Biblical Typology: The Best Method To Read Scripture

mass, scripture, liturgy, breviary, readings,

mass, scripture, liturgy, breviary, readings,

One of the most interesting ways to read the Bible is through the lens of typology. Typology is where a person or event in the Old Testament foreshadows a greater person or event in the New Testament. The word “typology” comes to us from St. Paul himself, in Romans 5:14, where he referred to Adam as a “type” of Christ. So let’s get started on this most interesting study.

Desert Wanderings

Remember the story about the Israelites coming up out of the water of the Red Sea and wandering in the desert for 40 years?  They came upon bitter water in a pool at Marah, and Moses threw some wood in the pool to make the water drinkable. During the 40 year sojourn in the desert, they managed to worship a false idol, put God to the test, and demanded bread to eat. Now fast forward to the New Testament. Jesus Christ came up out of the water of the Jordan River to go into the desert for 40 days. During this time, he was also tempted to worship a false idol (Satan), but refused. Satan tempted Jesus to put God to the test as well, by throwing Himself off of a tower and allowing God to catch him. Jesus, unlike his ancestors in the desert, refused to do this. Likewise, satan tempted Jesus to command the stones to be turned into bread, but Jesus refused, instead saying that man does not live by bread alone, but on every Word that comes out of the mouth of God (FYI, bread and the Word of God are the two components of the liturgy of the Mass!). In short, Jesus passed the three tests that the Israelites failed under Moses. And what about the wood that Moses threw into the bitter water to make it drinkable? This is a type of the Cross making the sacrament of baptism holy!

And while the above parallels are insightful, the larger question is how do we in the 21st Century apply these lessons to our own lives?  Well, we also wander around in a very dry desert of secularism and anti-Christian values. We are constantly being bombarded with suggestive advertising and near-porn on billboards, TV, and the movies. Satan would love it if we would give in and worship these pornographic images as false idols. We are also constantly putting God to the test through our sins and with the presumption that since God is love, we don’t have to stop sinning. Additionally, a lot of us are always stuffing our faces with too much food, instead of filling our hearts and minds with the Word of God.

Moses spoke in Deuteronomy 18:15 and said that God would raise up a “prophet like me” from among his brethren, and to heed Him when he comes along. That, of course is a reference to Jesus Christ. Let’s see how Moses and Jesus are alike:

Moses and Jesus

  • Both Moses and Jesus fasted for 40 days;
  • Both of their lives as infants were threatened by powerful rulers (Pharaoh and Herod).
  • Both of their lives as infants were saved by family members.
  • Both were in Egypt for a time as youths.
  • Both left Egypt later on and returned to Israel.
  • Both were commissioned by God to give the law.
  • Both had faces that shone like the sun (Moses after talking to God, and Jesus at the Transfiguration).
  • Both were lawgivers on a mountain (Moses on Mount Sinai, and Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount).
  • Moses’ sister was named Miriam; Jesus’ mother was Mary.
  • Moses met Jesus at the Transfiguration of Jesus to discuss Jesus’ “exodus” from this life.
  • Moses changed water into blood; Jesus changed water into wine, and then wine into His Precious Blood.
  • Moses led his people out of the slavery of Pharaoh; Jesus led his people out of the slavery of Satan.
  • Moses helped to bring down Pharaoh; Jesus helped to bring down the Roman Empire (eventually setting up his Church Headquarters in Rome.
  • When the woman was caught in adultery, the Pharisees questioned Jesus about the Law of Moses, which was written by the finger of God in the 10 Commandments. As if to shout to them that He was indeed God, Jesus started writing with His finger in the dirt (what, we don’t know, but it’s the writing with His finger that is important).

Other interesting types are as follows:

Joseph in the Old Testament; Joseph in the New Testament

  • Both had fathers named Jacob.
  • Both received messages in dreams.
  • Both went to Egypt under duress.
  • Joseph in the Old Testament saved Israel by giving them bread to eat; Joseph in the New Testament saved Jesus, who saves us by giving us the Eucharist to eat.

Joseph in the Old Testament and Jesus

  • Both were stripped of their bloody garments.
  • Both were sold to unbelievers -Joseph for 20 pieces of silver, Jesus for 30.
  • Both were unjustly incarcerated.
  • Both suffered for the sake of Israel’s benefit.
  • Both gave bread to save Israel (Joseph gave regular bread; Jesus gives us the Eucharist).
  • Both came back to greatness after being down and out.
  • Joseph was set over all the land of Egypt by becoming Pharaoh’s right hand man (a prefigurement of the papacy); Jesus is seated at the right hand of God our loving Father and has all authority over heaven and earth.

