Jesus as Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy
The New Testament presents Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, particularly concerning the Messiah [10, 13]. The term "Messiah" (Hebrew: mashiah) and its Greek equivalent "Christ" (Christos) both mean "anointed" [2, 4, 6]. In the Old Testament, priests, prophets, and kings were anointed, consecrating them to their offices [2, 6]. Jesus is understood to embody all three of these offices, being anointed "above his fellows" (Psalm 45:7) [2].
Prophecy, in this context, refers to a "miracle of knowledge," a declaration of future events beyond human foresight [5]. The central prediction woven throughout the Old Testament concerns the coming and work of the Messiah, preparing the world for this event [5].
Numerous Old Testament prophecies are cited as being fulfilled in Jesus:
- His divine sonship is prophesied in Psalm 2:7 and fulfilled in Luke 1:32, 35 [3].
- His lineage is traced to the "seed of the woman" (Genesis 3:15), fulfilled in Galatians 4:4; the "seed of Abraham" (Genesis 17:7; 22:18), fulfilled in Galatians 3:16; the "seed of Isaac" (Genesis 21:12), fulfilled in Hebrews 11:17-19; and the "seed of David" (Psalm 132:11; Jeremiah 23:5), fulfilled in Acts 13:23 and Romans 1:3 [3, 4].
- His birth is foretold as occurring at a set time (Genesis 49:10; Daniel 9:24-25), fulfilled in Luke 2:1 [3]. Isaiah 7:14 prophesies his birth from a virgin and his being called Immanuel, which Matthew 1:22-23 and Luke 2:7 affirm as fulfilled [3].
- His ministry is also seen as fulfilling prophecy. For instance, Jesus' actions, such as feeding the multitude, evoked the memory of God's provision of manna, demonstrating him as the promised end-time prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-16) [11, 12]. The ethical qualities predicted for the godly remnant of Israel in Isaiah 42:1-4, 53:3, 7-9, and Zechariah 9:9 are perfectly expressed in Jesus [8].
The New Testament authors frequently highlight these connections. Matthew, for example, explicitly states that events in Jesus' life occurred "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet" (Matthew 4:14, 12:17) [7, 9]. Paul, in Acts, explained how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament hopes for the Kingdom of God and presented the case for Jesus as the promised Messiah [13]. The author of Hebrews refers to Jesus as the "surety of a better Testament" [1].
Sources
- Hebrews “Hebrews 7:22 (Geneva1599) — By so much is Iesus made a suretie of a better Testament.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Messiah — (Heb. mashiah), in all the thirty-nine instances of its occurring in the Old Testament, is rendered by the LXX. "Christos." It means anointed. Thus priests (Ex. 28:41; 40:15; Num. 3:3), prophets (1 Kings 19:16), and kings (1 Sam. 9:16; 16:3; 2 Sam. 12:7) were anointed with oil, and so consecrated to their respective offices. The great Messiah is anointed "above his fellows" (Ps. 45:7); i.e., he embraces in himself all the three offices. The Greek form "Messias" is only twice used in the New Testament, in John 1:41 and 4:25 (R.V., "Messiah"), and in the Old ”
- 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”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Christ — Anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah" (q.v.), the official title of our Lord, occurring five hundred and fourteen times in the New Testament. It denotes that he was anointed or consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people. He is Jesus the Christ (Acts 17:3; 18:5; Matt. 22:42), the Anointed One. He is thus spoken of by Isaiah (61:1), and by Daniel (9:24-26), who styles him "Messiah the Prince." The Messiah is the same person as "the seed of the woman" (Gen. 3:15), "the seed of Abraham" (Ge”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prophecy — Or prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a "miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture." (See [509]PROPHET.) The great prediction which runs like a golden thread through the whole contents of the Old Testament is that regarding the coming and work of the Messiah; and the great use of prophecy was to perpetuate faith in his coming, and to prepare the world for that event. But there are many subordinate an”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Messiah — (anointed). This word (Mashiach) answers to the word Christ (Christos) in the New Testament, and is applicable in its first sense to any one anointed with the holy oil. The kings of Israel were called anointed, from the mode of their consecration. (1 Samuel 2:10,35; 12:3,5) etc. This word also refers to the expected Prince of the chosen people who was to complete God's purposes for them and to redeem them, and of whose coming the prophets of the old covenant in all time spoke. He was the Messiah, the Anointed, i.e. consecrated as the king and prophet by God'”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 4:14: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet-- (Isa 9:1-2 or, as in Hebrew, Isa 8:23, and Isa 9:1). saying--as follows:”
- Zephaniah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zephaniah 3:12: 3:12 Jesus the Messiah perfectly expresses the ethical qualities predicted for the godly remnant of Israel (Isa 42:1-4; 53:3, 7-9; Zech 9:9; see Matt 11:28-30; 12:15-21; Phil 2:1-8; 1 Pet 2:23).”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 12:17: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying-- (Isa 42:1).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:16: 13:16-17 Jesus brought into reality what the prophets and Old Testament saints desired to see and hear, that is, the fulfillment of Old Testament promises (see Isa 52:15; John 8:56; 1 Pet 1:10).”
- 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).”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 3:22: 3:22 Jesus fulfills the ancient promise of a Prophet like Moses (see Deut 18:15, 18; cp. John 6:14; 7:40).”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 28:23: 28:23 Paul explained how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament hopes for the Kingdom of God, the master theme of Jesus’ own preaching (Mark 1:14-15; see Matt 4:12-17; Luke 4:14-21, 43). Referring to the Scriptures, Paul presented the case for Jesus as the promised Messiah.”