Types & Shadows
A biblical “type” or “shadow” points forward to—or foreshadows—a greater event, person, or reality. And once that greater event/person/reality appears—which is called the “antitype”—then the type/shadow loses its significance.
The Old Testament is filled with types and shadows that pointed forward to Christ and the new covenant spiritual realities. Here are some examples:
- Physical circumcision was a type/shadow of the greater spiritual circumcision of the heart (Col. 2:11).
- The law (old covenant) was a shadow of the better new covenant realities (Heb. 10:1).
- Saturday Sabbath (rest from physical labor) was a type/shadow of ultimate rest in Christ (Heb. 3:7–4:16).
- The annual Passover sacrifice of a lamb was a type/shadow of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross (1 Cor. 5:7).
- The Jewish temple that was destroyed in AD 70 was a type/shadow of the new covenant spiritual temple, of which Jesus is the cornerstone and Christians are living stones (Heb. 9:8–9, 1 Pet. 2:4-9).
- The physical city of Jerusalem that was destroyed in AD 70 was a type/shadow of the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city from above (Gal. 4:25–26).
- The Israelites that wondered through the desert for forty years were types of Christians (1 Cor. 10:11). Note: The Greek word for “examples” in this passage is typikos, which means “types.” And the Greek word for “end” is tele, which can also mean “goal.”
I could go on and on with examples. The Old Testament is filled with types and shadows which pointed forward to the greater new covenant realities. And once these new covenant realities arrived, then the types and shadows lost their significance. This is why God’s people should no longer observe the Sabbath, dietary regulations, feast days, physical circumcision, etc.
The Passing Away of the Old Covenant Types and Shadows
The time period between Messiah’s arrival and the destruction of the temple in AD 70 was a time of transition. The old covenant types and shadows were gradually passing away…and the new covenant realities were gradually appearing. Here are a couple passages about this transition:
AD 62 “In that He [God] says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first [covenant] obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away” (Heb. 8:13, italics mine).
AD 57 “But this I [Paul] say, brethren, the time is short…For the form of this world [the old covenant world] is passing away” (1 Cor. 7:29–31, italics mine).
When these passages were written, the old covenant world was gradually passing away. And the destruction of the temple—which was a type or symbol of the old covenant era (see Heb. 9:8–9)—marked the official end of the old covenant age…and the officially beginning of the new.
And the new covenant age will never end:
“I [God] will direct their [God’s people] work in truth, and will make with them an everlasting covenant” (Isa. 61:8)
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work” (Heb. 13:20)
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isa. 9:6–7)
As these passages show, the new covenant age will never end!
Common Objections
Objection #1: Jesus did not come to destroy the law; therefore, the law and its requirements must still be kept. “Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17).
Response: It’s true that Jesus did not come to destroy (or void or cancel) the law; but he did come fulfill it. The passage itself says that. And what does “to fulfill” mean? It means to complete or finish. Think about the fulfillment of prophecy. After a prophecy has been fulfilled, the prophecy is no longer valid. This does not mean the prophecy has been destroyed or canceled or voided; however, the prophecy is no longer valid because it has been fulfilled (completed). Thus, the prophecy is over; it has ended. This is exactly what Jesus meant by saying, “I did not come to destroy the law…but to fulfill [it].” If Jesus accomplished what he came to do—and Christians agree that he did—then the law must have been fulfilled, which means it has ended.
This fits well with all the other statements in the New Testament that say the old covenant age/the law would soon end. For example:
AD 57 “The end of the ages has come” (1 Cor. 10:11).
AD 62/63 “In that he [God] says ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first [covenant] obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away” (Heb. 8:13).
AD 63 “The end of all things [related to the old covenant] is at hand” (1 Pet. 4:7).
Since the law ended in the first century, God’s people should no longer be keeping its requirements.
Objection #2: The Old Testament says the law’s requirements such as circumcision, Sabbath, and keeping the Passover will last forever!
Response: The Hebrew word olam, which is sometimes translated “forever,” technically means: beyond the horizon; for a long period of time; for the foreseeable future; for the indefinite future; for the duration. While olam can mean “unending” in some contexts, it often does not. Here are some examples:
“I have held My peace a long time [olam], I have been still and restrained Myself” (Isa. 42:14). Note: Olam = a long time.
“His master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever [olam]” (Ex. 21:6). Note: This obviously ends at death.
“And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual [olam] incense before the Lord throughout your generations” (Ex. 30:8). Note: Olam = throughout your generations (aka while the old covenant is in effect).
“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever [olam] ” (Deut. 23:3). Note: Olam = to the 10th generation
“I [Johah] went down to the moorings of the mountains [into the belly of the whale]; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet You [God] have brought up my life from the pit” (Jonah 2:6). Note: Olam = 3 days
As these examples show, the Hebrew word olam often refers to a specific period of time—as opposed to “unending.” And that was the case with the old covenant requirements such as Sabbath keeping, circumcision, feast days observances, etc. These requirements pointed forward to new covenant realities, and once the new covenant realities arrived, the old covenant requirements lost their significance and, therefore, should not be kept.
Objection #3: If the law has ended, then that means we are free to murder, lie, and steal. After all, prohibitions against these things were part of the law.
Response: While the ceremonial aspects of the law have ended—such as animal sacrifices, Sabbath keeping, circumcision, etc.—the moral aspects will never end because these are part of God’s holy character, not merely the law; and God’s holy character will never change. These moral aspects were around long before the law was ever established (see Genesis 3), and they will always be so! The New Testament calls this “Christ’s Law” (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2), which will never end.
For more information about the topics discussed in this article, get my book The End Is Here: How the New Testament Prophecies Were Fulfilled, available now on Amazon.
By Alex Polyak, Director of The Bible Fulfilled, 4/24/25
