Biblical Types and Shadows Prefiguring Christ's Life Death
Biblical types and shadows are Old Testament persons, events, or institutions that prefigure Christ and the realities of the New Covenant [5, 7]. The Apostle Paul states that the Old Testament rituals were "a shadow of the coming things, and the body is of the Christ" (Colossians 2:17 YLT) [1]. This concept highlights how elements of the Old Testament anticipated the person and work of Jesus Christ [7].
Many figures and events in the Old Testament are identified as types of Christ. For example, Adam is considered a type of Christ (Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:45), as are Abel (Genesis 4:8,10; Hebrews 12:24) and Abraham (Genesis 17:5; Ephesians 3:15) [2]. Other examples include the high priest Aaron (Exodus 28:1; Hebrews 5:4,5), the ark of Noah (Genesis 7:16; 1 Peter 3:20,21), and the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:16; Psalm 40:8) [2]. Even specific objects and rituals, such as the brazen serpent (Numbers 21:9; John 3:14,15), the brazen altar (Exodus 27:1,2; Hebrews 13:10), and the burnt offering (Leviticus 1:2,4; Hebrews 10:10), are seen as prefiguring Christ [2]. The cities of refuge also served as a type (Numbers 35:6; Hebrews 6:18) [2].
The death of Christ, in particular, was extensively prefigured in the Old Testament. The mode of his death was foretold by Christ himself (Matthew 20:18,19; John 12:32,33) and prefigured by the brazen serpent (Numbers 21:8; John 3:14) [3]. The Old Testament also foretold Christ's suffering and death, emphasizing its necessity for human redemption (Isaiah 53:8; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 13:7; Luke 24:46) [3]. The Scriptures had to be fulfilled, which spoke of Christ being taken and led "as a lamb to the slaughter" [10]. The darkness that covered the land during Christ's crucifixion (Mark 15:33) is seen by some as a fulfillment of prophecies like Amos 8:9, "I will cause the sun to go down at noon" [9]. This darkness, along with other signs, indicates God's coming in judgment [11].
The "angel of the Lord" in the Old Testament is also understood by some as a pre-incarnate manifestation of Christ, the special form in which God revealed himself to humanity (Genesis 16:7; Acts 7:30-38) [4]. The Old Testament distinction between clean and unclean meats, for instance, was a shadow of the separation between Jews and Gentiles, a distinction that ceased with Christ [6]. The fleeting nature of human life, often compared to a shadow, also finds its ultimate expression in the violent death of Christ, who was "cut off out of the land of the living" (Psalm 109:22; Isaiah 53:8) [8].
Sources
- Colossians “Colossians 2:17 (YLT) — which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body <FI>is<Fi> of the Christ;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Types of Christ — Adam -- Ro 5:14; 1Co 15:45. Abel -- Ge 4:8,10; Heb 12:24. Abraham -- Ge 17:5; Eph 3:15. Aaron -- Ex 28:1; Heb 5:4,5; Le 16:15; Heb 9:7,24. Ark -- Ge 7:16; 1Pe 3:20,21. Ark of the Covenant -- Ex 25:16; Ps 40:8; Isa 42:6. Atonement, sacrifices offered on the day of -- Le 16:15,16; Heb 9:12,24. Brazen serpent -- Nu 21:9; Joh 3:14,15. Brazen altar -- Ex 27:1,2; Heb 13:10. Burnt offering -- Le 1:2,4; Heb 10:10. Cities of refuge -- Nu 35:6; Heb 6:18. David -- 2Sa 8:15; Eze 37:24; Ps 89:19,20; Php 2:9. Eliakim -- Isa 22:20-22; Re 3:7. First-fruits -- Ex 22”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Death of Christ, The — Foretold -- Isa 53:8; Da 9:26; Zec 13:7. Appointed by God -- Isa 53:6,10; Ac 2:23. Necessary for the redemption of man -- Lu 24:46; Ac 17:3. Acceptable, as a sacrifice to God -- Mt 20:28; Eph 5:2; 1Th 5:10. Was voluntary -- Isa 53:12; Mt 26:53; Joh 10:17,18. Was undeserved -- Isa 53:9. Mode of Foretold by Christ. -- Mt 20:18,19; Joh 12:32,33. Prefigured. -- Nu 21:8; Joh 3:14. Ignominious. -- Heb 12:2. Accursed. -- Ga 3:13. Exhibited His humility. -- Php 2:8. A stumbling block to Jews. -- 1Co 1:23. Foolishness to Gentiles. -- 1Co 1:18,23. Demand”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Angel Of The Lord — (Genesis 16:7) etc. (The special form in which God manifested himself to man, and hence Christ's visible form before the incarnation. Compare (Acts 7:30-38) with the corresponding Old-Testament history; and (Genesis 18:1,13,14,33) and Genesis 19:1)”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Shadow — Used in Col. 2:17; Heb. 8:5; 10:1 to denote the typical relation of the Jewish to the Christian dispensation.”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 2:17: Which are a shadow of things to come,.... By Christ, and under the Gospel dispensation; that is, they were types, figures, and representations of spiritual and evangelical things: the different "meats and drinks", clean and unclean, allowed or forbidden by the law, were emblems of the two people, the Jews and Gentiles, the one clean, the other unclean; but since these are become one in Christ, the distinction of meats is ceased, these shadows are gone; and also of the different food of regenerate and unregenerate souls, the latter feeding on impure food, the ashes”
- Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 2:17: 2:17 The reality of Christ was anticipated by the Old Testament rituals, which Paul calls shadows (see also Heb 10:1).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 109:22: I am gone like the shadow when it declineth,.... When the sun is setting, and the shadow is going off; man's life is often compared to a shadow, because fleeting, momentary, and soon gone, Ch1 29:15 and death is expressed by going the way of all flesh; and by going to the grave, the house for all living, a man's long home, Jos 23:14 and so is the death of Christ, Luk 22:22, it may be rendered, "I am made to go" (h), denoting the violent death of Christ, who was cut off out of the land of the living, and whose life was taken away from the earth, Isa 53:8. I am toss”
- Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 15:33: Here we have an account of Christ's dying, how his enemies abused him, and God honoured him at his death. I. There was a thick darkness over the whole land (some think over the whole earth), for three hours, from noon till three of the clock. Now the scripture was fulfilled (Amo 8:9), I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day; and Jer 15:9, Her sun is gone down while it is yet day. The Jews have often demanded of Christ a sign from heaven; and now they had one, but such a one as signified the blinding of their eyes. It wa”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 26:53: But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled,.... That is, should Christ make such a request to his Father, and he should grant it, and an host of angels should be sent to rescue him, and he should be rescued by them; how then should the Scriptures, which speak of Christ's being taken, and led as a lamb to the slaughter, and of his various sufferings, and the circumstances of them, have their accomplishment? "declaring", as the Arabic version supplies, or as the Ethiopic version, "which say", that thus it must be; that the Messiah must be apprehended, and suffer”
- Joel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joel 2:30: 2:30-31 The future outpouring of God’s Spirit would be accompanied by signs and wonders. Blood and fire and . . . smoke, together with the darkening of the sun and the moon, are indications of God’s coming in judgment (see 2:10; Mark 13:24; Rev 6:12).”