Types
N'
Shadows...
A 'Type' is: A Biblical
person, thing, action, event, ceremony, structure, furniture, color, or
number, that prefigures an 'antitype'
of the same in the New Testament.
A likeness must exist between the 'type',
the Old Testament prefigurement, also called an 'archetype',
and the 'antitype' , the New Testament reality.
The 'antitype' is always greater.
Both are independent of each other.
'Types' are explained in Rom 5:14 and Heb
9:9, as a figure, 1Cor 10:6 and 2Thess 3:9 and 2Pet 2:6, as examples, 1Cor
10:11 and Heb 11:19, as a type.
Almost all of Heb 11 is devoted to Old Testament 'typology'.
The Exodus, Ex 12:37-42, is a 'type'
of Jesus Christ's return from His flight to Egypt, Matt 2:21.
The manna in the desert, Ex 16:31, is a 'type'
of its 'antitype' the
Holy Eucharist, Matt 26:26.
The water from the rock which Moses struck in Ex 17:1-6, is a 'type'
of the Blood of Christ.
Uzzah died a physical death by touching the Ark in 2Sam 6:7. That is a
'type' of dying a spiritual death by partaking
of the Holy Eucharist unworthily as in 1Cor 11:27. The reality of dying
a spiritual death is greater than the physical death of the 'type'.
The 'antitype' of the New
Testament is vastly superior to its 'type'
in the Old Testament.
Adam is a 'type' of Christ, as is Melchisedech,
Moses, and King David.
'Types' are referred to in the following verses,
sometimes under different wording:
Rom 5:14, 1Cor 10:2,6,11, Heb 3:1 to 4:11,11:19, 1Thes 1:7 (pattern), 1Pet
3:21 (counterpart),
1Pet 5:3 (pattern) (KJ - ensamples), Rev 21:1 to 22:5.
The New Testament reality is infinitely greater than
the Old Testament prefigurement here.
A 'shadow' is an image cast by a person
or object, as that person or object intercepts a light source. The dictionary
defines a 'shadow' as, "an imperfect
image or copy".
This is interesting as it shows the 'shadow'
is far removed from its cause, and is therefore to be seen as vastly inferior
to its 'antitype', the person or object which
forms it.
A 'shadow' therefore could also be seen as
a 'type', since it 'foreshadows',
or prefigures an 'antitype'.
"For the Law, having but a 'shadow'
of the good things to come, and NOT THE EXACT IMAGE OF THE OBJECTS, is
NEVER ABLE BY THE SACRIFICES WHICH THEY OFFER CONTINUALLY, YEAR AFTER
YEAR THE SAME, TO PERFECT THOSE WHO DRAW NEAR:" Hebrews 10:1
This brings us to some interesting conclusions and provides an important
key to Bible understanding.
"Let no one, then, call you to account for what you
eat or drink or in regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These
are a shadow of things
to come, but the substance is of Christ."
Col 2:16-17
The Sabbath is but just a shadow of
the Sunday Mass.
The New Testament reality is greater than
the Old Testament prefigurement.
"For we are sojourners
before thee, and strangers, as were our fathers. Our days upon earth are
as a 'shadow',
and there is no stay." 1Chron 29:15
The short life on earth is the 'type'
of the 'antitype'
of eternal life promised to us after death.
Eve is a 'type'
of her 'antitype',
the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Eve was created without original sin.
If Blessed Mary had original sin as some say, then that would make her
inferior to her 'type',
Eve.
The New Testament reality is greater than
the Old Testament prefigurement, not inferior to it.
Eve is the mother of all mankind, Gen 3:20.
Her 'antitype',
the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the Mother of GOD, John 1:1,14.
The Ark of the Covenant of the Old Testament contained
within it, the Word of GOD written on stone tablets. It is a 'type'
of the New Testament 'antitype',
the New Ark of the Covenant, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who 'contained' within
her womb, the Word of GOD incarnate.
The New Testament reality is greater than
the Old Testament prefigurement.
The manna in the desert is infinitely inferior
to the Holy Eucharist described in John 6:1-70.
If the Holy Eucharist were not the Body, Blood, Soul, and divinity of Jesus
Christ, then that would make the Old Testament prefigurement, the miraculous
manna, superior to its 'antitype'.
Never in Scripture does an Old Testament "type" point to a New
Testament symbol.
The New Testament reality is far greater than
the Old Testament prefigurement.
More examples of 'types'
and 'antitypes'...
GOD created man in His image, Gen 2:27, and GOD was born in the image of
man, Luke 2:7.
Noah's Ark and the flood, only 8 were saved, and Baptism, all potentially
saved, 1Pet 3:20-21.
The tree of the forbidden fruit in Eden, Gen 3:6, which brought death to
us all, and the tree of the cross which brought eternal life to us all,
Acts 5:30.
Isaac carried the wood of the sacrifice on his back, Gen 22:6, and Jesus
carried His cross on His back, John 19:17.
Moses is rescued by a handmaid, Ex 2:5 and Jesus is born by a handmaid,
Luke 1:38.
Joshua got the better of the battle with Amalek as long as Moses kept his
hands raised, Ex 17:8-13.
The figure of Moses is a 'type'
of the cross. This is from the Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter XII.
©
Written by Bob Stanley, June 14, 1999
Updated September 6, 2000
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