Typology is a method of interpreting Scripture which involves recognizing a correspondence, usually in one particular matter, between a person, event or thing in the Old Testament and a person, event or thing in the New Testament.
We can see typology used in the New Testament. In the Gospels, Jesus uses types to make himself know to his followers. He uses the Passover meal to explain his coming crucifixion (see Matt. 26:26-30). Drawing on the shepherding images of the Old Testament, Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10). Paul uses typology in several places (Rom. 5:12-21, 1 Cor. 10:1-10, Gal. 4:21-31). We see other use typology, too (see Heb. 8:3-13, 9:23-28; 1 Pet. 3:20-22).
Typology is not allegory. Allegory uses figurative language and narrative to convey spiritual truths. To understand allegory, you have to look for the message under the language. Typology recognizes that certain passages foreshadow coming events and individuals, and other passages fulfill previous ones.
Typology is using Scripture to interpret Scripture. The best tool we have in understanding the Scriptures is the Scriptures. Commentaries are helpful, but the Word is the better.
Revelation is progressive. The Scriptures were given over the course of 1500 years. They reveal Christ in stages. We are given glimpses of him throughout the Old Testament. We see the New Testament reflecting on the images of the Old Testament.
When studying types, we should stick with the ones clearly identified in Scripture. We don't need to invent patterns. We just need to understand the ones in present in Scripture.
Typology is an important tool for interpretation. It isn't the only tool. Typology helps us to see the connections between the Old and New Testaments.
Showing posts with label Study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Study. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Word Search Ends in Good Discovery
"Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord" (Prov. 16:20, ESV).
How much time would you say that you spend in the Word of God each day? Would you say 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 1 hour, or maybe more? How many hours are there in a day? 24. That means there are 1,440 minutes in a day. If we tithed our time in the same way we do our money, that would mean dedicating 144 minutes, or 2 hours and 24 minutes, of every day to the Lord. It has been suggested that it takes a little more that 70 hours to read the entire Bible out loud. Let's say it took 72 hours (4,320 minutes) to read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Reading the Bible for 144 minutes every day means we would be able to read the Bible 12 times in a year. That breaks down to once a month. Of course, if we tithed our time, we might not spend all of it every day reading the Scripture. We must also remember prayer, mediation, evangelism, and other things should do to serve the Lord. I'm not suggesting that we spend all day reading the Scripture, because God has given us other responsibilities. My point is that we need to spend some time in Scripture each day.
Solomon's conclusion is that good comes from giving thought to the word. It is possible that he his is speaking in the sense of listening to both sides of a story. He may be say that we need to listen to everything before we draw a conclusion. Then, and only then, will we be able to make the right (wise) decision. More probably, Solomon is referring to the Word of God. This proverb links considering the word with trusting the Lord. In this verse, both are the sure source of positive outcome. Simply put, good comes from giving thought to the word, and blessing comes from trust God.
This passage compels us to give thought to the Word of God, because it brings us into the realm of his blessing. This line of thought resonates with other passages of Scripture. Psalm 1 states that the blessed man is one who rejects sinful life, because of his commitment to God and his Word. The person who lives in obedience to the Word will be fruitful and prosperous in all he does. Solomon's conclusion is consistent with the rest of Scripture. Therefore, we should listen to his wisdom. If we discover good by giving thought to the Word, then we should give the best of our mental energies to contemplating it.
We shouldn't, however, merely contemplate on the Word. It isn't enough to think about it. Good is only discovered in contemplation that comes from faith. In other words, it is only when we search the Scriptures with a believing heart that they yield their vast treasures to us. When we fail to spend time in the Word every day we rob ourselves. We miss an opportunity to spend time with our precious Savior, who died in our place, so that we might become the righteousness of God. We miss out on how to discern his voice of the sea of voices that seek to lead us astray. We lose the opportunity to trained for righteous service. We remain ineffective and unfruitful. When we neglect the Bible, we condemn ourselves to a life of chasing shadows and signs; of always yearning to hear the voice of God, but never hearing it; of hoping for blessing, but never receiving it in its fullness.
However, if we, in faith, give the Word serious thought, we will discover good. We will learn that God still speaks, that he loves us, that the mess we call life has a purpose beyond anything we can fully comprehend, that he is always in control, and that he is always, always holy and righteous. We discover good in the Word, because we first discover God there.
How much time would you say that you spend in the Word of God each day? Would you say 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 1 hour, or maybe more? How many hours are there in a day? 24. That means there are 1,440 minutes in a day. If we tithed our time in the same way we do our money, that would mean dedicating 144 minutes, or 2 hours and 24 minutes, of every day to the Lord. It has been suggested that it takes a little more that 70 hours to read the entire Bible out loud. Let's say it took 72 hours (4,320 minutes) to read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Reading the Bible for 144 minutes every day means we would be able to read the Bible 12 times in a year. That breaks down to once a month. Of course, if we tithed our time, we might not spend all of it every day reading the Scripture. We must also remember prayer, mediation, evangelism, and other things should do to serve the Lord. I'm not suggesting that we spend all day reading the Scripture, because God has given us other responsibilities. My point is that we need to spend some time in Scripture each day.
Solomon's conclusion is that good comes from giving thought to the word. It is possible that he his is speaking in the sense of listening to both sides of a story. He may be say that we need to listen to everything before we draw a conclusion. Then, and only then, will we be able to make the right (wise) decision. More probably, Solomon is referring to the Word of God. This proverb links considering the word with trusting the Lord. In this verse, both are the sure source of positive outcome. Simply put, good comes from giving thought to the word, and blessing comes from trust God.
This passage compels us to give thought to the Word of God, because it brings us into the realm of his blessing. This line of thought resonates with other passages of Scripture. Psalm 1 states that the blessed man is one who rejects sinful life, because of his commitment to God and his Word. The person who lives in obedience to the Word will be fruitful and prosperous in all he does. Solomon's conclusion is consistent with the rest of Scripture. Therefore, we should listen to his wisdom. If we discover good by giving thought to the Word, then we should give the best of our mental energies to contemplating it.
We shouldn't, however, merely contemplate on the Word. It isn't enough to think about it. Good is only discovered in contemplation that comes from faith. In other words, it is only when we search the Scriptures with a believing heart that they yield their vast treasures to us. When we fail to spend time in the Word every day we rob ourselves. We miss an opportunity to spend time with our precious Savior, who died in our place, so that we might become the righteousness of God. We miss out on how to discern his voice of the sea of voices that seek to lead us astray. We lose the opportunity to trained for righteous service. We remain ineffective and unfruitful. When we neglect the Bible, we condemn ourselves to a life of chasing shadows and signs; of always yearning to hear the voice of God, but never hearing it; of hoping for blessing, but never receiving it in its fullness.
However, if we, in faith, give the Word serious thought, we will discover good. We will learn that God still speaks, that he loves us, that the mess we call life has a purpose beyond anything we can fully comprehend, that he is always in control, and that he is always, always holy and righteous. We discover good in the Word, because we first discover God there.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Pursuing Wisdom
"Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips" (Prov. 22:17-18).Solomon is urging he readers to pay attention to the wise sayings within the book. One of the purposes of the book of Proverbs is to teach the unlearned in skilled living. How does one come to walk in wisdom? One learns by listening to and imitating the wise. If we are to become wise, we must be guided by the wise.
Solomon informs that reader that they need to incline their ear. It is a picture of one honing in on what is being said. They are leaning in the direction of the speaker, straining to hear what is said. It is an image of attentiveness. They incline their ears so that they may hear the words of the wise. To "hear" the words of the wise, means more than allowing the words to move the eardrums. It means they are to pay attention to those words. Solomon drives the point home by telling them to "apply your heart" to his knowledge. They are give themselves over to the pursuit of understanding all the teacher has spoken, for his words are life.
Diligent study comes with the promise: "it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips" (Prov. 22:18). Things are pleasant in the sense that the wise avoid many foolish situations that would otherwise lead them to hardship. The promise of pleasantness is not a promise of unending wealth and health. The promise means that by choosing wisdom, they will have confidence in their decisions no matter what the outcome, because they have placed themselves into the care of their Lord, who is a strong tower.
