Topical Bible: Christ is God: Acknowledged by the Old Testament Saints

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The divinity of Christ, though fully revealed in the New Testament, is foreshadowed and acknowledged by the saints of the Old Testament. This acknowledgment is woven through prophecies, typologies, and divine encounters that point to the Messiah's divine nature.

Prophecies and Messianic Expectations

The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies that allude to the divine nature of the coming Messiah. Isaiah 9:6 is a profound example: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." This passage explicitly refers to the Messiah as "Mighty God," indicating an expectation of divine attributes.

Similarly, Micah 5:2 speaks of the ruler to come from Bethlehem, "whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." This suggests an eternal nature, a characteristic of divinity, pointing to the pre-existence of Christ.

Typologies and Theophanies

The Old Testament is rich with typologies that prefigure Christ and hint at His divine nature. Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High, is a significant type of Christ. In Genesis 14:18-20, Melchizedek blesses Abram, and his unique priesthood is later expounded upon in Hebrews 7, where he is likened to the Son of God, having "neither beginning of days nor end of life."

Theophanies, or appearances of God in the Old Testament, also suggest the pre-incarnate Christ. The "Angel of the LORD" is often identified with God Himself, as seen in Exodus 3:2-6, where the Angel appears to Moses in the burning bush and declares, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." This divine messenger is understood by many to be a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.

Acknowledgment by Key Figures

Key figures in the Old Testament recognized the divine nature of the coming Messiah. King David, in Psalm 110:1, writes, "The LORD said to my Lord: 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.'" Jesus Himself references this verse in the New Testament (Matthew 22:44), highlighting that David calls the Messiah "Lord," acknowledging His divine status.

Job, in his suffering, expresses a profound hope in his Redeemer, saying, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth" (Job 19:25). This Redeemer, who is both living and eternal, is understood to be divine.

Conclusion

The Old Testament saints, through prophecy, typology, and direct acknowledgment, recognized the divine nature of the Messiah. These anticipations and revelations laid the groundwork for the full revelation of Christ's divinity in the New Testament, affirming the continuity and unity of Scripture in its testimony to the nature of Christ as God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 17:1
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be you perfect.
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Genesis 48:15,16
And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long to this day,
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Genesis 32:24-30
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
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Hosea 12:3-5
He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
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Judges 6:22-24
And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O LORD God! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.
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Judges 13:21,22
But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
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Job 19:25-27
For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day on the earth:
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Library

Praying Saints of the Old Testaments (Continued)
... displayed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the ... when Nathan, by command of
God, uncovered David's ... At once David acknowledged his wickedness, saying unto ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/ii praying saints of the.htm

part 1
... But while Christ acknowledged that the observance of justice and ... is well if by the
grace of God those things ... to have been left undone, and Christ Himself says ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/tithing/part 1.htm

Faustus Denies that the Prophets Predicted Christ. Augustin Proves ...
... his head, as it were, on this Stone, or on Christ, confessed Him as the Son of God
and the ... the Stone by his confession, in which he acknowledged Jesus to ...
/.../faustus denies that the prophets.htm

Language of the New Testament. 1 in the Character of the Original ...
... plan of redemption, God's hand is to be reverently acknowledged. ... Thus, in the good
providence of God, the writers of ... 4:4), faith, to believe in Christ, or to ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxiv language of the.htm

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Typified in the Lives of ...
... telling of his restoration to God's favor, while ... Surely such perfect typification
of Christ, such numerous ... was publicly recognized and acknowledged, for all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/4 the fact of the.htm

His Perfect Holiness.
... of virtue and holiness, and universally acknowledged to be ... good and noble in the
sight of God and man. ... "Christ unites in himself," says the late Theodore Parker ...
//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/his perfect holiness.htm

Of the Power of the Church in Articles of Faith. The Unbridled ...
... But if he had acknowledged such licence in teaching, that ... the only way by which man
can come to know God. ... is no room for the concept that Christ was completely ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 of the power.htm

The Redeemer's Return is Necessitated by the Present Exaltation of ...
... delivered unto him (Luke 4:6) and Christ never repudiated ... challenged his claim, nay,
He three times acknowledged that Satan ... 4:4 he is termed the "god of this ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/v the redeemers return is.htm

The Necessity of Regeneration, Argued from the Immutable ...
... of the God of heaven should be acknowledged, and his ... hope, of finding your lot among
God's people in ... The prophets under the Old Testament, and Christ and his ...
/.../practical discourses on regeneration/discourse iv the necessity of.htm

The Five Books Against Marcion
... Other Proofs from the Same Chapter, that Jesus, Who Preached at Nazareth, and Was
Acknowledged by Certain Demons as Christ the Son of God, Was the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/the five books against marcion/