# Old Testament Gospel explained — Olney Hymns

> Chapter companion for Olney Hymns by John Newton.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/132-old-testament-gospel
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters