Dr. Heiser does an excellent job in explaining the presence of typology in Scripture and offering a warning to take great care in its interpretative effort. His wise teachings gives hints to his own journey exploring the different nonverbal foreshadowing. Few scholars consider typology deeply, and even fewer do it well in interpretation. Though the detailed study of typology must be reserved for advanced theology classes, his knowledge of typology provides a really good foundation to build upon. His explanation for the Old Testament typology in simple terms:
“You could have a person, a character in the OT, or an event, or an institution, or even an object just occur in the narrative of the OT. But we find out later that the person, event, or institution or object foreshadowed something. It was in some way predictive, but there was no verbal utterance. There was no comment. I mean nobody looked at the object in question and said, ‘Hey, someday this is going to depict this or that.’”
How’s that for an easily understood concept without the use of scholarly terms that over achieves clear understanding? Typology in God’s Word is introduced before the full meaning and representation is revealed. Usually, Scripture that is rich in typological representation is purposefully scattered throughout the Bible in simple revelations that begins to shine more and more as individual ideas are examined.
Often, Christian scholars neglect the Old Testament typology, in favor of the New Testament typology that mentions OT concepts, but expands them in the NT which then moves understanding forward. One example that Dr. Heiser uses is in the example of Passover spoken by Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:7 that reveals Christ as the Passover Lamb. How wonderful it is to recall the Passover celebration implemented by the LORD God with the Israelites in a celebration that was to be celebrated yearly and remembered always. If you go to the Old Testament account, you will see a magnificently deep typological revelation that is often missed by Christian scholars and preachers because they automatically know the end of the story.
Check out Exodus 12:1-11:
“And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s passover.”
This group of eleven verses reveal so many typological Truths of God concerning Christ and the plan for salvation that an entire seminary class will be offered to learn the deeper things of God. Without any training toward the things of typology, the sincere Bible student should be able to locate at least ten major typological points. For instance, verse 9 commands that the lamb must be roasted with three specific body parts that include the “head with the legs, and with the purtenance thereof.” What is represented by the head, legs, and purtenance?
Head = LORD God (Omnipotence)
Legs = Lord Jesus Christ (Walked among men)
Purtenance = Holy Spirit (Dwells within each believer)
The importance of the Triune God in Christian belief is typologically expressed from the beginning of the initiation of Passover. The simple words empower a dramatic revelation that comes in the New Testament many generations later. It begins to form the difficult concept of Trinity to enable New Testament faith in Christ to be grounded in that connection between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Recognition of this important typology aids Bible interpreters in confirming emphasis upon the deeper things of God as connections and patterns are typologically represented.
This rich typological section of Scripture in Exodus 12:1-11 has many, many other connections. How many can you find before your Professional Theologist typological training begins?
Scholars often use a specific formula to identify typology by identifying a “type” in the Old Testament and requiring an “antitype” in the New Testament that reveals the type before it can be declared. Most Seminaries guide their students away from typological interpretation, favoring a more literal approach to the words that can be understood by everybody. But, Professional Theologists trained by Becker Professional Theology Academy will receive detailed instruction and guidelines that will open up their spiritual understanding through the examination of words in Scripture at their smallest level as well as the shadows that are purposefully laid by God to those chosen to receive deeper instruction into His Word.
Bibliography
Elwell, Walter A., Barry J. Beitzel. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1988.
Heiser, Michael S. Bi101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources: LOGOS Bible Software.
Footnotes
Michael S. Heiser, Bi101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources (LOGOS Bible Software), Lecture 88.
Walter A. Elwell, Barry J. Beitzel, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1988), 2109-2110.
Links
About the Author
Kathy L. McFarland is President and Founder of Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. and the Becker Professional Theology Academy. She is also a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University, is on track for the Master of Divinity (Professional Ministries Track) degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary & Graduate School in 2016 and will be seeking a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Theology and Apologetics beginning in the fall of 2016. She is the originator of the newest theological movement to encourage Christian leaders to minister within the modern-day marketplace as Professional Theologists. She is also the Curriculum Developer for Becker Professional Theology Academy and a teaching faculty member. Kathy's favorite studies to teach include the connections between Old Testament exegesis, Christian Apologetics, and Bible typology and mysteries.
©2014-2015 Kathy L. McFarland. All Rights Reserved.