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Basics of the Faith
Is Jesus in the Old Testament? (Basics of the Faith) by Iain M. Duguid
Many Christians are not quite sure what to do with the Old Testament. Common mistakes in reading it include fanciful allegory, unattached moralism, and allegorical moralism (combining the other two!). Yet the Old Testament is not just a collection of inspiring stories about people who triumphed, above all it is a message about Jesus Christ, especially his sufferings and the glories that would followthat is, the gospel. The shape of the Old Testament shows us its incompleteness and points us to Christ either directly or through some of its major Jesus is the new Adam, the new Israel, and the new David.
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First published February 4, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 13, 2019
I really enjoyed this booklet that is a part of the Basics of the Faith series printed by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. This is the sixth booklet that I read from the series and I read it along with my wife as our couple’s devotional reading together. I was blessed by this beyond my expectation in comparison to the other booklets in the series I have read thus far.
In this work the author Iain Duguid discusses how Jesus relate to the Old Testament. I appreciated that Duguid wrote this for a popular reading audience. Yet there’s a lot of food for thought! I realize there’s all kinds of debate of how to bridge the Old Testament to Christ so I appreciated the fact that the author early in the book said “Not every attempt to discern the figure of Jesus in the Old Testament has been profitable” (6). I was grateful that he made said this as there has been times in the past I heard some weird ways preachers attempted to walk to Christ from the Old Testament that have butchered the context and forced things into the text that isn’t there. Under the section titled “How Not to Read the Old Testament” there’s a helpful diagram borrowed from Edmund Clowney that help illustrate and make easier to understand the two wrong ways to read the Old Testament (Allegorical Moralism and Allegorical interpretation) and one incomplete way to read the Old Testament (Moralism). I thought this diagram and discussion was very helpful. Also probably the second most helpful thing in the book is the author’s observation that there’s an “incompleteness” to the Old Testament in its shape and structure that gives us an “unfinished symphony” feel to it, which leads us to anticipate the New Testament. This discussion was very insightful for me personally. Towards the end of the book the author examine the Old Testament of how Jesus is the “New Adam,” the “New David,” etc. The author also talked about Jesus as the New Israel without wading into a much more controversial issue of Israel and eschatology. I appreciated this.
I strongly agree with the author that Christ centered preaching and approach towards the Old Testament makes a huge difference as oppose to those who merely go to the Old Testament for more ethical principles in of itself. I appreciated the book’s point that focusing on the Gospel transforms lives (11) and that “Application is important but the Gospel comes first” (16). To that I say a hearty Amen! I recommend this booklet, it is probably meatier than some of the Christian books out there despite its small size!
In this work the author Iain Duguid discusses how Jesus relate to the Old Testament. I appreciated that Duguid wrote this for a popular reading audience. Yet there’s a lot of food for thought! I realize there’s all kinds of debate of how to bridge the Old Testament to Christ so I appreciated the fact that the author early in the book said “Not every attempt to discern the figure of Jesus in the Old Testament has been profitable” (6). I was grateful that he made said this as there has been times in the past I heard some weird ways preachers attempted to walk to Christ from the Old Testament that have butchered the context and forced things into the text that isn’t there. Under the section titled “How Not to Read the Old Testament” there’s a helpful diagram borrowed from Edmund Clowney that help illustrate and make easier to understand the two wrong ways to read the Old Testament (Allegorical Moralism and Allegorical interpretation) and one incomplete way to read the Old Testament (Moralism). I thought this diagram and discussion was very helpful. Also probably the second most helpful thing in the book is the author’s observation that there’s an “incompleteness” to the Old Testament in its shape and structure that gives us an “unfinished symphony” feel to it, which leads us to anticipate the New Testament. This discussion was very insightful for me personally. Towards the end of the book the author examine the Old Testament of how Jesus is the “New Adam,” the “New David,” etc. The author also talked about Jesus as the New Israel without wading into a much more controversial issue of Israel and eschatology. I appreciated this.
I strongly agree with the author that Christ centered preaching and approach towards the Old Testament makes a huge difference as oppose to those who merely go to the Old Testament for more ethical principles in of itself. I appreciated the book’s point that focusing on the Gospel transforms lives (11) and that “Application is important but the Gospel comes first” (16). To that I say a hearty Amen! I recommend this booklet, it is probably meatier than some of the Christian books out there despite its small size!
October 30, 2022
Duguids approach to this question seems to be largely a 'redemptive historical' approach, where the Old Testament sets up the patterns which Jesus will follow and the categories which he and the new testament authors will adopt in deriving his identity and work. Although I don't think this approach goes quite far enough, it is a good starting point, and I was encouraged by Duguids acknowledgement that we cannot merely stop with the human authors intention, but must seek to understand the Divine Authors purpose of its inclusion in the biblical canon (which may or may not always be directly intended by the human author) . I was also pleased to see Duguid seek to correct a merely moralistic view of the Old Testament where passages simply teach us how to live rather than teach us about Christ.
Overall, simple while just about avoiding being simplistic. The last chapter is a good broad overview of how Jesus is the new Adam, the true Israel and the better David. Still, too short to be able to provide adequate nuance or really flesh out what the authors approach might look when dealing with particular texts in the Old Testament. Even one or two examples would have been very welcome. Three stars.
Overall, simple while just about avoiding being simplistic. The last chapter is a good broad overview of how Jesus is the new Adam, the true Israel and the better David. Still, too short to be able to provide adequate nuance or really flesh out what the authors approach might look when dealing with particular texts in the Old Testament. Even one or two examples would have been very welcome. Three stars.
May 27, 2022
A wonderful addition for anyone wanting to understand the Old Testament. Brief and worshipful.
