Sunday: Biblical Typology
Daily Lesson for Sunday 30th of November 2025
Study the following Scriptures that refer to types and try to define what biblical typology is: Romans 5:14, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Hebrews 8:5, and Hebrews 9:23.
These biblical passages use the term “type” (Greek typos) or “antitype” (Greek antitypos) to refer to the way the New Testament writer defined the relationship between an Old Testament text or event and its meaning in his own time or in the future.
Image © Krieg Barrie from GoodSalt.com
Typology is a specific interpretation of persons, events, or institutions that prefigure Jesus or other realities contained in the gospel. The type corresponds to the antitype as a mold or a hollow form that reflects the original form, even if the latter, the antitype, more fully fulfills the purpose of the type. Thus, the biblical type was shaped according to a divine design that had existed concretely, or conceptually, in the mind of God, and it serves to shape future copies (antitypes).
It is crucial to understand that the writers of the New Testament did not randomly attribute a typological meaning to some Old Testament texts in order to make a point. An Old Testament type is always validated in the prophetic writings before it acquires an antitypical fulfillment in the New Testament.
a. David (Psalms 22:1,14-18):
b. The new David (Jeremiah 23:5; Isaiah 9:5-6; Isaiah 11:1-5):
c. The antitypical David (John 19:24):
Look at how David appears in the Old Testament and then how he is prefigured in the New. What lessons can we learn about how typology works from this example?
By looking at these texts, we discover that the Old Testament itself provides the key for identifying and applying types in the Scriptures. That is, New Testament writers, whose Scripture was the Old Testament, were inspired by the Holy Spirit to use the Old Testament types to reveal “present truth” (2 Peter 1:12), especially about Jesus and His ministry.
The Greek word “typos” is used about 16 times in the New Testament, and has a variety of meanings depending on the context. It is translated into English as “example”. “pattern”. “figure”, “form”, or “print”. Some of these of course have nothing to do with the theme of today’s lesson. For example:
Some of the others are right on the ball:
The Greek word “antitypos” is only used twice:
I submit that the type/antitype analysis we are discussing in this context is “a posteriori” (made after the event) in the light of Jesus and his ministry. That does not make it wrong. We can learn a lot from looking in the rear vision mirror, but we need to be aware that is what we are doing.
When we read the Bible,we often see things more clearly by looking backward.Many Old Testament stories and people become “types” only when we view them in the light of Jesus. They didn’t necessarily understand the full meaning of their lives or actions, but now that Christ has come, we can see how God was preparing the way all along.
Thank you so much pastor
It is truly remarkable how God orchestrates events to foreshadow future realities for His divine purpose. Typology is a vivid demonstration of God’s sovereignty. God can control historical events with a redemptive purpose. This was one of the main ways of revealing Jesus in the Old Testament. Jesus Himself said that the entire Old Testament spoke about Him.
“Moses wrote about Me” (John 5:46)
“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained… what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27)
Typology is one of the clearest ways by which the gospel is embedded in the Old Testament. For instance, Jesus is pinpointed in the Old Testament as follows:
• Passover Lamb → Christ, the Lamb of God
• Sanctuary priesthood → Christ’s priesthood
• Sacrifices → Christ’s atoning death
• The wilderness manna → Christ, the Bread of Life
• The serpent lifted up → Christ lifted up on the cross
In essence, typology clearly demonstrates that the Old Testament and the New Testament are unified in one purpose: the salvation of mankind through Jesus Christ. Without it the two will be seen as very disconnected. Therefore, it helps to expound on the plan of salvation. Particularly to us, the Seventh Day Adventist Christians, some of our doctrines can only make good sense through typology. For instance, the sanctuary doctrine, investigative judgment, priestly ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary and the interpretation of prophecy.
It is important to note that typology helps us to see Christ more vividly, powerfully, and beautifully when we understand the types that point to Him in the Old Testament. If we fail to understand typology, then the Old Testament becomes confusing, the sanctuary system becomes meaningless, prophecy becomes disconnected, and finally the unity of scripture disintegrates. One can safely say that this is one of the tools through which God teaches the truth and reveals Jesus Christ.
However, important is typology, it can be applied inappropriately when it is forced, speculative, or used to create doctrine without clear biblical support. Much caution needs to be exercised not to read meanings into the text that God never intended.
Why is it important to learn about typology in the Bible? Is it just a scholarly theological exercise that is interesting to know about? The passage in 1 Corinthians 10 provides answers for me. 1 Cor. 10:6 says, “These things took place as types, that we might not desire evil.” And 1 Cor. 10:11-13 says that we are to look to the Israelites in the wilderness so that “him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall”….I am to be aware of how subtle temptation and sin is by seeing how even ALL those who symbolically took part in baptism (went under the cloud and passed through the Red Sea 1 Cor. 10:1-2) and the Lord’s Supper (ate the same spiritual food and drink 1 Cor. 10:3-4) could not be saved by taking part in these ordinances alone or living a life identified with Christ in name only, without a change of heart and mind. Israel even had the presence of Jesus Christ Himself with them in the wilderness, providing for all their needs, but that did not save most of them. Despite all these blessings, God was not pleased with them (1 Cor. 10:5). Why?
