The Old Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Student Workbook, SW09

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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

Can or Should We Use the Method of Jesus and the Apostles in Our Study of the New Testament? To the question whether we can reproduce the exegesis of the New Testament, [S. L.] Johnson answers: Unhesitatingly the reply is yes, although we are not allowed to claim for our results the infallibility of the Lord and His apostles. They are reliable teachers of biblical doctrine and they are reliable teachers of hermeneutics and exegesis. We not only can reproduce their exegetical methodology, we must if we are to be taught their understanding of the Scriptures. ~ James DeYoung and Sarah Hurty. Beyond the Obvious . Gresham, OR: Vision House Publishing, 1995. p.265.

1. Get a grasp of the general outline of the character type’s life and work.

2. Look for links and resemblances between the character (the type) and Jesus Christ (as antitype).

3. Seek to understand the unknown through the known (i.e., use the type to enrich your understanding of the antitype).

4. Avoid seeking to connect every detail of the type to Christ as the antitype; concentrate on essential correspondences between the two.

5. In the end, focus on how the antitype is explained, illustrated, and better comprehended through the type.

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C. Benefits of character type study

1. Increased joy and knowledge in study of the Scriptures

2. Easier to communicate with others at higher levels of interest and entertainment

3. Wonder at the inspiration of the Scriptures

4. More comprehensive picture of Jesus Christ through the study of the types