As we come to faith in Christ, we are called to walk in wisdom. That is, we are called to lived as disciples skilled at pleasing our Lord. If we have inclined our ear to hear his words and have applied our hearts to his knowledge, then it will be pleasant as we keep them and have them ready on our lips. As we fill our hearts with the Word of Christ, that Word transforms our heart. It teaches us how to walk in the way that pleases him. As we grow in knowledge of our Lord and Savior, we grow in wisdom. As we walk in obedience, we walk in wisdom. It is a pleasant journey, not because their is no difficulty, but because we know that as we apply his teaching to our lives, Christ is pleased with us, and enables us to continue on the journey.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Giving Thought to the Word
"Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord" (Prov. 16:20).
The Word of God is a lamp for our feet and a light on our path (see Ps. 119: 105). Here we are urged to give serious thought to the Word of God, for through it we discover good. The good discovered can have many facets.
First, it can show us what God deems good, that is, the moral law which reflects God's holy character. Cultural opinion is in a continual flux, shifting from right to left and left to right. Cultures often define good based on public perception. Some cultures view female circumcision as right and good, others think such a practice is barbaric. One culture may elevate liars to the highest positions of authority, another may seek to banish liars from places of power. Studying the Word enables a person to rise above their culture and see what the Creator calls good and what he calls evil.
Second, giving attention to the Word can reveal good to us in the sense of blessing. The Word teaches us how to come into a right relationship with God (through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus), and how to walk in humble obedience. Those who obey the Lord walk in his favor. To be favored by God is to be blessed. Those who give thought to the Word, that is, study it in order to live in accordance to it, find the good of God's favor. I should further state that those who desire to study the Word in order to obey it are already evidencing God's favor in their lives.
Finally, the Word is God's revelation of himself to his creation. To give thought to it is to give thought to the Creator. A person who studies the Word in order to obey God is really learning about God. As one reads through the Bible the learn about God's holiness, his righteousness, his goodness, his mercy, and his love. They come to know him as he has revealed himself through the Word. They find good in the Scriptures, because through them God is speaking.
The Word of God is worthy of thought--careful, meditative, trusting thought, because God has spoken and continues to speak through that Word. The Word is living and active (Heb. 4:12). It searches the heart of the one searching it. The Word commands us to believe; it compels us to trust. So are we giving it the right amount of thought?
The Word of God is a lamp for our feet and a light on our path (see Ps. 119: 105). Here we are urged to give serious thought to the Word of God, for through it we discover good. The good discovered can have many facets.
First, it can show us what God deems good, that is, the moral law which reflects God's holy character. Cultural opinion is in a continual flux, shifting from right to left and left to right. Cultures often define good based on public perception. Some cultures view female circumcision as right and good, others think such a practice is barbaric. One culture may elevate liars to the highest positions of authority, another may seek to banish liars from places of power. Studying the Word enables a person to rise above their culture and see what the Creator calls good and what he calls evil.
Second, giving attention to the Word can reveal good to us in the sense of blessing. The Word teaches us how to come into a right relationship with God (through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus), and how to walk in humble obedience. Those who obey the Lord walk in his favor. To be favored by God is to be blessed. Those who give thought to the Word, that is, study it in order to live in accordance to it, find the good of God's favor. I should further state that those who desire to study the Word in order to obey it are already evidencing God's favor in their lives.
Finally, the Word is God's revelation of himself to his creation. To give thought to it is to give thought to the Creator. A person who studies the Word in order to obey God is really learning about God. As one reads through the Bible the learn about God's holiness, his righteousness, his goodness, his mercy, and his love. They come to know him as he has revealed himself through the Word. They find good in the Scriptures, because through them God is speaking.
The Word of God is worthy of thought--careful, meditative, trusting thought, because God has spoken and continues to speak through that Word. The Word is living and active (Heb. 4:12). It searches the heart of the one searching it. The Word commands us to believe; it compels us to trust. So are we giving it the right amount of thought?
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