Anthony’s Cell
YouTube
Typology: The Orthodox Lens Reading the Old Testament as Foreshadowing Christ
5:00
The audio reading presents an article from the Orthodox Study Bible on typology, the interpretation of Old Testament historical events, persons, and institutions as types that prefigure fulfillment through Christ's incarnation and ministry. Each type is linked to its antitype in a promise-fulfillment relationship. The article explains that typology functions as the primary patristic lens, used by Christ, the Apostles, and saints such as Irenaeus and John Chrysostom.
St. John Chrysostom describes types as patterns that anticipate and sketch out beforehand the dispensations accomplished under the new covenant. St. Irenaeus writes that the treasure hidden in Scripture is Christ, since he was pointed out by means of types and prophecies, and Christ came to fulfill in reality what was a shadow in the Old Testament.
Jesus himself confirmed that all things written in the Law, Prophets, and Psalms concerning him must be fulfilled.
The New Testament explicitly confirms typology: John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God linked to the Passover sacrifice; Abraham's offering of Isaac foreshadows the Father's offering of his only begotten Son. Christ, Paul, and Peter interpret Old Testament events, the bronze serpent in the wilderness, manna, Jonah's three days, Adam, Melchizedek, Noah's flood, as types pointing to Christ and the sacraments, particularly baptism.
Types are described as being in action what prophecy is in words, revealing truths about Christ, his mother, the church, the sacraments, and the kingdom of heaven.
Typology also shapes the Church's hymnography. The hymn for the Nativity of the Theotokos identifies the burning bush and the Babylonian furnace as prefiguring the Virgin receiving the divine fire in her material womb. St. Maximus the Confessor observes that the Old and New Testaments together form a single mystery in Christ.
Key moments
- Typology interprets Old Testament historical events as types that prefigure fulfillment through Christ's incarnation and ministry, with each type linked to its antitype in a promise-fulfillment relationship.
- St. John Chrysostom explains that types like patterns anticipated and sketched out beforehand the dispensations accomplished under the new covenant.
- Types are in action what prophecy is in words, revealing truths about Christ, his mother, the church, the sacraments, and the kingdom of heaven.
- St. Irenaeus writes that the treasure hidden in the scriptures is Christ, since he was pointed out by means of types and prophecies, and Christ came to fulfill in reality what was a shadow in the Old Testament.
- John the Baptist's declaration "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" makes the first recorded public declaration linking Jesus with the Passover lamb sacrifice.
- Abraham's offering of Isaac foreshadows in type the ultimate sacrifice of the only begotten Son of God.
- Christ, Paul, and Peter interpret Old Testament events, the serpent in the wilderness, manna, Jonah's three days, Adam, Melchizedek, and Noah's flood, as types pointing to Christ and baptism.
- The hymn for the Nativity of the Theotokos identifies the burning bush and the Babylonian furnace as prefiguring the Virgin receiving the divine fire in her material womb.