TYPOLOGY
By
Dr.
O. Wilburn Swaim Th.D
www.angelfie.com/nc/exhortationplace
docswaim@hotmail.com
I.
DEFINITION.
Fairbairn's:
"...a certain pattern or exemplar exhibited in the position and character
of some individuals, to which others may or should be conformed" (Fairbairn, Patrick. THE TYPOLOGY OF
SCRIPTURES. Baker Book House, 1900, p. 42).
Jones's: "A type is a divinely purposed
prefiguration of a corresponding reality"
(Jones, Richard. PRECIOUS TRUTHS IN THE O.T. TYPES notes, n.d., p. 1).
Stevens's: "A type, in its scriptural
usage, is a person, thing, event, or institution in the Old Testament that
foreshadows and anticipates a fuller revelation of the truth that appears later
in the New Testament" (Stevens, Charles H. THE WILDERNESS JOURNEY.
Scripture Truth, n.d., p.11).
The Author's: An entity in the Old Testament, on Biblical
authority, prophetically portraying elements of its corresponding New Testament
fulfillment."
II.
ILLUSTRATION:
The Greek “tupos,”
meaning, “the mark of a stroke or blow;
print…form” (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Thayer, Zondervan, pp. 632,3, 1968). However, in the right context
it could be translated into English, with the word “toupee.” A toupee is a form,
or type of hair normally found on the head of a male human. It is not the hair
(though it made be made of human hair), but is a representative form of it. The
toupee is the picture, representation of hair; the hair on a man’s head is the
reality.
III. BIBLICAL AUTHORITY FOR TYPOLOGY.
The Greek, "tupos"
is used eighteen times in seventeen verses, from John through II Peter.
The KJV translates it with a variety of English
words, as: (emphases mine to indicate word translating the Greek word)
(John 20:25)
"The other disciples therefore said unto him, We
have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I
shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into
the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not
believe."
"Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of
Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures
which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond
"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." (Rom
"Now these things were our examples,
to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also
lusted." (1 Cor
10:6 KJV)
"Now all these things happened unto
them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom
the ends of the world are come." (1
Cor
"Who serve unto the example and shadow
of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make
the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make
all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the
mount." (Heb 8:5 KJV)
Hebrews 8:5 gives good insight into the
intent of the word's usage. But 1 Corinthians
If the word "all" is to be taken
literally, then is there ground for considering every Old Testament entity a
type? Consider "all" as used in Matthew 2:3, 16 and 3:5. Or, is it
"all" in the context of the things that are specifically mentioned in
1 Corinthians 6:1-10?
Some do say that only things specifically
called types in the New Testament may be considered as true types. Other things
may only be considered pictures, shadows, etc.
The contrast and comparison in 1 Cor 15:45, "And so it is written, The
first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening
spirit", is without doubt a true Biblical example of type and anti-type.
Doctrine should not be built on typology,
but true types and/or pictures will never contradict true doctrine, but rather
help establish it.
Every detail will not necessarily fit in the
development of the type. Often, differences (contrasts) in detail will also
demonstrate the typical character.
IV. TYPOLOGY IN THE WILDERNESS WANDERINGS.
Pharoah* Satan (Ex 5:1)
Bondage Sin (Ex
Passover
Lamb Christ crucified (Ex 12 w/ 1 Cor 5:7)
Manna Christ for growth to maturity (Ex 16 w/ Jhn 6)
Rock Christ smitten (Ex 17:6 w/ 1 Cor 10:4) and spoken to (Num 20:8 w Psa
78:15)
Amalek* Fleshly Warfare (Ex 17)
Sinai Condemnation of fleshly living (Ex 20)
Kadesh-Barnea** Place of decision for or against surrender
(Num 14)
Wilderness Judgment on the flesh (Num 15)
Anakim Continuing hindrance to victorious living
(Josh 11; note their defeat in
Old
Corn*** aged food for the mature believer
(Josh
Unseen
Captain Lordship of Christ--only in
Gibeonites Deceitfulness of Satan (Josh 9,10).
disobedience to the
Word caused it (Josh
Land
divided Our
inheritance received (Josh 13)
Cities
of Refuge Christ our Refuge (Ex 21:13;
Josh 20; Num 35:6; Dt
4:41-43).
* The three enemies of the Christian, i.e.
the world, Satan, the flesh (1 Jhn
**
***Egypt's food is listed in Numbers 11:5 w/
1 Cor 2:14; the wilderness's food is the manna (Ex
16:14-35--Notice what all is done to it to compromise it, w/ 1 Pt 2:2,3;
Canaan's food is the old corn--tough chewing and digesting, for mature
believers (Josh 5:11 w/ 1 Cor 3:2 and Heb 5:14-6:1).
TIME
TO
Dt
1:1-8
Read
Heb 5:11-6:3. Consider recruit who
flunks and repeats basic training. He can graduate and meet the enemy as a dog
soldier, or go to AIT and meet enemy as a leader.
I.
A. Bondage to Satan (Exo
1. Servitude
(13)
2. Bitterness
(14)
3. Hardship
(14)
4. Death
(15,16)
B. Deliverance
from sin.
Redemption (Exo
12-14)
1. By Sacrifice (12:6)
2. By
Blood (
3. By
Judgment(
4. By
Grace (
II. Wilderness, Encroachment of the Flesh.
A. The
Assignment: A two year course designed to teach the truth of Gal 5:16-25.
Typified by:
1. Redemption's
Song (Exo 15) The Joy of
Christ.
2. Marah (Exo
3. 12 Wells/70 Palms (
4. Manna/Flesh; Water from the Rock (16:4; 17:6) The Supply of Christ.
5. Moses, Aaron, Hur
(17:8-16) The Supplication of Christ.
6. Ten Commandments (20:1-17) The
Standards of Christ.
7. Tabernacle & Rituals (25-31:11) The substitutionary Sacrifice of
Christ
8. Sabbath Day (Exo
31:12-18) The Perfect Rest of Christ.
9. Offerings & Feasts (Leviticus) The True
Worship of Christ.
10. Kadesh Barnea (Num 14:9) The Victory of Christ.
B. The Alternative (Num 14:1-35).
1. Mature,
and Go in (v. 7,8)
2. Rebel, and Miss out (10-35)
Obey, or pay; take it, or lose it;
choose, or lose.
III.
Victory available through:
A. Grace of God (Josh 1:3-5)
B. Word
of God (Josh 1:7-9) note
C. Submission
to Christ (Josh
D. Sanctified
Life (Josh 3:5)
E. Walk of Faith (Josh
F. Experience
of Victory (Josh 6)