The Old Testament Ark of the Covenant and Mary

  • Both were created from the purest elements.
  • The Ark’s mercy seat was overshadowed by the cherubim. Mary was overshadowed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • Both carried the Word of God (in stone/in the flesh) and The Bread from Heaven (manna/Eucharist) inside them.
  • David danced in front of the Ark; the unborn John the Baptist leaped for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice (quite a feat for what is referred to as an unviable tissue mass by Planned Parenthood!)
  • Both stayed away for 3 months (the Ark in the house of Obed-edom, Mary at the house of Elizabeth).

Elijah and John the Baptist

King David and Jesus

  • Both were shepherds (David a shepherd in the field; Jesus the Good Shepherd).
  • Both were born in Bethlehem.
  • Both were 30 when they started their public life.
  • Both were King of Israel.

King Solomon and Jesus

  • Both rode donkeys while being hailed as King of Israel and the Son of David.
  • Both had Queen Mothers who interceded for others – Solomon had Bathsheba, Jesus has Mary at the Wedding Feast of Cana.
  • Both were known as the son of David.
  • Both were King of Israel.
  • Solomon built the Jewish temple that was destroyed and then rebuilt. Jesus’ body is His Temple which was killed, and then came back to life.

Baptism

There are many others, like Jesus being killed with the tools of his own trade as a carpenter, namely, a hammer, wood, and nails; Genesis 3:15 saying that she will crush the head of the serpent, which was accomplished at Golgotha, the place of the skull; but hopefully this short article will give you an idea of just how rich the Bible is when it comes to truly understanding God’s Holy Word!

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20 thoughts on “Biblical Typology: The Best Method To Read Scripture”

  1. Pingback: 9 Things I Wish I Could Go Back in Time to Tell My Young Self About the Faith “Pssst… Hey kid, c’ mere. Wanna hear a secret?” (author unknown) – On God's Payroll

  2. The article is marred by a distinct lack of a sense of the Divinity of Jesus Christ. Or do you subscribe to the Islamic belief that He was merely a prophet? Also, I notice that the author made no reply vis.a.vis his intrusive reference to Planned Parenthood and abortion. In this context, that reference was akin to the rolex watch on the wrist of a Roman centurion.

    1. Ray’s article is in reference to typology. The divinity of Jesus is understood. Any opportunity to call our Planned Parenthood is justified.

  3. This is great Ray! We can receive so much grace through reading and meditating on the scriptures. The more we seek, the more we find. Those who immerse themselves in the word of God give so much back to this world which is so in need of truth. Thanks brother in Christ.

  4. The article is excellent in it’s suggested approach to biblical reading and drawing connections between old and new testaments. The article would be much more respectable as a scholarly work if the author would have refrained from including his political opinions and kept focus solely on his suggested approach to biblical reading.

    1. And while I agree with your position on abortion I do not like the political speak in a religious scholarly work. Or are you not a biblical scholar?

  5. Good article. Liked it a lot. Keep up the good work. Here’s one for you–women as intercessors throughout the biblical narrative, culminating with the union of Mary and the Holy Spirit.

  6. I think the best way to read the bible is as a myth; an attempt to explain truths to an impoverished nomadic and quite ignorant clan of wandering tribesmen.

    There is scant, if any, historical or archeological evidence that Moses or the Exodus existed: No need to part the Red Sea as Eqypt and Israel share a contiguous land border??

    http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/30/moses-man-versus-myth-ridley-scott

    http://www.topix.com/forum/religion/judaism/TCF2K1C0BPAGF6BVO

    http://www.stellarhousepublishing.com/didmosesexist.html

    In typology, one non factual stand destroys the remainder of interconnected strands.

    1. Christians walk by faith, not by sight. The eternal Word of God outweighs any and all personal opinions of man, who is stuck in time.

    2. Philistines in the way. That’s why they couldn’t go the shortest route Phil. Food for thought.

    3. Phil,
      There is scant evidence for hardly any details from those times, compared to later times when documents began to be preserved more reliably. Your argument means noting as a result.

    4. You have validated my point…a lack of evidence supporting the Moses myth, and the people of Egypt did keep good records. Read the links I presented for substantial evidence…

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