Biblical Typology: Basic

Principles of Interpretation
Richard M. Davidson

Fall 2018
Common reactions to typology
• 1. “Oh no!” -- Skepticism
• 2. “Give me more! – Enthusiasm
• 3. “What’s that?” -- Uncertainty
Importance of biblical typology
• Leonard Goppelt: typology “is the central
and distinctive NT way of understanding
the Gospel. . .it is the decisive interpretation
of Jesus, the Gospel, and the Church. . . .
According to its NT core typology is
theologically constitutive for an
understanding of the Gospel.” (TDNT
8:255).
Importance of biblical typology
• Robert M. Grant (church historian): “the
New Testament method of interpreting the
OT is generally that of typology.”

• E. Earle Ellis: “typological interpretation

expresses most clearly the basic attitude of
primitive Christianity toward the OT.”
Nature of biblical typology
• Mark W. Karlberg: “resolution of lingering
differences of interpretation among
evangelicals depends, to a large extent, on a
proper assessment of the nature and
function of Old Testament typology.”
Nature of biblical typology
Traditional Understanding: Typology is
the study of persons, events, or institutions
which God has divinely designed to
prefigure (point forward to) the
eschatological (end time) fulfillment in
Christ or the Gospel realities brought about
by Christ.
Nature of biblical typology
• Post-critical Understanding: Typology is
the retrospective recognition of parallel
situations between OT and NT, based upon
common human way of analogical thinking
or the consistent activity of God in history,
with little or no predictive element
• E.g.: Napoleon’s Battle of Waterloo
Nature of biblical typology
• How does one determine which view is
correct?
– Without imposing one’s definition upon the
Biblical text
– Allowing the definition to emerge from the text
– Personal experience
Nature of biblical typology
• Key term: typos = English term “type”
• Typos appears 20 times in the NT
• Typos used in five NT passages where the
NT writer is interpreting the OT, and labels
his interpretation as typos (or antitypos)
• Here we can be sure typology exists,
because the NT writer identifies it as such
Nature of biblical typology
5 passages about – typos!

1. Romans 5:14
• Typos – The typos of Christ was Adam.
Nature of biblical typology
• 5 passages about – typos!

• 2. 1 Cor. 10:6, 11
• Typoi – Exodus events are “types” of the
church.
Nature of biblical typology
• 5 passages about – typos!
• 3. 1 Pet. 3:21
• Antitypos – antitype (anti in Greek can
also mean “corresponding to” –
Therefore it is “corresponding to the
type.”) Baptism is corresponding to the
flood.
Nature of biblical typology
• 5 passages about – typos!
• 4. Heb. 8:5
• Typos – referring to the earthly/heavenly
sanctuary relationship.
Nature of biblical typology
• 5 passages about – typos!
• 5. Heb. 9:24
• Antitypos - referring to the
earthly/heavenly sanctuary relationship.

• The antitype is the fulfillment of the type.

Characteristics of Biblical Typology
• 1. Historical element
– Historical realities: persons (Adam), events
(Flood, Exodus), institutions (sanctuary)
– Historical correspondence of basic contours
between type and antitype
– Intensification between type and antitype
Characteristics of Biblical Typology
• 2. Prophetic Element
– Advance presentation or prefiguration
– Divine design
– “Must-needs-be” aspect (Greek dei and anagkē)
Characteristics of Biblical Typology
• 3. Christological/soteriological element
– Not just bare historical realities, but salvific
realities
– Fulfilled in Christ or salvation realities brought
about by Christ
– Christ is the ultimate orientation point of types
and their antitypical fulfillment: e.g., the
drying up of the river Euphrates in Rev 16
Characteristics of Biblical Typology
• 4. Ecclesiological element
– Individual worshipers
– Corporate community
– Sacraments (Lord’s Supper or Baptism)
Characteristics of Biblical Typology
• 5. Eschatological element
– Inaugurated (Christ’s First Advent)
– Appropriated (era of the Church)
– Consummated (“not yet”--Apocalyptic end
time)
 The Basic Elements of Biblical
Typology: Illustrated by “Mr. Typos”
1. Typos and antitypos are historical realities.
2. The typos (hollow mold) isn’t the original, but
based upon a previous design. Divine design.
3. The function of the typos is to be a mold that
shapes the “end” product. Predictive element.
4. The basic contours of the typos and antitypos
correspond. Can argue from type to antitype.
5. The antitypos (“end” product) transcends and is
always greater than the typos. Intensification.
Definition of Biblical Typology
Typology is the study of salvation historical
realities (persons, events, or institutions)
which God has divinely designed to
prefigure (point forward to) the
eschatological (“end product”) fulfillment
in Christ or the Gospel realities brought
about by Christ.
Distinguishing Characteristics of
Typology
1. Rooted in history; vs. allegory, which
strips away historical “husk” to get at the
allegorical “kernal.” Arbitrary assigning of
meaning based upon intepreters’
imagination.
2. Points forward; vs. symbol , which is a
“timeless” figurative representation of
truth (i.e., not restricted to a particular
time)
Distinguishing Characteristics of
Typology
3. Prefigures “mutely”; vs. prophecy, which
is a verbal prediction.
4. Intensification from type to antitype: vs.
example (paranaesis), a model of
behavior (e.g., 1 Pet 3:1-6, Sarah)
5. Divinely-designed; vs. analogy, involving
parallel situations or natural
correspondences
Hermeneutical Controls for Biblical
Typology--1
• Identifying the types: the prophetic
control

