Two events and fulfillment

Christian Alexander

I am looking at fulfillment in John's Gospel (J. Dwight Pentecost) "Two events, widely separated as to the time of their fulfillment, may be brought together into the scope of one prophecy. This was done because the prophet had a message for his own day as well as for a future time . . . It was the purpose of God to give the near and far view so that the fulfillment of the one should be the assurance of the fulfillment of the other." (J. Dwight Pentecost, Things To Come [Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1964], pp. 46,47.) How can I understand this from an exegetical standpoint? 

Joseph Turner

I'm not sure that I understand the scope of your question.  If you are looking for a prophecy with both a near and far fulfillment, then Isaiah 7:14 would be a prime example.  In the original context, there is a near fulfillment in the child spoken of, possibly Isaiah's own son, who by the time he is of a certain age, the Assyrian threat will be gone due to God's grace.  The Hebrew word translated there as virgin only means a young woman, and does not require her to be a virgin.  It is probably talking about Isaiah's wife.

Of course the far fulfillment is in Jesus, who is actually born of a virgin, as the Greek makes clear.

If you are asking how the near fulfillment could have served as a promise for the far fulfillment, then I don't know about that, because no one was expecting the far fulfillment in the way it happened.  I would argue that most if not all of the near fulfillment/far fulfillment scenarios would have been a surprise at the far fulflllment.

MJ. Smith

Christian Alexander said:

How can I understand this from an exegetical standpoint? 

Sensus plenior covers this and much more i.e. this is not the primary application of sensus plenior

Using a carefully prepped Chat GPT examples not comprehensive:

1. Prophecy: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

   First Fulfillment: This prophecy was initially given to King Ahaz of Judah and could have been fulfilled in the birth of Maher-shalal-hash-baz, the prophet Isaiah's son (Isaiah 8:3-4). The child was a sign to Ahaz that before he grew up, the two kings that Ahaz feared would be destroyed.

   Second Fulfillment: The Gospel of Matthew interprets this prophecy as being fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:22-23).

   Sensus Plenior: Many Christian theologians argue that this is an example of sensus plenior, with the virgin birth of Jesus being the "fuller" meaning of the prophecy.

2. Prophecy: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." (Jeremiah 31:15)

   First Fulfillment: This prophecy was initially given in the context of the Babylonian exile. It expresses the sorrow of the mothers in Israel as they watched their sons go into captivity.

   Second Fulfillment: Matthew interprets this prophecy as being fulfilled in the massacre of the infants by King Herod in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16-18).

   Sensus Plenior: This could be considered an example of sensus plenior, as Matthew sees the lamentation over the exile as foreshadowing the sorrow over the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem.

3. Prophecy: "My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees." (Ezekiel 37:24)

   First Fulfillment: The initial reference is likely to the return of the Israelites from exile and the reinstatement of Davidic rule during the Post-Exilic period.

   Second Fulfillment: In the New Testament, this is seen as a messianic prophecy that is fulfilled by Jesus Christ, who is often called the "Good Shepherd" and is understood to be of the lineage of David. (John 10:11-16)

   Sensus Plenior: This could be seen as an example of sensus plenior, where Jesus' role as the "Good Shepherd" and his Davidic lineage fulfill the fuller sense of the prophecy.

4. Prophecy: "The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his." (Genesis 49:10)

   First Fulfillment: This prophecy was given by Jacob to his son Judah, predicting the royal line that would come from Judah's descendants, which was fulfilled in King David and his successors.

   Second Fulfillment: In the New Testament, this prophecy is seen as fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is portrayed as the ultimate descendent of David and the eternal King. (Luke 1:32-33; Revelation 5:5)

   Sensus Plenior: Many Christian theologians see this as a case of sensus plenior, where Jesus' fulfillment of the prophecy provides a deeper, more complete understanding of the passage.

5. Prophecy: "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes." (Malachi 4:5)

   First Fulfillment: This prophecy may be linked with the return of the prophet Elijah in the book of 2 Chronicles (2 Chronicles 21:12-15) or seen as being fulfilled during the period of repentance and renewal under Ezra and Nehemiah.

   Second Fulfillment: In the New Testament, this prophecy is interpreted as being fulfilled by John the Baptist, who came in the "spirit and power of Elijah." (Luke 1:17; Matthew 11:13-14)

   Sensus Plenior: The New Testament application of this prophecy to John the Baptist can be seen as a case of sensus plenior, providing a fuller sense of the prophecy's meaning.

6. Prophecy: "Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days." (Hosea 3:5)

   First Fulfillment: The first fulfillment is likely in the return of the Israelites from the Babylonian Exile, during which they sought the Lord and re-established the worship of God in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.

   Second Fulfillment: Christians interpret this prophecy as fulfilled by Jesus Christ, the "son of David," in whom the Israelites and all nations can seek the Lord and find His goodness (Matthew 1:1, Matthew 21:9).

   Sensus Plenior: The coming of Jesus can be seen as a fuller sense of the prophecy in Hosea, in which the people not only return to their land but have a renewed relationship with God through Jesus.

7. Prophecy: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction." (Malachi 4:5-6)

   First Fulfillment: This prophecy could be seen as being fulfilled in the various revivals that occurred in the Old Testament, where the people of Israel turned back to God and restored their relationships with each other.

   Second Fulfillment: In the New Testament, this prophecy is seen as being fulfilled by John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the coming of Jesus by calling the people to repentance (Luke 1:17).

   Sensus Plenior: The fulfillment of this prophecy in John the Baptist can be seen as a fuller sense of the prophecy in Malachi, in which not only are relationships restored within the community of Israel, but the way is prepared for a new relationship with God through Jesus.

8. Prophecy: "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth." (Numbers 24:17)

   First Fulfillment: The first fulfillment can be seen in the rise of the Davidic dynasty, particularly in David's conquests over Israel's enemies.

   Second Fulfillment: In the New Testament, the coming of the "star out of Jacob" is seen as fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, descended from David (Matthew 2:1-2).

   Sensus Plenior: The coming of Jesus can be seen as a fuller sense of the prophecy in Numbers, where not only is there a human king who rules over Israel, but the divine King who brings salvation to all people.
   
   More questionable examples;

9. Prophecy: "Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:12)

   First Fulfillment: The suffering servant in Isaiah is traditionally understood to represent the nation of Israel itself or a righteous remnant within the nation. The first "fulfillment" could refer to the trials of the Jewish people, especially in the context of the Babylonian exile, and their eventual restoration.

   Second Fulfillment: Christians see the suffering servant as a prophecy about Jesus Christ, who was "numbered with the transgressors" (Mark 15:27-28) and made intercession for sinners (Luke 23:34).

   Sensus Plenior: The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is considered the fuller sense or deeper meaning of the suffering servant prophecy, a meaning that was only fully revealed in the light of Christ's sacrifice.

10. Prophecy: "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him." (Deuteronomy 18:18)

    First Fulfillment: This prophecy was first fulfilled in the succession of prophets that followed Moses, who served as God's spokesmen to the people of Israel.

    Second Fulfillment: In the New Testament, this prophecy is seen as fulfilled by Jesus Christ, who is depicted as the ultimate Prophet who speaks the words of God (John 7:40-43; Acts 3:22-23).

    Sensus Plenior: The fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus Christ could be seen as the fuller sense of the prophecy, as Jesus not only speaks the words of God but is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:1-14).