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Human Examples in the Bible Pointing to Christ's Fulfillment

The biblical narrative presents numerous human figures whose lives, actions, and experiences foreshadow or point toward the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is understood as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises and purposes [17]. These examples are not perfect in themselves, but rather serve as types or shadows that find their complete reality in Christ.

One significant way human examples point to Christ is through their roles as prophets and deliverers. Old Testament prophecies consistently speak of a coming Messiah, often detailing aspects of his identity and mission [7]. For instance, the promise in Genesis 3:15, that the "seed of the woman" would bruise the serpent's head, is understood as an early prophecy of Christ [7, 9]. Figures like Moses, who delivered Israel from bondage, and David, the king who established a lasting dynasty, are often seen as types of Christ. David, though dead and buried, is understood to have prophesied about a "Holy Man" whose life and resurrection would fulfill God's promises, a prophecy that could only refer to Christ [11]. Jesus himself evoked the memory of God's provision of manna in the wilderness, demonstrating that he is the promised end-time prophet, fulfilling the role of a divine provider [12].

The lives of many Old Testament figures also exemplify virtues and actions that Christ perfectly embodies. Abraham, for example, is noted for his early rising in executing God's commands and for his practice of social and family prayer [2, 5]. Isaac and Jacob are also mentioned for their early rising [2]. While these individuals demonstrated faithfulness, Christ's life is presented as the perfect example of righteousness, purity, love, humility, meekness, obedience, and self-denial [1]. He perfectly exemplified resignation to God's will, even in the face of suffering and death [8]. His self-denial, seen in his rejection of worldly temptations and his willingness to suffer, is presented as a model for believers [6].

The concept of humanity bearing God's image and being endowed with dignity and a charge to rule, as described in Genesis 1:26-27, finds its ideal realization in Jesus Christ [10]. He is presented as the "perfecter of faith" and the one who fully realized God's purposes for humanity [4, 10]. The goal for believers is to grow "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" [3]. This suggests that Christ is the ultimate standard and goal for human development and spiritual maturity.

Even figures described as "just and perfect," like Noah, are understood to be so not in an absolute sense, but in their sincere desire to do God's will, living by faith [15]. The New Testament emphasizes that no one since the fall of Adam has been free from sin except Jesus Christ [15]. Therefore, the "good report" obtained by Old Testament saints through faith did not grant them the final completion of salvation, which awaits Christ's second coming [13]. Their faith pointed forward to Christ, who would fully atone for human sins through his sacrifice and resurrection [14].