• If the type is truly predictive (points

forward) then one should recognize before
the fulfillment that this is a type.
• E.g.: Moses – Deut. 18:18: God says: “I will
raise up a Prophet like you [Moses].”
 Old Testament Type Old Testament Verbal New Testament
(Person/Event/Institution) Indicator of Typology Announcement of Antitype

1. Exodus: New Exodus Antitypical Exodus

Book of Exodus; Hos 11:1; etc.
Hos 2:14-15; 12:9, 13; 13:4-5; Jer Matthew 1-5; Luke 9:31; etc.
23:4-8; 16:14-15; 31:32; Isa 11:15-
16; 35; 40:3-5; 41:17-20; 42:14-16;
43:1-3, 14-21; 48:20-21; 49:8-12;
51:9-11; 52:3-6, 11-12; 55:12-13

2. Sanctuary Heavenly Original Heavenly Original

Exodus 25-40 Exod 25:40; Ps 11:4; 18:6, 60:8; Heb 8:5; 9:24; Rev 8:1-5; 11:19; 16:1; etc.
63:2; 68:35; 96:6; 102:19; 150:1; Isa
6; Jonah 2:7; Mic 1:2; Hab 2:20; etc.

3. David New David Antitypical David

The Psalms Jer 23:5; Ezek 34:23; 37:24; Isa 9:5, John 19:24
6; 11:1-5; Hos 3:5; Amos 9:11; Zech
8:3; etc.

4. Jonah New Jonah Antitypical Jonah

The Book of Jonah Hos 6:1-3 (= Israel); Isa 41-53 Matt 12:40; etc.
(Messiah represents and recapitulates
experience of Israel: Isa 41:8; 42:1;
44:1; 49:3-6; 52:13-53:11; etc.)

5. Elijah New Elijah Antitypical Elijah

1 Kings 17-19 Mal 4:5, 6 Matt 11:14; Mark 9:11; Luke 1:17

6. Moses New Moses Antitypical Moses

Pentateuch Deut 18:15-19 John 1:21; 6:14; 8:40; etc.

7. Joshua New Joshua Antitypical Joshua

The Book of Joshua Num 13:8, 16; Deut 18:15-17; 34:10- Heb 4:1-3, 8
12; Exod 23:23; Deut 31:3, 23; Isa
Hermeneutical Controls for Biblical
Typology--1
• Identifying the types: the prophetic
control
• The control for identifying the OT types is not
limited to those mentioned in the NT
• Possibility of NT types (e.g., the fall of
Jerusalem in Matt 24)
• For every type in Scripture, there is some verbal
indicator either immediately accompanying the
type or some where before the antitype comes
Case Study: Sanctuary Typology
The Heavenly Sanctuary Before Sin
• Jeremiah 17:12— “from the beginning”
• Ezekiel 28:14— “covering cherub on the
holy mountain of God”
• Isaiah 14:13— “mount of the assembly”
The linkage between the earthly
and the heavenly sanctuary
• Exodus 25:9
"According to all that I
show you, that is, the
pattern of the
tabernacle and the
pattern of all its
furnishings, just so
you shall make it.
The linkage between the earthly and
the heavenly sanctuary
• tynIb.T; tabnit: the pattern

