In this issue of Chapter and Verse I'd like to consider the subject of Typology. The study of typology is necessary to understand certain scriptures in the word of God.
A type (from the Greek word typos) is a person, event, institution, place, or an office in the redemptive history of the Old Testament that prefigures a corresponding but greater reality in the New Testament.
As we begin to study this subject out you quickly find that biblical types are set forth from scripture.
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
The word "figure" here in verse 14 comes from the Greek word tupos.
A tupos is the mark of a stroke or blow, print. A tupos is a figure formed by a blow or impression it's an image.
Before we had a word processor or a computer we had what was called a typewriter. A typewriter was a piece of office equipment that had a key board like your computer. The difference was that a typewriter was mechanical and when you pushed a key a corresponding arm with the letter attached at the end of the arm usually cast out of metal would move and strike a ribbon. This ribbon was treated with ink which then transferred to the paper on the other side of the ribbon hence we called it the type writer.
Romans 5:14 said Adam was a figure of him that was to come.
The one to come was Jesus Christ.
Adam was a type of Christ in the bible. One of the things you will see about biblical types is that they are prophetic.
Biblical types look forward to something that take place in the future. A type is thus a copy, a pattern, or a model that signifies an even greater reality. The greater reality to which a type points to and in which it finds its fulfillment is referred to as an antitype.
Adam is referred to as a type of Christ. When Adam comes on the seen Adam foreshowed the fact that Jesus Christ will later come.
The type is prophetic of the anti-type. Adam was the type and Jesus was the antitype. The word antitype can be confusing because one of its meanings is an opposite or contrasting type. However, like many words that have different meanings the word antitype also has another meaning.
An antitype is the latter of associated biblical pair in the Bible. It's somebody or something considered as being foreshadowed by or having striking similarities to an earlier person or thing type. The Greek word for antitype is antitupos "corresponding as an impression (to the die in which it was cast)".
In Romans 5 there is a comparison being made between Adam and Jesus Christ. The comparison is simply that Adam is the head of humanity just as Jesus Christ is the head of a new humanity. Just as Adam was the head of a global humanity Jesus is the head of a new global humanity.
Now I told you that a type is a person, event, institution or an office in the redemptive history of the Old Testament that prefigures a corresponding but greater reality in the New Testament.
Here we see that Adam was a type. This is an example of a type (Adam) being a historical person.
Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.Acts 3:19-22 19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:211 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.22For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Here again we see the type and the antitype or answer to the prophecy. Moses was a type of Christ; however, Jesus was the anti-type the promised one. Here we have another example of a type being an historical person. The greater reality to which a type points and in which it finds its fulfillment is referred to as an antitype or Jesus Christ.
Biblical Types can also refer to an office.
Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Acts 3 and Deuteronomy 18 not only refer to biblical type as a historical person foreshadowing the antitype but to a historical office foreshadowing the antitype.
God would raise up a prophet…
So we saw that a biblical type could be represented by a historical person such as Adam and Moses.
And a biblical type could be represented by a historical office like a prophet.
KJV Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
The law including the ceremonial washings and offerings of the law was a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the thing.
Hebrews 10:11-14 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
The law including the ceremonial washings and offerings of the law was a type foreshadowing that which would come. It pointed to the antitype the answer Jesus Christ. Here we see a biblical type represented as a historical institution.
NLT Hebrews 10:1 The old system in the law of Moses was only a shadow of the things to come, not the reality of the good things Christ has done for us. The sacrifices under the old system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.Hebrews 9:23-24 23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures (Greek antitupos) of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
The writer of Hebrews specifically employs the word antitype to refer to the greatness of the heavenly sanctuary as an example of a place.
Exodus 12:20-21 20Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. 21Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Here we see the Passover was a type foreshowing the true Passover to come Jesus Christ. This is an example of a type being an event. Understanding biblical types deepens our appreciation for our wonderful lord and savior Jesus Christ the antitype.