PAULA WISEMAN

Faith and life meet in a story

Home » Study Tip Tuesday » Page 4

Pick up a quick tip to get more out of your Bible study

I've taught for over twenty years and I can help you go deeper when you open up the Word.

STT: Objects as Types

By

Study Tip Tuesday Objects as Types title graphic

“For the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities.” – Hebrews 10:1a

In our exploration of biblical typology, we’ve examined how both people and events foreshadowed Christ. Today, we’ll complete our series by looking at how Old Testament institutions and objects served as types of Christ. These divinely designed elements of Israel’s worship and daily life provided tangible pictures of spiritual realities that would be fulfilled in Jesus.

The Purpose of Institutional Types

God established Israel’s religious institutions and sacred objects as teaching tools—physical representations of spiritual truths that would find their fulfillment in Christ. As Hebrews 8:5 explains, the priests served “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.”

Five Significant Institutions and Objects as Types of Christ

1. The Tabernacle/Temple – God’s Dwelling Place

The sacred sanctuary where God dwelt among His people foreshadowed Christ.

Typological Elements:

  • God’s presence dwelling among His people
  • The single entrance (John 10:9)
  • The bronze altar for sacrifice
  • The veil separating the Holy of Holies

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“The Word became flesh and dwelt [literally ‘tabernacled’] among us” (John 1:14). The tabernacle provided limited access to God’s presence; in Christ, God came to dwell directly among us.

2. The Sacrificial System – Atonement for Sin

The elaborate system of offerings pointed to Christ’s perfect sacrifice.

Typological Elements:

  • Unblemished animals required
  • Blood shed for atonement
  • Different offerings for various needs
  • Repeated sacrifices showing their insufficiency

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Animal sacrifices needed constant repetition; Christ’s sacrifice was once for all.

3. The Priesthood – Mediation Between God and Man

The Levitical priesthood foreshadowed Christ’s perfect mediation.

Typological Elements:

  • Chosen by God to represent the people
  • Offered sacrifices for sins
  • Interceded on behalf of the people
  • Wore special garments signifying holiness

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God” (Hebrews 4:14). The Levitical priests were sinful men who died; Christ is the sinless, eternal High Priest.

4. The Ark of the Covenant – God’s Throne of Mercy

This sacred chest represented God’s presence and mercy.

Typological Elements:

  • Contained the law, manna, and Aaron’s rod
  • Covered by the mercy seat where blood was applied
  • Represented God’s throne among His people
  • Led the people through the wilderness

The Greater Reality in Christ:
Jesus perfectly embodied God’s law, provided heavenly bread, and demonstrated divine authority. Through Him, we find mercy at God’s throne: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16).

5. The Passover – Salvation Through Sacrifice

This annual feast commemorated Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.

Typological Elements:

  • Unblemished lamb selected
  • Blood applied for protection
  • Flesh eaten in a covenant meal
  • Celebrated as a memorial

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Passover lamb saved from physical death in Egypt; Christ saves from eternal death.

When studying Old Testament institutions and objects:

  1. Consider their purpose – What spiritual reality did this institution or object represent?
  2. Look for New Testament fulfillment – How does the New Testament connect this to Christ?
  3. Note the limitations – How does Christ perfect and complete what was only partially represented?
  4. Apply the spiritual principle – What does this teach us about our relationship with God through Christ?

These divinely designed institutions weren’t merely religious rituals but prophetic pictures pointing to Christ. Understanding them enriches our appreciation of what we have in Jesus.

Which of these institutional types helps you understand an aspect of Christ’s work more clearly? How does seeing Christ as the fulfillment of these sacred institutions deepen your worship?

STT: Events as Types

By

Study tip Tuesday Events as Types title graphic

“Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” – 1 Corinthians 10:11

Last week, we explored how people in the Old Testament foreshadowed Christ. This week, we’ll examine how specific events and historical moments also served as “types” pointing to Christ’s redemptive work. These divinely orchestrated events created patterns that would find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.

What Makes an Event Typological?

When we identify an event as a type of Christ, we’re recognizing God’s intentional pattern-making throughout redemptive history. These events weren’t merely historical occurrences but divine object lessons preparing God’s people to understand Christ’s work when He came.

Five Significant Events as Types of Christ

1. The Exodus – Redemption from Bondage

The deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery foreshadowed Christ’s greater redemption.

