Prophecy, Illustration and Typology (IBRI Occasional Papers Book 14)

How does the New Testament interpret the Old Testament? Can its use of the Old Testament be justified? It is important to determine as far as possible what that OT section meant to its original readers and how the NT used the passage in its explanation. The subject is a formidable one for brief treatment because the NT uses the OT in a variety of ways. In this paper, we suggest that various usages of the NT should be identified. There is a place for the recognition of direct prophecy and fulfillment. Also the OT worship did include types not fully explained except by a future reference. Besides these items, we would claim there are numerous instances where the OT is quoted as illustrative and the value of the illustration would not be apparent to the OT author, but only to us who have seen the NT teaching. Some examples of these various categories are given.