The Bible often cites itself and alludes to previous persons, events, or institutions. Why does it do this? It does this because it has one ultimate author, with a unified plan, worked-out in history, to glorify himself through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. It does this because this unified plan centering around what the Son of God does is God’s “plan A” from before the foundation of the world. All revelation is tethered around the skull-crushing seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15) who brings many sons to glory (Heb. 2:10). Persons, events, and institutions of the Old Testament are often typological of Christ, his sacrificial life of service unto death, and his body, the church. What God began in the Garden, God completes in the exalted Redeemer. Though Adam failed as God’s son in the Garden, and though Israel failed as God’s son in the Promised Land, the last and greater Adam and the faithful representative of Israel does not fail. He both obeys to procure righteousness leading to a state of exaltation and suffers the punishment due our sins. He erects a temple on the earth that is slowly spreading throughout the entire globe. He was God tabernacling among men who erected a temple of which both Jews and Gentiles are citizens and priests and kings. He did this as the heir to God’s covenantal promises to Abraham (Genesis 12, 15, 22), David (2 Samuel 7), and Israel (Jeremiah 31). Why does the New Testament refer to promises to Abraham, David, and Israel so often as being fulfilled in Christ? Because all revelation prior to the sufferings and glory of the Redeemer was preparatory and anticipatory. The New Testament reads the Old Testament similar to the way the Old Testament reads itself. What God does in space and time is often done in anticipation of something greater to come in the future. The Old Testament set the stage for a greater exodus, a greater temple, a greater Servant of the Lord (greater Israel), a greater David, and a greater heaven and earth. Christ (i.e., what he accomplishes, inaugurates, and brings to eschatological fruition) is the fulfillment of these greater expectations. Indeed, “for as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes…” (2 Corinthians 1:20). When we read, interpret, and explain the Bible, let us never forget its God-glorifying, unifying center – our Lord Jesus Christ. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments testify of him (John 5:39).
Dr. Richard Barcellos is associate professor of New Testament Studies. He received a B.S. from California State University, Fresno, an M.Div. from The Master’s Seminary, and a Th.M. and Ph.D. from Whitefield Theological Seminary. Dr. Barcellos is pastor of Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Palmdale, CA. He is author of Trinity & Creation, The Covenant of Works, and Getting the Garden Right. He has contributed articles to various journals and is a member of ETS.
Courses taught for CBTS: New Testament Introduction, Biblical Hermeneutics, Biblical Theology I, Biblical Theology II.