Typological Elements:

  • Bondage in Egypt parallels slavery to sin
  • The Passover lamb’s blood provided protection
  • Passing through the Red Sea resembles baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1-2)
  • Journey to the Promised Land mirrors the Christian journey

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Exodus provided physical deliverance for one nation; Christ provides spiritual deliverance for people from all nations.

2. The Bronze Serpent – Healing Through Faith

When poisonous serpents bit the Israelites in the wilderness, God provided a surprising remedy.

Typological Elements:

  • Moses lifted a bronze serpent on a pole
  • Those who looked at it in faith were healed
  • The cure required only a believing look

The Greater Reality in Christ:
Jesus explicitly connected this event to Himself: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). The serpent brought physical healing; Christ brings eternal salvation.

3. Crossing the Jordan – Entering God’s Rest

Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land foreshadowed entering God’s spiritual rest.

Typological Elements:

  • Crossing through parted waters
  • Transition from wilderness wandering to inheritance
  • Twelve stones as memorial of God’s faithfulness
  • Joshua (Hebrew form of “Jesus”) leading the people

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:8-9). The Promised Land offered temporary physical rest; Christ offers eternal spiritual rest.

4. Manna in the Wilderness – Bread from Heaven

God’s provision of bread in the desert pointed to Christ as the true bread from heaven.

Typological Elements:

  • Supernatural origin (“bread from heaven”)
  • Daily provision for physical needs
  • Sustained the entire community
  • Required daily gathering (except Sabbath)

The Greater Reality in Christ:
Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life… I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:48, 51). Manna sustained physical life temporarily; Christ gives eternal life.

5. The Day of Atonement – Complete Forgiveness

The annual ritual for cleansing from sin foreshadowed Christ’s perfect atonement.

Typological Elements:

  • Sacrifice for the sins of the people
  • Blood brought into the Most Holy Place
  • The scapegoat carrying away sins
  • One day that addressed all sin

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“But when Christ appeared as a high priest… he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12). The Day of Atonement provided temporary covering; Christ provides permanent forgiveness.

When studying Old Testament events:

  1. Look for New Testament connections – Does any NT passage link this event to Christ?
  2. Identify the redemptive elements – How does this event reveal aspects of salvation?
  3. Note the limitations – How was this event insufficient, requiring a greater fulfillment?
  4. Recognize the pattern – What spiritual principle does this event illustrate?

These historical events weren’t just stories to remember but divinely designed patterns pointing to Christ’s perfect work. They created a spiritual vocabulary that would help God’s people understand the significance of what Jesus would accomplish.

Which of these Old Testament events helps you understand an aspect of Christ’s redemptive work more clearly? How does seeing these connections enhance your appreciation of God’s consistent plan throughout Scripture?

STT: People as Types

By

Study tip Tuesday People as Types title graphic

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.” – Romans 15:4a

This week, let’s focus on how specific people in the Old Testament serve as “types” of Christ, revealing different aspects of His character and work through their lives and experiences.

What Makes Someone a Type of Christ?

When we identify a person as a type of Christ, we’re not suggesting they were sinless or divine. Rather, certain aspects of their lives and roles prefigured Jesus in meaningful ways. These parallels were divinely orchestrated to prepare God’s people to recognize the Messiah when He came.

Five Significant People as Types of Christ

1. Adam – The Representative Head

Paul explicitly identifies Adam as a type of Christ in Romans 5:14, calling him “a type of the one who was to come.”

Parallels with Christ:

  • Both are heads of humanity (Adam of the first creation, Christ of the new)
  • Both’s actions affected all their descendants
  • Both underwent a period of testing

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). Where Adam brought death through disobedience, Christ brings life through obedience.

2. Joseph – The Rejected Savior

Though not explicitly identified as a type in the New Testament, Joseph’s life contains remarkable parallels to Christ.

Parallels with Christ:

  • Beloved by his father (Genesis 37:3)
  • Rejected and betrayed by his brothers
  • Sold for silver (Genesis 37:28)
  • Unjustly condemned yet innocent
  • Exalted to rule after suffering
  • Provided salvation during crisis
  • Forgave those who wronged him

The Greater Reality in Christ:
Joseph saved his family from physical famine; Christ saves us from spiritual death.

