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Biblical Characters Pointing Forward to Jesus Christ

The concept that biblical characters point forward to Jesus Christ is rooted in the understanding that the entire Old Testament narrative is prefigurative of the life, ministry, and salvation brought by Jesus. This typological interpretation is evident in various New Testament writings and has been a cornerstone of Christian biblical interpretation.

The author of Hebrews emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament figures and institutions, referring to Him as "the author and perfecter of faith" [1]. The writer also highlights Jesus as "the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel" [2], establishing a direct link between Jesus and the Old Testament characters.

One of the earliest examples of this typology is found in Genesis 3:15, where the "seed of the woman" is seen as a protoevangelium, or the first gospel promise, pointing to Jesus Christ. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge notes numerous cross-references for Genesis 3:15, including Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23, which further solidify the connection between the Old Testament and Jesus [4].

The New Testament writers frequently interpret Old Testament characters and events as foreshadowing Jesus. For instance, the Tyndale House commentary on Luke 24:27 notes that "all of the Old Testament, point forward to the coming of Jesus the Messiah and the salvation that he would bring" [6]. This understanding is not limited to direct prophecies but extends to the lives and experiences of biblical characters.

Samuel, for example, is seen as one of Christ's forerunners. The Tyndale House commentary on 1 Samuel 2:26 observes that Samuel, like Jesus, possessed extraordinary qualities as a child, highlighting the typological connection between the two figures [10]. Other biblical characters, such as Abel, whose "blood of sprinkling" is compared to Jesus' in Hebrews 12:24 [2], serve as precursors to the life and ministry of Jesus.

The early Church Fathers also recognized this typological connection. Ignatius, in his letter to the Trallians, salutes the church "in its fulness, and in the apostolical character," emphasizing the unity and continuity between the Old Testament, the apostolic era, and the church, with Jesus Christ as the central figure [7].

John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, extensively discusses the typological connections between the Old Testament and Jesus Christ, particularly in his interpretation of various Psalms and prophetic passages [8]. Calvin's work underscores the Reformed tradition's emphasis on the unity of the Bible and the centrality of Jesus Christ in biblical interpretation.

The Baptist/Reformed tradition, represented by John Gill's commentary on Philippians 3:13, views Jesus as "the scope, or mark, of all the thoughts, purposes, and counsels of God, to which they all aim, and in which they all centre" [9]. This perspective reinforces the idea that biblical characters and events are oriented towards Jesus Christ.

The understanding that biblical characters point forward to Jesus Christ is thus a multifaceted and deeply rooted concept in Christian theology, supported by various biblical and historical sources. It underscores the coherence and unity of the biblical narrative, with Jesus Christ as its fulfillment and center.

The early Christian interpretation of the Old Testament as prefiguring Jesus Christ has had a lasting impact on Christian theology and biblical interpretation. As the biblical narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that the lives and experiences of Old Testament characters are not isolated events but are instead part of a larger story that finds its climax in Jesus Christ.

The cross-references provided by the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge for various passages, such as James 1:17 and James 2:13, further illustrate the intricate web of connections between the Old and New Testaments [3, 5]. These connections demonstrate that the biblical narrative is characterized by a profound continuity, with Jesus Christ being the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises and plans.