• God says that He will show Moses on the

mountain the tabnit for the sanctuary.
The linkage between the earthly and
the heavenly sanctuary
• “And see to it that you make them
according to the pattern (tabnit ) which
was shown you on the mountain.”
Exodus 25:40

• The LXX translates tabnit here as typos

which means “type” in our language.
The linkage between the earthly and
the heavenly sanctuary
• tynIb.t; tabnit: the “pattern”
• It is a copy of the original that
serves as a model for another copy.
The linkage between the earthly and
the heavenly sanctuary
• Illustration: 2 Kings 16:10-11, the story of Ahaz.
• “Now King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet
Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar
that was at Damascus; and King Ahaz sent to
Urijah the priest the design of the altar and its
pattern [tabnit], according to all its workmanship.
Then Urijah the priest built an altar according to
all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus.”
The linkage between the earthly and
the heavenly sanctuary
• This tabnit was a miniature model. It was
used to make a copy of it in Jerusalem.
This is the word that is used in Exodus 25:9,
40. Moses was told to make everything
according to the tabnit.
• He saw on the mountain a miniature model
of the heavenly sanctuary!
The linkage between the earthly and
the heavenly sanctuary
• God presented Moses with a miniature model.
• “He presented before Moses a miniature model of
the heavenly sanctuary, and commanded him to
make all things according to the pattern showed
him in the mount. Moses wrote all the directions
in a book, and read them to the most influential of
the people.” (Spiritual Gifts Volume 4, page 5 )
The linkage between the earthly and
the heavenly sanctuary
• Moses also saw the original heavenly
sanctuary:

• PP 343 – “God presented before Moses in

the mount a view of the heavenly sanctuary.”
The linkage between the earthly and
the heavenly sanctuary
• Exodus 24:10
• “and they [Moses and the 70 elders] saw the God
of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a
paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the
very heavens in its clarity.”
• Moses saw as much of the vastness and glory of
the heavenly sanctuary as it was possible for him
to grasp
The linkage between the earthly and
the heavenly sanctuary
• Ezekiel 1:26 and 10:1 indicates that God’s
throne was made out of sapphire.
• Ezekiel 28:14 refers to the “stones of fire”
in the heavenly sanctuary, one of which was
no doubt sapphire (see v. 13).
• Maybe Moses on the mountain (Exod
24:10) is seeing one of the pavement stones
in the heavenly temple.
Earthly and Heavenly Sanctuary
• “The matchless splendor of the earthly tabernacle reflected
to human vision the glories of that heavenly temple where
Christ our forerunner ministers for us before the throne of
God. The abiding place of the King of Kings, where
thousand thousands minister unto Him, and ten thousand
times ten thousand stand before Him (Daniel 7:10); that
temple filled with the glory of the eternal throne, where
seraphim, its shining guardians, veil their faces in
adoration, could find, in the most magnificent structure
ever reared by human hands, but a faint reflection of its
vastness and glory.” Great Controversy, 414
Hermeneutical Controls for Biblical
Typology--2
Extent of typological correspondence:

Focus on the basic contours, not every

minute detail of the type.

• How does one apply this to the sanctuary

typology?
The “basic contours” of Sanctuary
Typology
• Those features that
are consistent with
the different earthly
sanctuaries are the
“basic contours”
that parallel the
heavenly sanctuary
“Basic Contours” of Sanctuary
typology
• Four main earthly OT sanctuaries/temples:
• 1. Mosaic tabernacle
• 2. Temple of Solomon
• 3. Second temple (built by Zerubbabel)
• 4. Ezekiel’s temple (described in Eze 40-48
but never built)
The “basic contours” of sanctuary
typology
• All OT sanctuaries
had:
1. Three spheres of holy
space – courtyard,
holy place, most holy
place
The “basic contours” of sanctuary
typology
2. Same proportions (not dimensions),
with cube-shaped Most Holy Place.
 The “basic contours” of
sanctuary typology
3. Same kinds (not number) of articles of furniture
 The “basic contours” of
sanctuary typology
• 4. Same order of
priests.
 The “basic contours” of
sanctuary typology
• 5. Same
kinds of
sacrifices
The “basic contours” of sanctuary
typology
• Hebrews 9:2-4 2 For a tabernacle was prepared:
the first part, in which was the lampstand, the
table, and the showbread, which is called the Holy
Place; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the
tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4
which had the altar of incense and the ark of the
covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which
were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's
rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
• Heb 8:1-5: priests and sacrifices
Hermeneutical Controls for Biblical
Typology--3
The three-phase NT fulfillment of
the OT types
• The basic ground-plan of NT eschatology :
• 1) Hebrews 1:1, 2 says that the “last days” started
(the eschatological fulfillment began) at Jesus’ first
advent. He was “the already”, the inaugurated
eschatology.
• This is “D-Day.”
 The three-phase NT
fulfillment of the OT types