They did not cooperate with God’s Holy Spirit trying to grow them. We need to participate in letting God finish what He has set before us, to finish the good work He has begun in us (Phil. 1:6). God wants me to WANT to escape temptation and sin. God wants to change my desires. God wants me to stop embracing evil desires. That’s why He prompted holy men of God to record these stories as types and examples of what not to do. He wants us to learn from how they failed…
Paul lists the 4 types of evil desires that the wilderness Israelites had that also paralleled the evil desires threatening the church in Corinth: (1) idolaters…failing to keep focus on God, wanting to be like the culture around them, and making an idol out of one’s own knowledge and rights – 1 Cor. 10:7; (2) sexually immoral, indulging in selfish desires to please themselves – 1 Cor. 10:8; (3) putting Christ to the test such that God sent fiery serpents among the Israelites – 1 Cor. 10:9; (4) grumbling – 1 Cor. 10:10. Those things can destroy me/us as surely as it did them. They could not say “no” to their desires …. in the case of the Corinthians it was saying “no” to meat sacrificed to idols out of love for those who might be distracted away from faith because of it.
So this typology is saying “If it happened to Israel and to Corinth, it can happen to you. Satan’s temptations are not unique but are repeated throughout history. Resist these temptations (1 John 2:16 reveals that they fall into 3 categories) and he will flee from you.” If I think I can stand then I will fall. Pray without ceasing so as not to be self-focused and selfish. When Satan knocks, I need to send Jesus to answer the door. In 1 Cor. 10:13 God promises to supervise all temptations coming to us, and to limit it according to our ability to endure it when we rely on Him. Typology is prophetic and so we know that the last church, the Laodicean Church, WILL stumble and feel strong when they are really weak (Rev. 3:17-22). But this is a promise to claim – we can as individuals and as His remnant overcome in Christ where others before us failed and where His Church fails.
Throughout the Bible, God deliberately uses typology to point to Christ, the slain Lamb, showing that Scripture ultimately comes from one Author—the Holy Spirit. For example, the ark of Noah, with its single open door, prefigures Christ as the only way by which anyone can be saved (Genesis 7:1; John 10:9). Isaac laid upon the altar points to the ultimate sacrifice God Himself would make in offering His only Son (Genesis 22:6–14; Hebrews 11:17–19). The Passover lamb, whose blood protected Israel from the angel of death (Exodus 12:13), finds its fulfillment in Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). Thus, our salvation rests not on human opinion or imagination, but on what God declares in both the Old and New Testaments. The perfect correspondence between type and antitype throughout Scripture reveals the unified work of the Holy Spirit and confirms that all Scripture was inspired for one redemptive purpose showing clearly that God Himself is fully involved and committed to the salvation of our souls.
Excellent
Type/antitype discussions are important because they help us understand how the Old Testament still speaks meaningfully to those of us living in the New Testament era. Rather than seeing the Old Testament as something distant or outdated, type/antitype helps us recognize that God has been revealing one continuous plan of salvation.
The types of the Old Testament—its ceremonies, institutions, and historical experiences—were never ends in themselves. They were shadows pointing forward to greater spiritual realities fulfilled in Christ and experienced by His church. For example, the sanctuary services, the Passover, the priesthood, and even Israel’s journey to the Promised Land all find their fuller meaning in Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and His heavenly ministry on our behalf.
Understanding these relationships keeps us from misapplying Old Testament practices literally, while still allowing us to draw rich spiritual lessons. It allows us to discern what was fulfilled at the cross, what continues through Christ’s ministry, and what carries moral relevance for God’s people in every age.
Most of all, type/antitype shows us that Christ is the center of both Testaments. The Old Testament looks forward in symbols, and the New Testament reveals their fulfillment. This framework helps us faithfully apply Old Testament teachings today and deepens our appreciation for the unity and beauty of Scripture.
In type and anti antitype shows us that Jesus Christ is in the midst with one purpose. By the use of the new and old testament man kind get saved through his blood that he shade at calvary. He loves us so much and does not want us to get lost since he bought us with a price.
Let us look up to Jesus and get saved in New testament as the Israelites in the wildness looked up on Moses snake and they got healed.
One question maybe worth considering is why God felt the need of providing the Old Testament with its history and typology? In other words, why did Jesus not come to begin with, skip the old covenant with all of the sordid history that went with it, and die for our sins according to the scriptures and thus fulfill the new covenant?
Michael – you might want to consider God doing all His work in order of its most prudent, most beneficial ‘spiritual impact’. The children of Israel were not ready for Jesus to come then; they were still not ready to receive Him when He did come 400+ years later. The ‘world’ will never embrace Jesus, and it takes time for the Holy Spirit’s work to bear fruit in those who are still open to receive Him.