Sources

  1. Hebrews “looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. -- Hebrews 12:2”
  2. Hebrews “to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. -- Hebrews 12:24”
  3. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “James 1:17 cross-references: Genesis 1:2, Genesis 1:14, Genesis 41:16, Genesis 41:38, Exodus 4:11, Exodus 31:3, Exodus 36:1, Numbers 11:17, Numbers 11:25, Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 4:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, 1 Chronicles 22:12, 1 Chronicles 29:19, 2 Chronicles 1:11, Psalms 19:1, Psalms 84:11, Psalms 122:6, Proverbs 2:6, Isaiah 28:26, Isaiah 45:7, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 60:19, Daniel 2:21, Daniel 2:27, Malachi 3:6, Matthew 7:11, Matthew 11:25, Matthew 13:11, Luke 11:13, John 1:9, John 3:27, John 8:12, Acts 5:31, Acts 11:18, Romans 6:23, Romans 11:29, Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 1 Corinthians 12:4”
  4. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Genesis 3:15 cross-references: Genesis 49:17, Numbers 21:6, Psalms 132:11, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 53:3, Isaiah 53:12, Jeremiah 31:22, Daniel 9:26, Amos 9:3, Micah 5:3, Matthew 1:23, Matthew 1:25, Matthew 3:7, Matthew 4:1, Matthew 12:34, Matthew 13:38, Matthew 23:33, Mark 16:18, Luke 1:31, Luke 1:76, Luke 10:19, Luke 22:39, Luke 22:53, John 8:44, John 12:31, John 14:30, Acts 13:10, Acts 28:3, Romans 3:13, Romans 16:20, Galatians 4:4, Ephesians 4:8, Colossians 2:15, Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 2:18, Hebrews 5:7, 1 John 3:8, 1 John 3:10, 1 John 5:5, Revelation 2:10, Revelation 12:7, Revelation 12:17, Reve”
  5. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “James 2:13 cross-references: Genesis 42:21, Judges 1:7, Judges 5:27, Job 22:6, Psalms 18:25, Psalms 85:10, Proverbs 21:13, Isaiah 27:11, Jeremiah 9:24, Ezekiel 33:11, Micah 7:18, Matthew 5:7, Matthew 6:15, Matthew 7:1, Matthew 18:28, Matthew 25:41, Luke 6:37, Luke 16:25, Ephesians 1:6, Ephesians 2:4, James 5:4, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:18”
  6. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 24:27: 24:27 All the Scriptures, meaning all of the Old Testament, point forward to the coming of Jesus the Messiah and the salvation that he would bring.”
  7. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — SHORTER AND LONGER VERSIONS: Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the holy Church which is at Tralles, in Asia, beloved of God, the Father of Jesus Christ, elect, and worthy of God, possessing peace through the flesh, and blood, and passion of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, through our rising again to Him,[1] which also I salute in its fulness,[2] and in the apostalical character,[3] and wish abundance of happiness. lgnatius, who is also called Theaphorus, to the holy Church which is at Tralles, beloved ”
  8. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: 10:4 11:19 11:19 11:19-20 11:26 12:13 13:9 13:9 14:9 14:14 16:20 16:20 18:4 18:7-8 18:9 18:20 18:20 18:20 18:20 18:20 18:21 18:21 18:21-22 18:23 18:23 18:24 18:24 18:27 18:31 18:32 18:32 20:10 20:12 20:43-44 22:25-26 28:10 29:4 34:4 34:23 34:24 34:25 36:22 36:22 36:22 36:25 36:26 36:26 36:26-27 36:32 37:4 37:24-26 48:21 48:35 Daniel 2:21 2:34 2:37 2:37-38 2:44 4:17 4:25 4:27 4:27 5:18-19 6:22 7:9 7:10 7:10 7:10 7:25 9 9:5 9:7 9:18 9:18-20 9:20 9:24 9:24 9:26-27 9:27 10:13 10:13 10:20 10:21 12:1 12:1-2 12:2 12:3 Hosea 1:11 2:2 2:9 ”
  9. Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 3:13: I press toward the mark,.... The allusion is to the white line, or mark, which the runners in the Olympic games made up to, and to which he that came first received the prize; and by which the apostle intends the Lord Jesus Christ, who is "the scope", or "mark", of all the thoughts, purposes, and counsels of God, to which they all aim, and in which they all centre; and of the covenant of grace of which he is the sum and substance, the Mediator, surety, and messenger, in whom are all the blessings and promises of it; and of the Scriptures of truth, the writings of”
  10. 1 Samuel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Samuel 2:26: 2:26 As children, both Samuel and Jesus possessed extraordinary qualities (2:21; see also Luke 2:40, 52). Samuel was one of Christ’s forerunners.”
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