The basic ground-plan of NT eschatology :

2) The Second Advent is the “not yet”, the
consummated eschatology, the “end” (1 Pet
4:7; 1 Cor 15:24)
• This is V-E Day.
 The three-phase NT
fulfillment of the OT types
The basic groundwork of NT eschatology :
• 3) The time of “tension” between the
“already” and the “not yet.” It is the time of
appropriated eschatology in which we
appropriate to ourselves what He has worked
out by Him.
• This is the time of the church, where we live
today.
 The three-phase NT
fulfillment of the OT types
Sanctuary Typology:
1. Inauguration— Jesus is the antitypical
temple (Matt 12:6; John 2:21).
2. Appropriation--the church is the temple of
God (1 Cor 3:16, 17; 2 Cor 6:16).
3. Consummation—the heavenly
temple/tabernacle is with men (Rev 21:3)
 Four-Fold Substructure of Biblical Typology
Resolve
Tension
Overarching Vertical Dimension

Irruption of Powers of Age to Come

*See Pentecost

Old Testament First Advent ➚ Holy Spirit Second Advent

This Age----------->---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->Age to Come----->

ESCHATOLOGICAL STRUCTURE (CLASSICAL PROPHETS)

OT Kingdom Prophecies Christ's First Advent* Time of Christian Church Christ's Second Advent**
Theocratic Kingdom Kingdom of Grace Tension Between Kingdom of Glory
In Kingdom Language (Direct Rule by God (Matt 12:28; Heb 4:16) "Already" and "Not Yet" (Matt 25:31)
or His Earthly (Matt 16:19)
Vicegerent)
In Eschatological Verbal Predictions Inaugurated Appropriated Consummated
Language of End Time Eschatology Eschatology Eschatology
TYPOLOGY
Old Testament Types New Testament Antitypes
Persons, Events, Christ Church Final Climax
Typological Institutions (Christological) (Ecclesiological) (Apocalyptic)
Fulfillment Aspects
Fulfillment Mode National, Ethnic Literal, Local Spiritual, Universal, Glorious, Final
Fulfillment Partial Fulfillment Literal Fulfillment
Examples(1) Exodus Christ's Exodus Spiritual Exodus Apocalyptic Exodus
(Matt 1-5; Luke 9:31) (Heb 4; 2 Cor 6:17) (Rev 15:1-3)
(2) Sanctuary/Temple Christ as Temple Church as Temple Heavenly Temple/
(John 1:14; 2:21; (1 Cor 3:16, 17; Ultimate Temple
 HEAVENLY/
TYPE CHRIST CHURCH/INDIVIDUAL APOCAPLYTIC
Totality: John 1:14; Matt 12:6; John 2:19, 21 2 Pet 3:4--partake of divine Rev 21:3, 22; Rev 3:12;
1) Tabernacle (as a whole) nature; 1 Cor 3:16, 17; 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Rev 7:15; Rev 15:5, 6, 8;
Exod 25-40; 1 Kgs Cor 6:26; Eph 2:21 Rev 16:1, 17
6; 2 Chr 3
2) 12 tribes of Israel gathered around 12 disciples gathered to Jesus “Christian” Israel
the sanctuary (Num 2-3) Matt 5; Mark 3:13-15 Gal 3:29; James 1:1; Heb 12:22-24 Rev 7:1-8; Rev 22:12-14
(cf. EW 16, 288)
Materials:
3) Veil/door (Exod 26:31-37; 1 CHART
Matt 27:51; 3: BASIC CONTOURS
Heb 10:19-20 OFHeb
Rev 3:8, 20; SANCTUARY
10:19-20 TYPOLOGY
Rev 4:1; Rev 11:19; Heb 6:19
Kgs 6:31-35)
4) Linen (curtain,priest's
robes, etc.)
Exod 26:1; 27:9; Rev 19:8; Rev 1:12 Isa 61:10; Rev 19:8; Luke 15:22 Rev 6:11; Rev 7:9, 13-14
28:15, 39, etc. Rev 19:8, 14