3. Moses – The Deliverer and Mediator

Moses himself prophesied about Christ: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me” (Deuteronomy 18:15).

Parallels with Christ:

  • Rescued from death as an infant
  • Called by God to deliver His people from bondage
  • Performed signs and wonders
  • Mediated between God and the people
  • Interceded for the people when they sinned
  • Established God’s covenant

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Moses delivered from physical slavery; Christ delivers from sin’s bondage.

4. David – The Shepherd King

David is frequently connected to the Messiah, who is often called “Son of David” in the New Testament.

Parallels with Christ:

  • Born in Bethlehem
  • Worked as a shepherd before becoming king
  • Defeated God’s enemies (Goliath/Satan)
  • Established a kingdom promised to endure
  • Composed songs of worship

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:33). David’s earthly kingdom eventually fell; Christ’s kingdom is eternal.

5. Jonah – The “Resurrected” Prophet

Jesus Himself identified Jonah as a type: “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).

Parallels with Christ:

  • “Buried” for three days
  • “Resurrected” to new life
  • Brought a message of repentance
  • His experience led to the salvation of Gentiles

The Greater Reality in Christ:
Jonah’s “resurrection” saved one city temporarily; Christ’s resurrection offers salvation to all people eternally.

Study Application

When studying an Old Testament figure:

  1. Look for explicit New Testament connections – Does Jesus or any NT writer connect this person to Christ?
  2. Note significant parallels – Are there meaningful similarities in their experiences, roles, or character?
  3. Recognize how Christ is greater – How does Jesus fulfill and exceed what this person represented?
  4. Avoid forced connections – Not every detail needs to be typological; focus on significant patterns.

These Old Testament lives weren’t just historical figures but divinely orchestrated “living prophecies” pointing to Christ. By studying them, we gain a richer understanding of Jesus and God’s consistent redemptive plan.

For reflection: Which Old Testament figure helps you understand an aspect of Christ’s character or work more clearly? How does seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of these “types” deepen your appreciation of God’s redemptive plan?

STT: Examples of Types

By

Study Tip Tuesday Examples of Types title graphic

Through a rich tapestry of types and shadows—people, events, and institutions that prefigured Christ—God was already telling the story of redemption long before the manger in Bethlehem. These patterns aren’t just literary devices; they’re Spirit-woven previews of the gospel.

Recognizing these Christ-types helps us read the Bible as one unified narrative, where the Old Testament anticipates and the New Testament fulfills.

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” – Luke 24:27

What Are Types and Shadows?

Remember, a “type” is a person, event, or institution in the Old Testament that prefigures something greater in the New Testament, particularly Christ. The “shadow” points to the “substance” that is Christ.

As Colossians 2:17 says regarding Old Testament practices: “These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”

Three Key Examples of Christ-Types

1. Moses as a Type of Christ

Moses foreshadowed Christ as:

  • A deliverer who rescued his people from bondage
  • A mediator between God and the people
  • A prophet who spoke God’s words
  • A lawgiver who established God’s covenant

Jesus is the greater Moses, delivering us from sin’s bondage, mediating a better covenant, and fulfilling the law.

2. The Passover Lamb as a Type of Christ

The Passover lamb pointed to Christ through:

  • Its unblemished condition
  • Its sacrificial death
  • Its blood providing protection
  • Its flesh providing nourishment

This connection is explicitly confirmed in 1 Corinthians 5:7: “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

3. The Tabernacle as a Type of Christ

The tabernacle foreshadowed Christ as:

  • God’s dwelling among His people
  • The place of sacrifice and atonement
  • The location where God met with humanity

John 1:14 confirms this connection: “The Word became flesh and dwelt [literally ‘tabernacled’] among us.”

Seeing Christ More Clearly

Typology isn’t just a clever interpretive tool—it’s a testimony to God’s intentionality. From Moses to the lamb to the tabernacle, each type whispers the name of Jesus long before His birth. These shadows stretch across centuries, converging in the radiant substance of Christ.

As we learn to recognize these patterns, we begin to see Scripture not as a collection of disconnected stories, but as one unfolding drama of redemption. The road to Emmaus becomes our road too—where Christ opens our eyes and hearts to the truth that He has been there all along.

