Can you tell me what characters in the Bible were simular to Christ? Lovada K. Washington
To my surprise when I looked, the first definition in Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary for the word “type” is: “a person or thing (as in the Old Testament) believed to foreshadow another (as in the New Testament).” Through “types,” some biblical characters and Jesus Christ shared some similarities.
The high priest under Judaism was a type of Jesus Christ who is the High Priest under Christianity (Hebrews 3:1 9:6-12, 25). Melchizedek, the high priest under Patriarchy, was also a type of Jesus Christ who is the High Priest under Christianity (Hebrews 5:10; 6:20). Melchizedek is further identified through his Patriarchal priesthood generally as a type of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:15-17). The Passover lamb under Judaism commemorating God’s determination to bring death to the first born throughout Egypt prior to the Exodus, but passing over the Israelites, was a type of Jesus Christ our sacrificial Lamb under Christianity (John 1:29, 36; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19). The annualsacrifices (animals) under Judaism for atonement typified the sacrifice of Jesus Christ once for the remission of sins under Christianity (Hebrews 10:1-4, 10). Adam was a type of Christ, Adam bringing sin into the world among humanity and Jesus Christ taking sin away (Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:45). Moses, the lawgiver of Judaism and prophet, was a type of Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Acts 3:20, 22; 7:37; Hebrews 3:2-6). David as king and ancestor of Jesus Christ typified our Lord (Ezekiel 37:24; Acts 2:29-31; 13:22-23). Jonah typified Jesus Christ as well (Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40). The brass serpent in the wilderness wandering after the inauguration of Judaism was a type of Jesus Christ (John 3:14-15). The manna eaten by the Israelites during their wilderness wandering following the Exodus typified Jesus Christ who is our Bread of Life under Christianity (John 6:32-35).
I suspect that there are several more Old Testament types directly relative to Jesus Christ in addition to the ones briefly noted above. These, though, suffice to illustrate the preparation God made throughout centuries previous to the New Testament era to help us know Jesus Christ better.
