User:Bob Jones

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Revision as of 01:57, August 30, 2008 by Bob Jones (talk | contribs) (A very simple example)
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Why am I here?

I have found articles and messages from these sources are from people who know the same Christ I do.

"A Biblical Christian is the one who, wherever he looks, on every page of Scripture, finds everywhere Christ." [1]
Ancient Faith Radio [2]

I see Christ everywhere in the scriptures and am looking for a place to share what I see.

I am hoping that the Orthodox position on typology will welcome the sharing since I believe the images are consistent with Orthodoxy.

A very simple example

The shadows I see are hidden in double entendre, shadow and riddle. A single verse demonstrates all three:

In Genesis 2:21 the Hebrew words have multiple meanings. Sleep also means death, rib means limping and side, flesh means mankind, took means married, etc, I call these the double entendre. For a single example it is impossible to demonstrate intent, and the example can easily be ignored as a novelty. If you hang in there with me, you will see sufficient examples to know that I am not clever, but that God intended to speak to us in this fashion.

What I call shadows are words similar to 'rock' as Christ. There are rules concerning them and although they look like allegory, the rules constrain them even more so than the meaning of the double entendre is constrained. In this verse substituting Christ for Adam is a shadow substitution.

We now get: Gen 2:21 And God caused Christ to die and he died, and he married his limping side and redeemed mankind.

This is a riddle. The annoying thing about riddles is that you cannot discern the answer from the content of the riddle. You must first know the answer then apply it back to the riddle. The answer is always found in Christ. He is the light of the New Testament that reveals what is in the shadows of the Old. The "limping side" of Christ is the side with the bruised heel, it is his flesh that he married to the church.

We now see the shadow of Christ and the cross in Gen 2:21... and this isn't even the first mention of the cross.

Some of the early church fathers went down to the jot and tittle layer to see shadows of Christ, and reserved sharing them for only the most devout. The shadows are a reward for those who believe God is and is a rewarder of those who seek Him. They give great delight when discovered by meditating upon his law.

The shadows do not elevate the expositor, but instead humble Him as mysteries are unfolded in the light of Christ. They also humble him since is it through the childish silliness of riddles that he speaks. As adults we forget that he said he would speak in riddles:

   Prov 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 
   6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings <02420> (riddles). 
   Ps 49:3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. 
   4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying <02420> upon the harp. 

I hope you will examine these closely to see if they are true. And I hope to find a place where I might submit many more for discussion.

Here are the rules for shadows:

They are discerned from the scriptures using the same hermeneutic:

  1. Since God has said that not a jot or tittle will pass away, until one knows why each jot and tittle is there, a complete understanding has not been derived. (This keeps us humble)
  2. Since man shall live "..by every word", a doctrine is not sound until it sums up and includes all that God has said about it. (This keeps us searching)
  3. Since every word must be established by two or three witnesses, every shadow must have at least two supporting scripture witnesses. (This keeps us rigorous in methodology)
  4. Since God's word is established forever, a shadow means the same thing everywhere is it used. So, since a donkey is a shadow of a prophet, everywhere there is a donkey, it is a shadow of a prophet. This rule alone makes the shadows humanly impossible to fabricate. (This keeps us an awe)
  5. The riddle of Samson tells us Christ is the answer to all the riddles. If the shadow doesn't look like Christ, it isn't a good shadow. (This keeps us focussed)
  6. And since we are to "let everyman be a liar and God be true", outside references are not required to solve the riddles and see the shadows. (This keeps us devoted)