ’s which is once for all (Hebrews 9:11–14). In general, whatever ceremony entails sacrifice, blood, or sacrifice-remission foreshadows Jesus.
How important is the Davidic covenant in Messianic prophecy?
The Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) guaranteed David that his royal line would never end. 4 declare his oath, “‘One of the sons of your own body I will set on your throne.’ Psalm 89:3–4 Hear, as God’s oath is confirmed: ”I will establish your offspring for ever, and build your throne for all generations. This set in motion the expectation of an everlasting Davidic reign. Christians see these promises as realised in Jesus, the “Son of David” who reigns for ever (Luke 1:32–33). The Redeemer is even called “David” in prophecy (Ezek. 34:23–24) and is painted as a shepherd-king from Bethlehem, as one source points out. So the Davidic covenant is understood as a critical Messianic promise – with Jesus as the ultimate Davidic heir inaugurating God’s kingdom forever.
