Frequently an experience of Christians is their growing relish, as they advance in the study of the Word of God, for the types and prophecies of the Old Testament. It is the purpose of this department to glean some of the precious truths from the Book as God has set them forth in type.

In this article we wish first to notice:

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF TYPES

Throughout the entire Old Testament, we see types of Him who has come and who is coming again. This portion of the Bible is not a mere collection of historical tales, giving the origin of the Jewish people, and illustrating oriental manners and customs; but we see more than the historical side, more than the prophetical portion; we see types of our wonderful Saviour. We see imbedded within the Old Testament the precious truths of the New. As Augustine says:

"The New is in the Old contained;

The Old is by the New explained."

The types do away forever with the idea that the Hebrew religion, as described in the Books of Moses, was only borrowed from the heathen nations around. Were it but a borrowed religion, it would not contain these types setting forth with wonderful accuracy the truths and doctrines of Christ.

These types, these pictures, are given us for our edification, and should be given the most careful study; for "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Tim. 3:16-17).

There would be less unsound doctrine nowadays if types were more carefully studied and more widely taught. Robert Anderson says: "The typology of the Old Testament is the very alphabet of the language in which the doctrine of the New Testament is written; and, as many of our great theologians are admittedly ignorant of the typology, we need not feel surprised if they are not always the safest exponents of doctrines." There is great personal loss to God's children if we fail to study the types.

Having briefly considered the importance of the study of types, we now turn to the question:

WHAT IS A TYPE?

A type in the stricter Greek sense ("typos") signifies a "mark," or "impress," of a seal, made by a hard substance on one of softer material. But in a more general sense, it indicates a model or original pattern, and is variously translated in our authorized version, as in:

"Who is the figure (type) of Him that was to come" (Rom. 5:14).

"Now all these things happened unto them for examples" (or types) (I Cor. 10:11).

"Unto the example and shadow... according to the pattern" (type) (Heb. 8:5).

To every shadow there must be a substance: so to every type there must be an antitype. A type, then, is a person, place, or incident, so presented in the Word of God as to set forth in picture some fact of spiritual importance, which may yet happen, or which has already happened. The types invariably find their center in the Lord Jesus Christ.

With the answer to the question. What is a type? we may now classify the Old Testament types under three headings:

(1) Typical persons

(2) Typical places

(3) Typical incidents

An example under typical persons is Adam.

(Adam) "who is a figure of Him that was to come" (Rom. 5:14). Under typical places is the tabernacle.

"While the first tabernacle was yet standing, which was a figure for time present" (Heb. 9:8-9). Under typical incidents is the Smitten Rock.

"For they drank of a "spiritual rock, which followed them: and the rock was Christ" (I Cor. 10: 1-4).

Many other examples could be given under each of these headings, but we now turn to consider

THE OBJECTIONS AGAINST STUDYING THE TYPES

Many objections have been offered against the study of types. They tell us that types are difficult, that they are fanciful, that they are uninteresting. Though they are difficult, yet should that hinder our studying them? Beneath the boulders and rocks of the mountains lie buried the nuggets of gold. Men must labor and dig to get them. But we praise God that we need not labor alone. He has given us the Holy Spirit to lead us into the Truth of His Book. Can it be true that the Holy Spirit has set forth truth in type so difficult that we cannot fathom its meaning with His aid? Nay, it cannot be. By careful, prayerful meditation and study. He will lead US into the deeper meaning of the Word. Can it be true that the Holy Spirit has given us Scripture that is fanciful? It seems preposterous that such an idea should have entered man's mind. God is not dealing in the imaginative, the visionary. He is giving us Truth. Can it be true that God has given us a Book full types, and those types, uninteresting? No; it is not true. The study of types is a subject teeming with interest. They add vigor and reality to the conception of the truth.

Some even say they must not be taken literally, any more than "Pilgrim's Progress," but that these types have only a spiritual meaning or lesson. But the types and shadows of the Old Testament must be fulfilled in the New. The brazen serpent in the Old was typical of Him on the cross in the New. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness..." (John 3:14-15).

Let it be remembered, however, that anything is not a type unless we have warrant for it in the Scripture. If there be no expression or analogy which indicates the antitype, or no New Testament passage for authority, we must not use it. There are many passages, though that give us beautiful illustrations.

Having considered the objections raised against studying the types, we take up the question,

HAVE WE VALID REASONS FOR STUDYING THE TYPES?

The answer is, Yes. God Himself sets great value upon them. It was His Spirit that designed them.

Our Lord thought much of the types. Again and again He showed how they pointed to Himself. "And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Lu. 24:27). Christ speaks much of the types, and they return the compliment by speaking altogether of Him. If we would "grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ," we cannot do better than study those things which tell of Him, His person and work.

Another reason for valuing this part of God's Word is the very high place that is accorded to the types by the writers of the New Testament. These writers were students of the Old Testament. It was their Bible. They referred to it many times, and there are scores of pass ages in the New Testament which we cannot understand without having become in some measure familiar with the types. The primary interpretation of a passage is often missed for want of seeing the Old Testament type to which allusion is made. In the Gospel of John are many allusions to types. In the first chapter, the expression "The Lamb of God" reminds us of the "Pascal Lamb." In chapter 7:37-38, we are reminded of the smitten rock out of which flowed the water that satisfies the thirst of man forever. Many of these chapters bring to our mind Old Testament types to which allusion is made. And the epistle to the Hebrews is made up of practically nothing more than references to the Old Testament. A careful study of the Bible shows that not only are the Old Testament types unfolded in the New Testament, but that the New is enfolded in them.

A glory gilds the sacred page:
     Majestic, like the sun.
It gives a light to every age —
     It gives, but borrows none.