Participants: "Sacrifice of praise"

5) Sacrifice (Lev 1-6, etc.) John 1:29; Heb 7:27; Rom 12:1; Phil 4:18; PP 352 Hos 14:2; Ps 107:22; Ps 116:17; Rev 19:5
Heb 9:14, 26
6) Priest (Exod 28-29; Lev 8-
10; etc.) Heb 7-10; John 17 Rev 1:6; 1 Pet 2:9 Rev 5:10; Rev 20:6
Furniture:
7) Altar of Burnt Offering Heb 8:3; Heb 13:10 (Altar of Heb 13:10; Rev 6:9-11 Rev 6:9; Rev 16:7; Heb 9:18
Calvary)
(Exod 27:1-7;
38:1-7; 2 Chr 4:1)
8) Laver (Exod 30:17-21; 38:8; Titus 3:5 (cf. Rev 1:5; 1 Pet 2:9);
1 Kgs 7:23-26; 2 Chr 4:2-6) Zech 12:1; Titus 3:5 John 13; Eph 5:25, 26; 2 Cor 7:2 Rev 15: 2, 3; Rev 7:13-15;
Rev 4-5
9) Table of the Bread of the
Presence (plus libation) John 6:47, 51-58 John 6:57, 63; Isa 55:2; Matt 26:29
(Exod 25:23-30; Lev Jer 15:16; Deut 8:3, 9;
24:5-9;1 Kgs 7:48)
10) Lampstand (Exod
25:31-40; Lev John 1:9; John 8:12 Matt 5:14, 16; Rev 1:20 Rev 21:23
24:1-4; 1 Kgs 7:49; (cf. Zech 4:1-7)
2 Chr 2:4; 4:7)
11) Altar of Incense
(Exod 30:1-10; 1 Kgs 6:19, Merits of Christ Prayers of the saints
22; 7:48; Num 16:47) Rev 8:3; Heb 7:25; Rom 8:34; (cf. Rev 5:8; Rev 8:3; Ps 141:2; Rev 8:5; Rev 9:13; Rev 14:8;
PP 353; DA 667; 1 SM 333) 2 Cor 2:15 Rev 15:8 (cf. RH 6/18/1896)
12) Ark:
Law, Mercy Seat
 The three-phase NT
fulfillment of the OT types
• All sanctuary typology has its basic
fulfillment in Christ. Our evangelical
scholars usually stop at this foundational
point. But it is also true that what
happened in Jesus is to be fulfilled
spiritually in us. We are the body of
Christ, our bodies are the temples of God,
we are to be His priests, we are to be the
light of the world, etc.
 The three-phase NT
fulfillment of the OT types
• Some non-SDA Christians understand
appropriated sanctuary typology but almost
all fail to take the third step—consummated
sanctuary typology.
• . In Heaven there is a real heavenly
sanctuary, which overarches all sanctuary
typology. Sanctuary typology has a vertical
dimension that has been there all along.
 The three-phase NT
fulfillment of the OT types

At the end of time, there will be the

apocalyptic fulfillment of the sanctuary
typology.
The “tension” between earth and heaven,
between the “already” and the “not yet,”
will be resolved.
• We will enter God’s temple forever!
 The three-phase NT
fulfillment of the OT types
• The modality of these phases of NT
fulfillment, based on the presence of
Jesus:
• Inaugurated: literal and local
• Appropriated: spiritual and universal
• Consummated: glorious, final, universal,
literal
 The three-phase NT
fulfillment of the OT types
• Ellen White understood this three-phase
fulfillment of eschatology
• See her chapter “The Vineyard of the Lord” (Prophets
and Kings, Introduction, 25-34)
• Mal 3:1-3 Messiah shall “suddenly come to His temple”
– Inaugurated: cleansing the temple: John2:14-22; DA 161
– Appropriated: cleansing the soul temple from sin; DA 161
– Consummated: cleansing the heavenly sanctuary: GC 424-426
 Conclusion

• SDAs have the privilege to preach with

joy the full orb of sanctuary typology. It
is not only dealing with the “already” but
it focuses on the appropriated (the time of
the church now) and the “not yet” (God’s
people united with Jesus in the heavenly
sanctuary at the Second Advent and
beyond).