📖 Biblical Definition
A type, in biblical theology, is a divinely intended foreshadowing in Old Testament history of a New Testament reality — especially of Christ Himself. The corresponding fulfillment is the antitype. "All these things happened unto them for ensamples [Greek typoi]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Corinthians 10:11). Types include: Adam (the man, fallen) as the type of the Last Adam (Romans 5:14); Melchizedek priest-king of Salem as the type of Christ (Hebrews 7); Joseph the rejected-then-exalted brother; Moses the deliverer-mediator; the manna; the bronze serpent (John 3:14); the Passover lamb; the temple; David. Christ is the antitype each one points toward — the substance behind every shadow.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
TYPE, n.
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1. The mark of something; an emblem; that which represents something else. 2. A figure or representation of something to come; a token; a sign; a symbol. 3. In theology, a sign or representation of some person, event, or thing future.
📖 Key Scripture
Romans 5:14 — "Adam... who is the figure [tupos] of him that was to come."
1 Corinthians 10:6 — "These things were our examples [tupos], to the intent we should not lust after evil things."
Hebrews 8:5 — "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things."
Colossians 2:17 — "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern hermeneutics often forbid typology; the apostles wrote whole books in it.
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The apostles read the Old Testament typologically constantly. Paul calls Adam a tupos of Christ (Rom 5:14); Hebrews argues for ten chapters that the tabernacle, priesthood, sacrifices, and Sabbath are shadows of Christ; 1 Peter calls baptism the antitype of Noah's flood. The New Testament is unembarrassed about typology because the inspiring Author wrote both Testaments and embedded the patterns deliberately.
Modern academic hermeneutics often forbids typology as “reading into the text.” That is a reasonable warning against fanciful allegory; it is also frequently overcorrection. The apostles modeled responsible typology: rooted in real Old Testament history, reaching toward real New Testament fulfillment, controlled by the New Testament's own connections. Read the Old Testament Christologically because the Lord Himself did so on the Emmaus road and the apostles followed His lead.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek tupos (G5179) — impression, pattern, type.
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G5179 — tupos — pattern, type, model
G498 — antitupos — antitype; corresponding fulfillment
G4639 — skia — shadow (Heb 10:1)
Usage
"The apostles wrote whole books in typology — the inspiring Author wrote both Testaments."
"Read the Old Testament Christologically; Christ Himself did so on the Emmaus road."
"Type and antitype: shadow and substance; both point to the same Lord."