Bible Archetypes

One of the keys to understanding the Bible is knowing archetypes, a typical example of a certain person or thing. The stories in the Bible have meaning and are used to teach us great truths of God and Jesus Christ.

Many of the New Testament principles are introduced in the Old Testament. Jesus said, Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me, John 5:39.

The Bible is Christ-centric. Even though Jesus is not mentioned by name, the different types of Christ are seen and read throughout the Bible.

I. A Lamb
From the start, the lamb shows up as a type of Christ, a sacrifice for our sins.

Genesis 3:21, Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

The strongest of this archetypes is the Passover Lamb.

Exodus 12:3, ..., In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

Exodus 12:5, Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

All through the Old Testament, the lamb is a type of Christ sacrificed for our sins. The New Testament finally verifies this type.

John 1:29, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Other types of Christ in the Bible are Melchizedek, Genesis 14, the “Ancient of Days”, “Priest of the Most High God” who received tithes from Abraham. Joseph, Genesis 37, “Beloved Son of the Father”, rejected by his brothers, saviour of a nation. Jonah is also a type of Christ by coming back for the dead after three day and night.

Others truths show up in the Bible as archetypes.

II. Noah's Ark
The Ark is a type of Salvation, Genesis 6. Noah and his family escapes judgement by entering the ark. Other salvation type are Lot escaping Sodom & Gomorra, Genesis 13; The Passover, Exodus 12 and The Crossing of the Red Sea, Genesis 14.

Often places represent different things.

III. Egypt & Canaan
Egypt is a type of the world and Canaan is a type of Christian living.

IV. Mount Sinai & Mount Moriah
Mount Sinai is a type of the Law and Mount Moriah is a type of Grace.
Some of the strongest archetypes are people. There are many, but here are a few.

V. Abraham & Isaac
Abraham is type of God the Father and Isaac is a type of God the Son. Isaac is offered as a scarifies on Mount Moriah, Genesis 22. Isaac is Abraham's “only son”, Genesis 22:2, 12 & 16. Other types of Christ are Abel, Genesis 4 and Joseph, Genesis 30 & 37.

VI. Eliezer & Rebekah
Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, is a type of the Holy Spirit. Eliezer is sent to fetch Isaac a bride. Eliezer returns with Rebekah, a type of the Church, Genesis 24.

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posted by rjsc at 6/18/2005  |  2 comment(s)  

The Three Thesis of Theism

The Bible starts with simple premise - God exist; and not only exist, but is the Creator. Before we can understand biblical theology, we must first have theology. Without God, the Bible has no meaning.

Genesis 1:1, In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.

I propose the following three thesis to argue the existence of God.

I. The Supernatural Supersedes the Laws of Science.
The Laws of Science are not absolute, at least for God. God is not bound by the Laws of Gravity or Thermodynamics. If He were, He would not be God.

• By Definition, God is a Divine Supernatural Being. God is omnipotent and has the ability to trump the Laws of Nature which He created.
• By Definition, Miracles are the Acts of the Divine. If God wanted to display His Divinity, He could do so by performing miracles. The Bible are filled with such acts.

By Definition, Miracles are the Acts of the Divine. If God wanted to display His Divinity, He could do so by performing miracles. The Bible are filled with such acts.

II. It Is Impossible to Disprove the Existence of God.
One needs to do the following to disprove the existence of God.

• Must Disprove ALL Miracles, not only the ones in the bible. One act by God proves that He exist.
• Must Demonstrate the Natural Laws are the ONLY explanation of all events.

Miracles are not confined to supernatural acts alone. Often ordinary acts are acts of God. For instance, a young lady in my church was diagnose with cancer and not given long to live. The church prayed of this woman and her family. After going through chemotherapy, the cancer has gone into remission. This is a miracle. Was it of God? - I believe it was.

III. Revelation Is Grounds for the Divine.
Hebrews 11:1 & 6, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not see.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

• Since this is an act of God, it is Miracle.
• Agnosticism is the Only Alternative to Theism. One either knows God exist or doesn't know God exist.

One can't know that God doesn't exist. This is my argument for the existence of God. If God exist, one should try to find out if he does exist. Belief or denial will not change this fact. Of course if God doesn't exist, my belief does not create him. But then what is the source of my faith and the faith others. You must prove all revelation is not real.

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posted by rjsc at 6/04/2005  |  0 comment(s)