Biblical Hermeneutics

PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL HERMENETICS ; M. M. NINAN
Some scholars distinguish "allegory," defined as a method in which earthly realities are
interpreted symbolically to refer to heavenly realities, from "typology," in which historical
reality is interpreted as foreshadowing another, especially the person and work of Christ.
The word "type," tupoi in Greek has its basic meaning, ‘something struck out; a print,
impression of a seal.’ The seal is the New Testament event, which has struck out a prophetic
impression of itself in the pages of the Old Testament.
J.N.D. Kelly gives a base for the distinction between allegory and typology, saying,
... the word (allegory) led to confusion even in the patristic age, and its accepted meaning to
day denotes a somewhat different type of exegesis from typology. Since the fathers
employed both typology and allegory (in its modern sense), the distinction between the two
methods needs to be clearly brought out...
In allegorical exegesis the sacred text is treated as a mere symbol, or allegory, of spiritual
truths. The literal, historical sense, if it is regarded at all, plays a relatively minor role, and
the aim of the exegete is to elicit the moral, theological or mystical meaning which each
passage, indeed each verse and even each word, is presumed to contain...
Typological exegesis works along very different lines. Essentially it is a technique for bringing
out the correspondence between the two Testaments: a technique where the Old reflects the
New, i.e. prefigures and anticipates the events and personages of the New. The typologist
takes history seriously; it is the scene of the progressive unfolding of God’s consistent
redemptive purpose...
Jean Daniélou also says, "The typology of the Fathers is based on the continuity which exists
between the Old and New Testaments.
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