Diligently Seeking Media

The Bible, in its vastness, contains many stories, objects, and people that can be used to teach a more profound truth than what’s on the surface. These are regularly called “types,” “pictures,” etc. You may know them by a different name.

The Bible calls these specific instances “shadows” (Colossians 2:17 “Which are a shadow of things to come,” Hebrews 10:1 “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things”). These shadows are given so that we can better understand God’s truths.

Jonah was not just a prophet used to bring revival; he was also used to illustrate Christ’s three-day stay in the grave (Matthew 12:40). The Passover was not just a festival but used to represent Christ’s sacrifice in atoning for our sins (1 Corinthians 5:7). The priesthood of Melchizedek illustrates Christ’s priesthood (Hebrews 7). The serpent in the wilderness illustrates Christ’s death and salvation from death (John 3:14). The wind illustrates the Holy Spirit and its mysterious work (John 3:8), and the list goes on forever.

It’s reassuring that the types listed are not disputed. They are certain (unless you deny clear Biblical teachings). The Bible provides us with undisputed types and symbols to help us better understand certain Biblical truths.

There are the deep things of God that we can understand by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10). It is a blessing that the deep and invisible things are clearly seen and understood by things that are made (Romans 1:20).

People are very judgmental. Not in a negative hypocritical way, although that is true, but in a way that is beneficial. People use other objects as reference points to better “judge.”

Think of these terms: “as big as an Olympic-sized swimming pool”; “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse”; or “it’s about as long as a football field.” These are all phrases we use to help people better understand something we are trying to describe. We use reasonably familiar items to help people understand something that can’t be seen.

The Bible is very clear that it is unwise to compare ourselves among ourselves (2 Corinthians 10:12). Still, we are to compare spiritual things with spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:13). The Bible constantly uses objects, people, and stories to help us better “judge” or compare and better understand the invisible things of the world. We need these illustrations to compare and judge to deepen our understanding of the Word of God.

Take advantage of the dependable types given in the New Testament. I would list more types offered in the New Testament, but that would defeat the purpose of why I write. The desired end goal of this blog post is that you will open your Bible and find out what it says for yourself.

Always remember that the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible.

~ MD