Olney Hymns · Chapter
Old Testament Gospel explained
The poem reflects on how the Old Testament, particularly its types and figures, prefigured the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What happens
The poem reflects on how the Old Testament, particularly its types and figures, prefigured the gospel of Jesus Christ. It highlights the paschal sacrifice, the lamb and dove, the scapegoat, and the living bird as symbols pointing to Christ's atoning work, and concludes with a prayer for faithfulness to the clearer light of the gospel.
Themes in this chapter
Grace and Unmerited Favor
The poem emphasizes that salvation comes through the grace of Christ, prefigured in Old Testament sacrifices.
Redemption and Salvation
The types and figures point to the redemption accomplished by Christ, who bears away sin.
Characters to notice
- Jesus Christ
Seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament types and figures, the Saviour whose face is revealed in the gospel.
- God
Referred to as 'an angry God' who is reconciled through the blood of Christ.
- The Narrator
The speaker expresses love for tracing Christ's grace in Scripture and prays for faithfulness.
Key passages
“The types and figures were a glass / In which they saw a Saviour's face.”
The Old Testament ceremonies and symbols were like a mirror that revealed the coming Saviour.
Highlights the typological interpretation of the Old Testament.
“The scape-goat on his head / The people's trespass bore, / And to the desert led, / Was to be seen no more: / In him our Surety seem'd to say, 'Behold! I bear your sins away.'”
The scapegoat carried the people's sins into the wilderness, symbolizing Christ who takes away sin.
Connects the Day of Atonement ritual to Christ's atoning work.