Macro-Typology
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Macro-Typology
Typology refers to the study of correspondences between persons, events, and institutions within the historical framework of God's acts. It rests upon the conviction that God has sovereignly ordered history such that God's past actions serve as a pattern for his future actions. The first event/person/institution is referred to as a "type," while the latter is the "antitype."
Although typology has been abused by some, it's use in the NT demonstrates that it is a legitimate way of seeing connections between the Old and the New Testaments. Typology is not about finding obscure connections between OT events and NT realities, such as arguing that the scarlet thread hung in Rahab's window points to the blood of Christ (Joshua 2:21). Instead, typology tends to work on the macro-level. In other words, it is connected with major events, people and institutions in the unfolding story of God. A helpful guideline in testing whether a possible type is in fact legitimate is to ask how closely that type is related to the central message of the passage. If it is a small detail that is not very closely related to the main point of the passage, it is unlikely to be a legitimate or significant type.
Typology refers to the study of correspondences between persons, events, and institutions within the historical framework of God's acts. It rests upon the conviction that God has sovereignly ordered history such that God's past actions serve as a pattern for his future actions. The first event/person/institution is referred to as a "type," while the latter is the "antitype."
Although typology has been abused by some, it's use in the NT demonstrates that it is a legitimate way of seeing connections between the Old and the New Testaments. Typology is not about finding obscure connections between OT events and NT realities, such as arguing that the scarlet thread hung in Rahab's window points to the blood of Christ (Joshua 2:21). Instead, typology tends to work on the macro-level. In other words, it is connected with major events, people and institutions in the unfolding story of God. A helpful guideline in testing whether a possible type is in fact legitimate is to ask how closely that type is related to the central message of the passage. If it is a small detail that is not very closely related to the main point of the passage, it is unlikely to be a legitimate or significant type.
Biblical Storyline
The chart lays out some of the most significant "macro-types" that occur in the biblical storyline.* The first column ("OT Salvation History") lists the event, person or institution from the storyline of the Old Testament. The second column ("Prophetic Eschatology") indicates the way the OT looks forward to the greater realization of the original reality. In the third column ("Fulfillment in Christ") describes the fulfillment of the Old Testament reality in and through the person and work of Jesus Christ. It should be noted that this list is not comprehensive, but rather representative.
| OT Salvation History | Prophetic Eschatology | Fulfillment in Christ |
| God and his creation | God will bring in a new creation | Jesus is God the Creator. He is the firstborn of all creation. All things were created by him, through him, in him and for him. He is the new creation, and brings the new creation as the goal of all God's redemptive purpose. |
| Human beings are made from the earth; the breath of God is breathed into them. | God will raise a renewed people for himself and give them his Spirit. | Jesus is fully human, and in that sense is part of the created order. He is the perfectly Spirit-endowed human. |
| Eden is the focus of man's dominion over the beasts and the rest of creation. | The kingdom will be a new Eden. The people of God will have dominion over creation and the beasts. | Jesus is the place where God and man meet. He has dominion as the last Adam: nature miracles, being with the wild beasts. |
| Fall and judgment. | Final judgment will come on those who do not receive the grace of God. | Jesus was made to be sin for us. He suffered the wrath of God and the curse of the covenant for us on the cross. |
| Redemption; which includes the following dimensions Covenant & calling Promises of land, people, great name, blessings to the nations Captivity and release in the exodus Prophetic word. | God will redeem Israel and restore creation. A new covenant will take the place of the old. The people of God will return to the promised land and be great. The nations will come to share in the kingdom of Zion. The captivity will lead to a redemptive release that amounts to a second exodus. God will raise up a new prophet | Jesus redeems the whole of creation, not merely souls. Jesus is the true partner of God; the faithful Son of God, the Seed of Abraham, Son of David. |
| OT Salvation History | OT Salvation History | Fulfillment in Christ |
| Law structures the life of the redeemed. | The law will be written on the hearts of God’s people. | Jesus fulfills the law and establishes the structure of the life of the community of the redeemed. |
| Redemptive worship, priests and tabernacles. | A new temple will be the focus of worship and fellowship with God. | Jesus fulfills the worship of Israel, above all by being the new temple and the true priest who offers himself as the one true sacrifice for sin. |
| Entry and possession of the land. | The people of God will return from the nations to the land of promise. | Jesus gains entry through his resurrection and ascension into the inheritance of the people of God. He conquers all the powers that resist the coming of the kingdom of God. By being the place where God meets his people, he fulfills the meaning of the land. |
| Nationhood involving judges, prophets, kings, wise men. | A new nation will emerge with all the offices of rule and worship. | A new nation of the people of God is established in Christ. He is the true prophet, priest, king and wise man. |
| Kingship and temple; Davidic throne | There will be a new David and a new temple. | Jesus, the King and true Son of David, is also the new temple where God and mankind meet. |
| Solomon and national decline. | The Davidic line that failed under Solomon will be reinstated. | Jesus takes the consequences of all the failures of his people by fulfilling in himself all that God requires of them. |
| Destruction of Israel and exile. | The exile into Babylon will lead to a redemptive act. | Jesus goes into exile for his people so that he can lead them out of captivity. |
| Prophetic ministries: indictment, judgment, promises of restoration | Prophetic ministries: indictment, judgment, promises of restoration. | Jesus is the true prophet who judges the world, yet at the same time he brings the words of grace and redemption for all who put their trust in him. He defines the fulfillment of the prophetic promises. |
| Return and continued rebellion. | Post-exilic prophets interpret the continued rebellion of Israel | The failures of Israel's return from exile are all dealt with in the true return of the true Israel. The consummation shows that all rebellion is finally to be dealt with. |
Dr. Matt Harmon is Professor of New Testament studies at Grace College and Theological Seminary in Indiana. He blogs his notes and teaching about Biblical Theology.