STT: Valid Types

By

Study Tip Tuesday Valid Types title graphic

Not everything in the Old Testament is a type of Christ. Use these guidelines to discern valid, legitimate connections:

  1. Look for New Testament confirmation – The surest types are those explicitly identified in the New Testament
  2. Seek significant correspondence – Valid types share meaningful parallels, not superficial similarities
  3. Recognize escalation – The fulfillment in Christ always exceeds the type (greater, not just similar)
  4. Maintain textual context – The original meaning remains valid alongside typological significance

Simple Study Method

Try this approach with any Old Testament passage:

  1. Read the passage in context – Understand its original meaning first
  2. Look for New Testament references – Does any NT passage connect this to Christ?
  3. Note significant patterns – Are there themes of redemption, sacrifice, mediation, or kingship?
  4. Ask revealing questions:
  • How might this point to Christ’s person or work?
  • What greater reality might this foreshadow?
  • How does Christ fulfill or transform this element?

Example: Joseph as a Type of Christ

Joseph’s story contains numerous parallels to Christ:

  • Beloved by his father (Genesis 37:3)
  • Rejected by his brothers (Genesis 37:4)
  • Sold for silver (Genesis 37:28)
  • Unjustly condemned (Genesis 39:20)
  • Exalted to rule (Genesis 41:40-41)
  • Provided salvation during famine (Genesis 42-45)
  • Used evil for good (Genesis 50:20)

While the Bible doesn’t explicitly identify Joseph as a type of Christ, the parallels are significant enough to see God’s foreshadowing work.

Why This Matters

Recognizing valid types and shadows helps you:

  • See the unity of Scripture’s redemptive story
  • Appreciate God’s intricate planning across history
  • Understand Christ more fully through these divine illustrations
  • Read the Old Testament with fresh eyes of faith

These Old Testament stories are about real men and women, but just beneath the surface – waiting to be discovered – are lessons about Jesus Christ.

Next time you read an Old Testament passage, ask: “How might this point to Christ?” You might be surprised at the connections you discover when you look with eyes of faith.

STT: Types and Shadows

By

Study Tip Tuesday Types and Shadows title graphic

Have you ever wondered how Jesus could show the disciples where He appears in the Old Testament? The Bible contains a beautiful system of “types and shadows” – people, events, and institutions that foreshadow Christ. Learning to recognize these patterns enriches your understanding of Scripture’s unity and deepens your appreciation of God’s redemptive plan.

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” – Luke 24:27

What Are Types and Shadows?

A “type” is a person, event, or institution in the Old Testament that prefigures something greater in the New Testament, particularly Christ. These are like “non-verbal prophecy,” where God uses real people and situations throughout history to continually announce and paint pictures of His life on Earth.

Four Common Categories of Christ-Types

1. People as Types

Old Testament figures who foreshadow aspects of Christ’s person or work:

  • Adam – As the “first man,” Adam prefigures Christ, “the last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45)
  • Melchizedek – This priest-king foreshadows Christ’s dual role (Hebrews 7:1-3)
  • Moses – As deliverer and mediator, Moses points to Christ (Deuteronomy 18:15)
  • David – The shepherd-king anticipates the ultimate King (Ezekiel 34:23-24)

2. Events as Types

Historical events that picture Christ’s redemptive work:

  • The Exodus – Israel’s deliverance from slavery foreshadows our redemption from sin
  • The Bronze Serpent – Healing came by looking at the lifted serpent, pointing to Christ lifted up (John 3:14-15)
  • Crossing the Jordan – Entering the Promised Land pictures entering God’s rest through Christ

3. Institutions as Types

Old Testament institutions fulfilled in Christ:

  • The Tabernacle/Temple – God’s dwelling among His people, fulfilled in Christ who “tabernacled” among us (John 1:14)
  • The Sacrificial System – Animal sacrifices pointed to Christ’s perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1-14)
  • The Priesthood – Mediators between God and people, fulfilled in Christ our High Priest

4. Objects as Types

Physical items that symbolize aspects of Christ:

  • The Ark of the Covenant – God’s presence with His people
  • The Passover Lamb – Protection through applied blood (1 Corinthians 5:7)
  • Manna – Bread from heaven, pointing to Christ as the true bread (John 6:32-33)

Over the next few posts, we’ll learn more about types and shadows and how to recognize them.