📖 Biblical Definition
Type and antitype is the technical hermeneutical pair: a type is an Old Testament person, event, or institution that prefigures a New Testament reality (the antitype). Adam types Christ (Rom 5:14); the Passover lamb types Christ's sacrifice; Joshua types Jesus; the Levitical sacrifices type the cross; baptism is the antitype of Noah's flood (1 Pet 3:21). The pattern is built into Scripture; the apostles teach the saints to read it.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
(Hermeneutical pair.) Type = Old Testament prefigurement; antitype = New Testament fulfillment.
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Greek typos (Rom 5:14, 1 Cor 10:6, 1 Cor 10:11) and antitypos (Heb 9:24, 1 Pet 3:21) form the technical pair. Typos originally meant the impression made by a stamp or die; antitypos meant the corresponding figure that matched the original.
Disciplined typology distinguishes itself from undisciplined allegorizing by sticking close to apostolic patterns and the stated typological warrant of New Testament texts.
📖 Key Scripture
Romans 5:14 — "Adam, who is the figure [type] of him that was to come."
1 Corinthians 10:6 — "Now these things were our examples [types], to the intent we should not lust after evil things."
Hebrews 9:24 — "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures [antitypes] of the true; but into heaven itself."
1 Peter 3:21 — "The like figure [antitype] whereunto even baptism doth also now save us."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often slides between rigid literalism (denying typology) and undisciplined allegorizing (finding types everywhere). The biblical pattern is in the middle.
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Apostolic typology gives controls: Adam-Christ (Rom 5), Passover-Christ (1 Cor 5:7), Israel's wilderness-Christian life (1 Cor 10), tabernacle-heavenly sanctuary (Heb 8-9), flood-baptism (1 Pet 3). These are warranted; extending the principle along similar lines is sound.
What is not warranted: finding hidden types in every detail (every red thing types Christ's blood), every numerical pattern, every architectural feature. Discipline distinguishes biblical typology from devotional pareidolia.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek typos and antitypos.
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Greek typos — impression, pattern, type.
Greek antitypos — corresponding image, antitype.
Usage
"Apostolic typology gives controls."
"Discipline distinguishes biblical typology from devotional pareidolia."
"Adam-Christ; Passover-Christ; flood-baptism."