The Old Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Mentor's Guide, MG09

/ 3 1 9

T H E O L D T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

topic in and of itself, that typology may very well enjoy fresh consideration [emphasis mine]. ~ John E. Alsup. “Typology.” The Anchor Bible Dictionary . D. N. Freedman, ed. vol. 6. (electronic ed.). New York: Doubleday, 1996. p. 682-685. Alsup here highlights the clear heart of our desire for reading the OT in this way. We are convinced that a fundamental unity and continuity exists between the OT and the NT, and the linkages acknowledged by the Bible itself represent our best and most productive way to understand the OT witness to Christ. Encourage the students to explore the text in light of this fundamental assumption, and they will by no means make an error. We will be able, as Alsup suggests, to use the typological/analogical method in concert with (and not the rejection of) our best insights into a historical-critical methodology. In so doing, I am convinced, we will be able to see the connections and make the intersections between the history of God’s people and the hope of Messiah with integrity and the verification of the Scriptures, our most important rule of interpretation. The quote on recapitulation is a helpful introduction for the students into a major theme in the early Church fathers. Building upon the interpretation of the apostles that there are fundamental connections between Christ and the characters of the OT, they argued that Christ’s life and ministry summed up (the basic meaning of recapitulation) and completed God’s revelation as it applies both to Adam and to humanity. In a real sense, for the fathers, Jesus of Nazareth brought a unity to understanding the connection between Adam, humankind, redemption, and the incarnation. You may want to discuss this concept during the segue question review.

3 Page 62 Ferguson Quote

The concepts covered in the previous section are integral to the rest of the entire module, so helping your students come to grips with these principles is extremely important. Take the time, therefore, to answer the questions below with a sense of their significance for the rest of your study of the OT witness to Christ. By no

4 Page 71 Student Questions and Response