I agree with today’s reading, as it reflects on incidents that will help to broaden our understanding of how spiritual believers share common interest in relaying messages of the same kind when they need help from God. Because of the similarities of the wording deployed by David in Psalm 22:1 and Jesus Christ in Matthew 27:46, it would be appropriate for one to infer that David and Jesus Christ used the same words to call on God for help when they needed Him most. The lessons we could learn from typology, especially to prefigure the call David and Jesus Christ made to God when they were in distress, we could call on God in the same way when we are in distress.
John 8:1-59
v.31-36 – So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My Word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the Truth, and the TRUTH will set you free.”
“We are Abraham’s descendants, they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
A very serious misconception held by the Jews regarding ‘Truth’ was revealed in the book of John chapter 8; severe enough to take up stones to silence Jesus. This example highlights the acts of Truth revealed by God’s Light, versus the acts of ‘darkness’ enslaving man to sin.
Is it really important in the support of one’s faith to understand the theological and literary theory of ‘type and antitype’? This is not to discorage efforts to learn about ‘type and antitype’. Though, in light of that which is essential to keeping our faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God – the Old Testament’s fulfillment of God’s Promise to set man free from sin and death – we have been given a better source – the Holy Spirit to point out God’s ‘Way’.
I consider nothing more essential to our Christian life by faith than seeking to understand God’s Truth through the working of the Holy Spirit within us. It is He, given to us to lead us into ‘the Truth which sets us free’ – offering spiritual discernment, insights and understanding of Scripture and how to follow God’s Will. Because He is our teacher now, we ought to hear Him when He speaks – He speaks what He hears from God – John 16:12-14; 1Cor.2:9-11; John 16:13.
Perhaps we will get into this more throughout the week, but my feeling is there are two types of types (I hope you will excuse the pun!)
There are types that point to Jesus, salvation, the sanctuary, Christian experience, that are very much planned by God to illustrate whatthe Christian life is like and to fulfill prophecy. These have been designed by God as part of His plan. Obviously the prophecies of Jesus being the second Adam, Moses, David and so on fit here. The sanctuary fits here. The experience of going through the Red Sea (mentioned in I Corinthians 12 today) parallelling baptism would be another example.
Then there are other examples which seem to be more based on human will. I am less comfortable making them types because if they are, God appears to be a puppet master who makes people act a certain way. Since we are not Calvanists, we need to be really careful with this. For example, I have heard people say Joseph is a type of Christ. And there certainly are elements in his life that fit with Jesus’ life (along with many that do not). However, I don’t see God moving strings to make Joseph’s life like Jesus. I see Joseph being in tune with God and reacting to situations in harmony with God’s character. This is somewhat different from prophetic fulfillment.
To some extent this is true of Joshua too. By leading Israel into the Promised Land, he parallels what Jesus will do. But we have already seen he had some flaws as a leader. And the reality was he would never have led Israel into the promised land if Moses had not slipped up and struck the rock. It would have been Moses leading Israel. So perhaps God wasn’t determining Joshua’s role as much as working with the situation. In my mind that’s not a fixed type in the way some other examples are. Not sure if I’m making sense, but these are my observations.
Although imperfect, many men in the Old Testament acted as a type of “Christ”, which was fulfilled entirely in the New Testament. Christ is the center of the Bible, and the ultimate “matter.” He represents God’s love for His creation; that is what the Scriptures are all about.
The text claims that typology isn’t random because types are ‘validated in the prophetic writings’. However, if we are the ones selecting which prophetic writings apply based on our current theology, aren’t we just using circular reasoning? How does ‘prophetic validation’ prevent us from simply finding what we are looking for (confirmation bias)?
Your observation is valid, Ed and we need to understand the limitations of closed loop reasoning. All too often we get hoodwinked into providing catechistic responses. Our spiritual growth should be based on a much wider range of experiences.
Having said that, I still think that the type/antitype thing (minus a lot of the obfuscating jargon) can be useful. Let me give an analogy. When I go to the beach my wife wears “Crocs” with a partuluar sole pattern. She also has a funny way of walking. After we have been walking for some time and perhaps been separated because I have stopped to take photographs of birds, I can look back in the sand and see where she has been. Sometimies the tracks have been covered by the waves rolling in, but here and there I see a faint mark of her Crocs and know she has been there before. In a similar sort of way we can look back through history and find that God has left signs that he has been there before. His message of self-sacrificing love is sometimes faint and often washed out by the tides of human behaviour, but remains as a reminder that God is love.
The issue I have is that all too often we want to add a whole lot more to those footprints in an effort to establish that we are good Bible students. That is not what the footprints are for.
Maurice, that’s such a beautiful response. I think the idea that “God has left signs showing He’s been there before” might be exactly what I needed for this week’s study. Thank you for sharing.
That’s the best explanation for types I’ve seen. I agree fully.