Paul proclaimed to the Corinthians, “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3–4, emphasis added). The question is, which Old Testament scriptures is Paul talking about? This past month we chipped away at that answer by looking at foreshadows of the cross in the Old Testament. Certainly, there are Old Testament passages that are directly fulfilled in Jesus (like Psalm 110, Isaiah 53, the notoriously challenging Daniel 9:24–27, as well as Psalm 22), but more often than not, the Old Testament scriptures that testify to the cross do so through typology.
What is typology? As many of the articles from this past month will show, typology studies the correspondences between persons, events, and institutions throughout the canon that are intensified and fulfilled in later persons, events, or institutions. There’s more to it, but there is not less. So Christ is prefigured or foreshadowed by the High Priest atoning for God’s people on the Day of Atonement, by the sin offering at the door, by the near-sacrifice of Isaac, Israel’s Exodus from Egypt, the Serpent lifted on a pole for healing, the Isaianic feast at God’s table, the “death” and Resurrection of Jonah and David, and even the designation of Israel as beloved.
In addition to all of these concise meditations on the cross, Nicholas Piotrowski anchored our month on the incredible Edenic and world-wide significance of the Day of Atonement, and Ardel Caneday followed up with a fascinating explanation from Luke 24 on why Jesus hid his identity from Cleopas and the unnamed disciple on the road to Emmaus (hint: it was to teach us something). In case you missed any of the articles, readings, or podcast interviews, you can find all of them below (longforms in bold).
The Cross in the Old Testament
- The Deceitful Snake in Genesis 3 by Andy Naselli • Concise Article • Who is the serpent of the Garden of Eden? What does he do? What are his aims? More importantly, who will defeat him?
- “You Carry the Fate of Us All, Little One”: The Cosmic Significance of Israel’s Day of Atonement by Nicholas Piotrowski • Longform Essay • How is the tabernacle like Eden? And how is Christ the great high priest? The Day of Atonement provides answers.
- The Day of Atonement by Stephen Dempster • Concise Article • The rite of the Old Covenant Day of Atonement proved insufficient. The cross of Christ, once and for all, is the better and sufficient atonement.
- 4.16 “You Carry the Fate of Us All, Little One” and “The Day of Atonement” by Nicholas Piotrowski and Stephen Dempster • Combined Reading • Listen to a combined reading of Nicholas Piotrowski and Stephen Dempster’s essays on the Day of Atonement.
- The Cross in Genesis 4.7: Cain Rejected and Rejecting by Joe Gehrmann • Concise Article • Is sin crouching at the door, ready to pounce on Cain in Genesis 4:7, or is a “sin offering” lying down ready to extend to Cain the very mercy of God?
- The Akedah and the Crucifixion: Luke and Isaac Typology by Peter J. Gentry • Concise Article • The story of Abraham’s great test to offer Isaac, known in later tradition as the Akedah, meaningfully typifies many aspects of Luke’s portrayal of Christ.
- Echoes in the Exodus by David Christensen • Concise Article • The Exodus—one of Scripture’s most famous stories and the template for Old Testament redemption—is itself a fulfillment of the serpent-crushing promise of Genesis 3:15.
- 4.17 “You Carry the Fate of Us All, Little One: The Cosmic Significance of Israel’s Day of Atonement” by Nicholas Piotrowski, David Schrock, Stephen Wellum • Interview • Listen in as David Shrock and Stephen Wellum interview Nicholas Piotrowski on his Christ Over All essay: “You Carry the Fate of Us All, Little One: The Cosmic Significance of Israel’s Day of Atonement”
- Snakes Alive!?. . . or How Jesus Fulfills Numbers 21 by David Christensen • Concise Article • “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:14–15). How does the serpent on a pole relate to Christ upon the cross?
- Michael Morales on the Bronze Serpent in Numbers 21 by Michael Morales • Concise Article • Learn how a major Old Testament scholar connects the serpent on a pole to Christ on the Cross.
- The Righteousness Based on Faith: Deuteronomy 30 in Romans 10 by Colin Smothers • Concise Article • Temples must be holy for God to indwell them. Thus, the cross of Christ cleanses us from all defilement as the Tabernacle and Temple were cleansed for Israel.
- Psalm 22: A Reprise – A Surprising Carol of the King by Brad Baugham • Concise Article • From Good Friday to Easter Sunday, Psalm 22 sings the story of Christ, the suffering and successful King.
- Why Easter Sometimes Causes Me to Tremble: A Meditation on Psalm 110 for Good Friday and Easter Sunday by Matthew Emadi • Concise Article • May we continually meditate on the horror of the cross and the victory of the empty tomb—Jesus is indeed the triumphant priest-king of Psalm 110.
- Christ Concealed and Revealed: “Did Not the Messiah Have to Suffer These Things and then Enter His Glory?” Luke 24:13–35 by Ardel Caneday • Longform Essay • Like the men on the road to Emmaus, both our eyes and the Scriptures must be opened. Christ-centered interpretation happens because the entire Old Testament is Christ-centered revelation.
- 4.18 “Christ Concealed and Revealed: Did Not the Messiah Have to Suffer These Things and then Enter His Glory? Luke 24:13–35” by Ardel Caneday • Longform Reading • Like the men on the road to Emmaus, both our eyes and the Scriptures must be opened. Christ-centered interpretation happens because the entire Old Testament is Christ-centered revelation.
- Matters of First Importance: The Work of the Servant in Isaiah 52:13–53:12 by Garrett Wishall • Concise Article • Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is a cherished Christian text, for in it we find God the Son incarnate: the solution to humanity’s separation from God because of sin.
- True Food, True Drink – The Isaianic Feast of the Cross by Christopher Powers • Concise Article • John 6 echoes a feast anticipated in the book of Isaiah. The crucified Christ, received by faith, is the true Food and Drink who gives life to the world.
- A Strong Covenant With Many: Seeing the Atonement in Daniel 9:24–27 by Mitch Chase • Concise Article • Daniel 9:24-27 are among the most difficult verses in the Bible to interpret. They are worth our study, however, for in them we find good news for a sinful people.
- Jonah and the Resurrection of Christ: From Type to Antitype by Josh Philpot • Concise Article • What does the belly of a fish, the heart of the earth, and something-greater-than-Jonah have in common? The answers start with a “J” and a “T.”
- 4.19 “Christ Concealed and Revealed: Did Not the Messiah Have to Suffer These Things and then Enter His Glory? Luke 24:13–35” by Ardel Caneday, David Schrock, Trent Hunter • Interview • Listen in as David Schrock and Trent Hunter interview Ardel Caneday on his Christ Over All essay: “Christ Concealed and Revealed: Did Not the Messiah Have to Suffer These Things and then Enter His Glory? Luke 24:13–35“
- “In the Beloved:” Christ as the New Jeshurun in Ephesians 1:6? by John Meade • Concise Article • In saying “in the Beloved” to the church, Paul signals that Christ is the New Israel. Digging into the original language unearths more—another beautiful layer of His identity.
- 1 Samuel 20 and the Tapestry of Christ’s Death and Resurrection by Kevin McClure • Concise Article • The Old Testament prefigures the death and resurrection of Christ in the most unlikely of places . . .
Wise Words
Now that April is behind us, we turn to focus on words.
Words are powerful. Words effected creation into being (Gen 1:2). They catalyzed the fall (Gen. 3:1). They gave humanity hope (Gen. 3:15). They promised a future to Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3). They condemned through Moses (Deut. 29:4). They reminded through the prophets (Isa. 55:2). Words announced that God had come (Isa. 40:9)—even more, that the Word of God had taken on skin, bone, and a human nature (John 1:14). Last words proclaimed the God-man’s success (John 19:30). And God’s Words now give life (John 6:68). They cause people to be born again (1 Pet. 1:23), to persevere (Heb 3:12–14), and to remember (2 Pet. 3:1). One day, words will welcome us into one of two eternities (Matt. 25:21; Matt. 7:23). Today, words dominate our lives: we use words to hire, fire, wed, plagiarize, promise, lie, exaggerate, inspire, repulse, gossip, encourage, slander, support, or joke. In this vast sea of words, Proverbs 10:19 rings true, “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”
This month, we offer a brief rubric: our words ought be simple, salty, and sacred. By simple, we mean that we ought always speak with clarity and precision. By salty, we mean that we ought sometimes speak words that have an edge to them—just like Jesus and Paul. And by sacred, we mean that we ought always speak knowing that we will give an account for every word to God.
As we will explore, great Christian leaders throughout history have used language that would make us blush—and especially in polemical debates with false teachers. While some may have gone too far, the pendulum today has swung in the opposite direction. In the some societies of the West, verbally offending others may bring a fine or even prison sentence. And even in Christian circles, offending others with your words—even if they are true—may get you cancelled or shadow banned. This ought not be.
Hard times do not call for soft words but for hard words—but hard words are not hateful words. Or, at least they shouldn’t be. Love is gentle, but holy love is also fiery. And it takes wisdom to know when to use what kind of word. So this month we want to let God’s word guide our use of language in order that we don’t fall into either ditch. Because words matter.
Christ Over All News and Notes
In conclusion, let me highlight a few areas:
First, we are open for submissions
While we are full of articles for the bolded months below, we are glad to receive submissions for the final quarter of the year. If you have an article you’d like to write for us that fits in one of these themes, we’d love to hear from you.
June 2025: The Paterfamilias: Making Fatherhood Great Again
July 2025: The Nicene Creed: 1700 Years of the Homoousios
August 2025: The Four Gospels
September 2025: The Doctrine of Vocation
October 2025: Biblical Theology in the Balance
November 2025: Do the Reading: Selections in Political Theology
December 2025: Christmas Medley, Part 2
Second, we’d love to see you face to face
We plan to be at the King’s Domain conference in Cincinnati, Ohio (May 8–10)—where our own David Schrock will be speaking, the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas, Texas (June 9–10), G3’s National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia (September 11–13), and the Evangelical Theological Society in Boston (November 18–20). If you sign up for any of these events, we’d love to connect with you there.
Third, we would be Glad for your support
The easiest way to support our ministry is to tell others about us: you can forward this intermission, recommend an article, or share our content on social media. But if you or your church has benefited from our ministry, would you consider making a donation? Every dollar given goes toward helping Christians to think with a consistently Christian worldview across all of life: in our daily living, our churches, our politics, our sexuality, our Bible reading, and yes, in our speaking. When you give to our ministry, you allow us to serve more people. And for every life changed and every church helped by means Christ Over All, there is fruit that increases to your credit (Phil 4:17). So we appreciate a gift of any amount.
That’s all for this month. Until next time, let’s remember that because Christ is Lord over all, we ought exalt Christ in all things.