Christ's example extends to his suffering. The patient endurance of unmerited suffering, which is acceptable to God, is exemplified by Christ himself [16]. He suffered innocently, not for his own sake, but for humanity [16]. This serves as a model for believers who are called to endure suffering.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Example of Christ, The — Is perfect -- Heb 7:26. Conformity to, required in Holiness. -- 1Pe 1:15,16; Ro 1:6. Righteousness. -- 1Jo 2:6. Purity. -- 1Jo 3:3. Love. -- Joh 13:34; Eph 5:2; 1Jo 3:16. Humility. -- Lu 22:27; Php 2:5,7. Meekness. -- Mt 11:29. Obedience. -- Joh 15:10. Self-denial. -- Mt 16:24; Ro 15:3. Ministering to others. -- Mt 20:28; Joh 13:14,15. Benevolence. -- Ac 20:35; 2Co 8:7,9. Forgiving injuries. -- Col 3:13. Overcoming the world. -- Joh 16:33; 1Jo 5:4. Being not of the world. -- Joh 17:16. Being guileless. -- 1Pe 2:21-22. Suffering wrongfully. --”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Early Rising — Christ set an example of -- Mr 1:35; Lu 21:38; Joh 8:2. Requisite for Devotion. -- Ps 5:3; 59:16; 63:1; 88:13; Isa 26:9. Executing God's commands. -- Ge 22:3. Discharge of daily duties. -- Pr 31:15. Neglect of, leads to poverty -- Pr 6:9-11. Practised by the wicked, for Deceit. -- Pr 27:14. Executing plans of evil. -- Mic 2:1. Illustrates spiritual diligence -- Ro 13:11,12. Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 19:27. Isaac, &c. -- Ge 26:31. Jacob. -- Ge 28:18. Joshua &c. -- Jos 3:1. Gideon. -- Jdj 6:38. Samuel. -- 1Sa 15:12. David. -- 1Sa 17:20. Mary, &c. -- Mr ”
  3. King James Version “[KJV] Ephesians 4:13 — Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”
  4. 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”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Social and Family — Promise of answers to -- Mt 18:19. Christ promises to be present at -- Mt 18:20. Punishment for neglecting -- Jer 10:25. Exemplified Abram. -- Ge 12:5,8. Jacob. -- Ge 35:2,3,7. Joshua. -- Jos 24:15. David. -- 2Sa 6:20. Job. -- Job 1:5. The Disciples. -- Ac 1:13,14. Cornelius. -- Ac 10:2. Paul and Silas. -- Ac 16:25. Paul. -- Ac 20:36; 21:5.”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophecies Respecting Christ — As the Son of God -- Ps 2:7. Fulfilled. -- Lu 1:32,35. As the seed of the woman -- Ge 3:15. Fulfilled. -- Ga 4:4. As the seed of Abraham -- Ge 17:7; 22:18. Fulfilled. -- Ga 3:16. As the seed of Isaac -- Ge 21:12. Fulfilled. -- Heb 11:17-19. As the seed of David -- Ps 132:11; Jer 23:5. Fulfilled. -- Ac 13:23; Ro 1:3. His coming at a set time -- Ge 49:10; Da 9:24,25. Fulfilled. -- Lu 2:1. His being born a virgin -- Isa 7:14. Fulfilled. -- Mt 1:22,23; Lu 2:7. His being called Immanuel -- Isa 7:14. Fulfilled. -- Mt 1:22,23. His being born i”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
  9. 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”
  10. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 8:5: 8:5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God: Humans bear God’s image; the Lord has endowed humans with dignity and charged them to rule (Gen 1:26-27). Hebrews 2:6-8 applies these words to Jesus Christ, the ideal human who fully realized God’s purposes.”
  11. Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 2:29: David . . . is . . . dead and buried, &c.--Peter, full of the Holy Ghost, sees in this sixteenth Psalm, one Holy Man, whose life of high devotedness and lofty spirituality is crowned with the assurance, that though He taste of death, He shall rise again without seeing corruption, and be admitted to the bliss of God's immediate presence. Now as this was palpably untrue of David, it could be meant only of One other, even of Him whom David was taught to expect as the final Occupant of the throne of Israel. (Those, therefore, and they are many, who take Davi”
  12. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 14:13: 14:13-21 Jesus’ actions consistently fulfilled Old Testament promises regarding the Kingdom and the Messiah (11:5-6; 12:28). Here Jesus evoked the memory of God’s provision of manna for the Israelites (Exod 16; see John 6:32), demonstrating that he is the promised end-time prophet (see Deut 18:15-16).”
  13. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 11:39: having obtained a good report--Greek, "being borne witness of." Though they were so, yet "they received not the promise," that is, the final completion of "salvation" promised at Christ's coming again (Heb 9:28); "the eternal inheritance" (Heb 9:15). Abraham did obtain the very thing promised (Heb 6:15) in part, namely, blessedness in soul after death, by virtue of faith in Christ about to come. The full blessedness of body and soul shall not be till the full number of the elect shall be accomplished, and all together, no one preceding the other, sha”
  14. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:14: 15:14-18 If Christ has not risen from the dead, then Christian faith is useless. But in reality, Jesus’ resurrection is proof that the sacrifice of Christ fully atoned for human sins (see 15:3). If Christ has not been raised, then human beings remain unforgiven, under the judgment of God—still guilty of their sins (see Rom 3:19; Eph 2:1-3).”
  15. Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 6:9: Noah . . . just . . . and perfect--not absolutely; for since the fall of Adam no man has been free from sin except Jesus Christ. But as living by faith he was just (Gal 3:2; Heb 11:7) and perfect--that is, sincere in his desire to do God's will.”
  16. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 2:21: Christ's example a proof that patient endurance under undeserved sufferings is acceptable with God. hereunto--to the patient endurance of unmerited suffering (Pe1 3:9). Christ is an example to servants, even as He was once in "the form of a servant." called--with a heavenly calling, though slaves. for us--His dying for us is the highest exemplification of "doing well" (Pe1 2:20). Ye must patiently suffer, being innocent, as Christ also innocently suffered (not for Himself, but for us). The oldest manuscripts for "us . . . us," read, "you . . . f”
  17. 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 1:20: 1:20 With Christ’s coming, Old Testament promises of redemption are being fulfilled and the last days have begun.”
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