What does the story of Noah's Ark foreshadow in the New Testament?

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Accepted answer

The flood is explicitly used typologically twice in the New Testament.

Jesus, speaking of the final judgment (Matthew 24:37-41), says it will be like "the days of Noah".

For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.

1 Peter 3:20b-22 says that the flood prefigured the sacrament of baptism.

God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves youβ€”not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Over the centuries Christians have found additional typology in this story:

  • The ark has "rooms" for the animals (Genesis 6:14); Jesus says that his father's house has "many rooms" (John 14:2).
  • The ark had one door (Genesis 6:16); Jesus claimed to be "the door" to salvation (John 10:9).
  • God invited Noah to come into the ark (Genesis 7:1); Jesus said, "Come to me, all you that are weary" (Matthew 11:28).
  • The ark was made of wood (Genesis 6:14) just as the cross was.
  • Because God saved him, Noah "remained alive" (Genesis 7:23); Jesus gives us eternal life (John 10:28).

This is only a sample; you can find longer lists here and here. Some of the connections are more explicit in the King James Bible; newer translations use different phrases that don't always match up, but the similarity should still be apparent.

Upvote:0

Literarily speaking, the Ark of Noah is the vessel through which the world (Noah and the animals of creation) is saved from destruction. If we look to the New Testament, then Mary (the Mother of God) becomes the Ark in the New Testament--the vessel through whom Jesus (God) becomes man and creation is saved from destruction.

Therefore, the Ark of Noah foreshadows the incarnation of Christ through His mother, Mary.

The Ark also represents the Church, through which all of Creation is preserved from the raging of the flood. We go to the church and find refuge in God.

Upvote:1

Noah and the flood is definitely a type and for shadow.

Just like in the days of Noah, God Builds an ark and saves a remnant . Those who take Christ name, those who take his name as a bride takes her husbands name.

There are two groups those who hear and those who do not and those who do not are destroyed from among the people. Acts 3:23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

And the ones who are saved are his new creation.

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1st Peter 3: 20 (eight souls were saved by water.) don't argue with God.
Noah danger was not the flood. It was living in a sinful world. God used the water to separate Noah from this condition. Noah represents the soul of man, the people that drown in the flood represents the old mankind. the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us we are to put off the old man. Rise up to walk in newness of life. Through grace Noah was instructed how to be saved through grace were instructed on how to be saved. The ark was the vessel used to take him to safety. The church the body of Christ takes us there.

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Traditionally, many Christian theologians have likened the flood story to that of Christ's coming and sacrifice.

Basically, all of Mankind was doomed by the flood, but God, the Redeemer, found a way to save. One was found righteous, Noah, so God commanded him to build the ark to save mankind.

We are doomed to die because of sin. That is the flood. God, sent Jesus to redeem us; to save us from calamity. God's judgement came down on Christ just as it came down on the wicked of Noah's time. Just as there was only one Ark there is only one Jesus by which we can be saved. Noah and his family were spared by the Ark just as the church is spared by Christ.

The 'types' you are referring to is the theology that the Old Testament is filled with stories that show a 'type' of Christ that gives a kind of Gospel story in a sort of allegory. It is sometimes called typology.

I coincidentally read this summary from this page on an unrelated subject yesterday. I like the wording.

The ark which saved Noah and his family from the Flood is a beautiful type of Christ as the only way of salvation. As the Flood of God's judgment on sin came upon the earth in Noah's day, so the flood of God's judgment against sin came upon Christ at the cross. As the ark was battered by the awesome storms of the Flood, and then rested on Mount Ararat, so the Lord Jesus bore the terrible penalty for our sins and now rests from His finished work. As Noah and his family believed God and were saved from physical death solely through the ark, so we who trust in Christ are saved from sin's penalty of spiritual death through Christ alone.

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