Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 97:385 (Jan 1940)
Article: The Vicarious Death of Christ: In the Light of the Old Testament
Author: Daniel G. Finestone

BSac 97:385 (Jan 40) p. 34

The Vicarious Death of Christ:
In the Light of the Old Testament

Daniel G. Finestone

The vicarious death of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a novel doctrine, suddenly introduced as a new idea at the beginning of the Christian era; for the doctrine of substitution is to be found as the very heart of the teachings contained in the Hebrew Scriptures. In the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets, many and varied methods of teaching this doctrine are to be found. By type and prophecy, and by direct and indirect statement, this truth is reiterated, expanded and explained until it stands out so strikingly and in such bold relief that it would seem an impossibility for any earnest student of the Old Testament to fail to recognize its centrality in the religion of Israel.

It is the purpose of this paper not to attempt to prove that the doctrine of substitution is so taught in the Old Testament, but, accepting that as true, to briefly rehearse the marvelous wealth of teaching with which these ancient writings surround this important doctrine and to discover if we can {sic} the spiritual significance which the Divine Author, who sees the end from the beginning, has been pleased to weave into the sacred religion of Israel. This teaching was not to be fully understood perhaps even by their prophets, “unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things.” We who are living in a later and more privileged generation, however, may more fully understand, to whom has been “preached the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven which things the angels desire to look into.”

BSac 97:385 (Jan 40) p. 35

I. The Covenants

The Scriptures clearly indicate that the death of Christ is not an emergency measure which the Deity was constrained to hastily enact when Adam fell. On the contrary we are led to believe that within the Godhead there existed a covenant made in the past eternity, “before the foundation of the world,” which is as it were the constitution of heaven from which have arisen all the divine acts of creation and redemption that have transpired. By creation it was intended that beings should exist who could enjoy the highest fellowship and matchless bounty of the family of God. They would fall into rebellion and culpable guilt which would merit eternal death, apparently thwarting the divine purpose of their creation and existence. Under these circumstances what should be done? The loftiest though costliest plan was reached within the Godhead, the plan of their redemption. God the Father must freely give the Son to that race; the Son would identify Himself with the race and voluntarily go to death in their place, thus permitting the original purpose of the Godhead to be fulfilled in them; and t...