May 9, 2018
This can't properly be called a book.. it's 40 pages long and can't begin to do justic to the topic. It's basically an undergrad paper kindle-ized. I frustrate myself when I forget to check the length before I buy something. If you know nothing about the topic a good intro - else don't bother.
March 5, 2019
Q. Why should we expect to see Jesus in the Old Testament?
A. Because the risen Lord does so (Luke 24:44-48)
Short and to the point, Duguid's book works as both an introduction to Biblical Theology and a refresher on careful handling of the Old Testament, all whilst magnifying Christ.
A. Because the risen Lord does so (Luke 24:44-48)
Short and to the point, Duguid's book works as both an introduction to Biblical Theology and a refresher on careful handling of the Old Testament, all whilst magnifying Christ.
February 23, 2019
A great short read! It’s packed full of knowledge on the connection of Jesus in the Old Testament. It opened my eyes and I’ve gained valuable insight.
January 16, 2020
Yes, it appears that he is. Has a particularly helpful diagram to help young preachers preach the Old Testament in a Christ-centred way without falling into error
Read
October 17, 2020Jesus in the Old Testament - Genesis to Malachi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRBLx...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRBLx...
May 15, 2022
Great summary of key ideas from Old and New Testament. Will read again.
May 14, 2024
Excellent, brief, gospel-centered treatment!
January 4, 2025
Well done and basic.
Read
October 7, 2025Written by one of my Westminster professors, a great very brief read on how the OT points to Jesus all throughout
August 2, 2014
I will let the author, Iain Duguid, cap it for me:
"The ministry of Christ in his suffering and resurrection is... the central focus of the whole Old Testament:
He is the one toward whom the whole Old Testament is constantly moving,
The one for whom as well as by whom it exists.
The Old Testament is not simply the record of what God was doing with a motley crew of religious misfits in a land in the Middle East, far less a catalogue of stories about a series of religiously inspiring heroes.
It is the good news of the gospel that we have been called to declare to the nations, beginning in Jerusalem and continuing until the message has been heard to the ends of the earth."
"The ministry of Christ in his suffering and resurrection is... the central focus of the whole Old Testament:
He is the one toward whom the whole Old Testament is constantly moving,
The one for whom as well as by whom it exists.
The Old Testament is not simply the record of what God was doing with a motley crew of religious misfits in a land in the Middle East, far less a catalogue of stories about a series of religiously inspiring heroes.
It is the good news of the gospel that we have been called to declare to the nations, beginning in Jerusalem and continuing until the message has been heard to the ends of the earth."
September 24, 2014
Solid treatment by Westminster's newest professor.
After some basics, like avoiding allegory and moralism, he gives three classes of OT Scripture: history, prophetic and wisdom literature. This left out the law, noticeably!
The strength of the booklet is the last third or so: how Jesus fulfills the OT. He is historian, prophet and sage. He is the last Adam, and the new Israel who lives the story Israel should have lived but didn't. That last was my favorite two pages (32-33). Excellent.
After some basics, like avoiding allegory and moralism, he gives three classes of OT Scripture: history, prophetic and wisdom literature. This left out the law, noticeably!
The strength of the booklet is the last third or so: how Jesus fulfills the OT. He is historian, prophet and sage. He is the last Adam, and the new Israel who lives the story Israel should have lived but didn't. That last was my favorite two pages (32-33). Excellent.
October 5, 2015
The book is very informative, though those who have studied the Bible for several years may find parts of it as "basic information". That said, it is still a good read and if nothing else a good refresher in other areas. My favorite section was "How Not to Read the Old Testament" found on pages 12-16. The final sections provide a nice overview of the Bible (or more specifically, the early history of Israel up through Christ). The book fulfills its purpose of showing how readers should and should not find Jesus in the OT.
December 23, 2013
Exactly how connected is the Old Testament to the New? Does Jesus appear at all within the pages of the Old Testament? Duguid answers these questions in this booklet, offering a brief introduction to the ways Jesus is foreshadowed and typified in the Old Testament. Specifically, Duguid shows how Jesus is the new Adam, the new Israel, and the new David. Well-written and informative, this is a useful introduction to the Christology of the Old Testament.
March 16, 2025
This Reformed protestant pamphlet ultimately prepared the way for me to becoming Catholic less than a decade later.
I am revisiting it now for the first time in about 7-8 years. As a now Catholic, I still hang on to just about every word.
There is no inconsistency here. Learning to read the Bible well leads to Catholicism. One remains protestant only as long as they want to maintain their inconsistencies in their exegetical application.
I am revisiting it now for the first time in about 7-8 years. As a now Catholic, I still hang on to just about every word.
There is no inconsistency here. Learning to read the Bible well leads to Catholicism. One remains protestant only as long as they want to maintain their inconsistencies in their exegetical application.
July 17, 2013
In this short booklet Dr. Duguid labors well to show us that "rightly interpreted, the whole Old Testament is about Jesus Christ." And indeed the central central message of all of Scripture is Christ.
December 24, 2014
A succinct (~40 pages) answer to the question of whether Jesus is in the Old Testament or not. My favorite part are the last few pages where Mr. Duguid shows the reader exactly how Jesus is the fulfillment of all things Old Testament. It's worth reading at least twice.
September 30, 2014
This small booklet gives a clear description of how the Old Testament is preparing for the coming of Jesus.
December 21, 2014
Excellent basic book on reading the OT as a Christian. This is a good place to start if you are not familiar with Biblical Theology.
March 18, 2015
You should really make yourself a favor and read this short book.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.
June 3, 2016
Very helpful introduction to seeing Jesus in the Old Testament narratives, law, prophecies, and poetry. This is a great starting point for Christ-centered hermeneutics.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews