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Typology in Scripture: A Study of Hermeneutical Typos Structures
Davidson identifies the characteristics and structures of biblical types and antitypes, providing a better understanding of the intrinsic unity of the Old and New Testaments while recognizing the progressive revelation of God's plan in salvation history. Number 2 in the Andrews University Seminary Doctoral Dissertation Series.
496 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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About the author
Richard M. Davidson
6 books1 followerRichard M. Davidson is an Old Testament scholar at Andrews University, Michigan, where he is currently the J. N. Andrews Professor of Old Testament Exegesis.
Davidson is best known for his major academic work Flame of Yahweh: A Theology of Sexuality in the Old Testament, published in 2007. The title is derived from the Biblical verse Song of Solomon 8:6c. He has been studying the topic of sexuality in the Old Testament since the early 1980s. Grenville Kent writes "Davidson is to be commended for an OT biblical theology of sexuality which is fearless, deep and comprehensive – almost encyclopaedic."
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Richard M.^^Davidson
Davidson is best known for his major academic work Flame of Yahweh: A Theology of Sexuality in the Old Testament, published in 2007. The title is derived from the Biblical verse Song of Solomon 8:6c. He has been studying the topic of sexuality in the Old Testament since the early 1980s. Grenville Kent writes "Davidson is to be commended for an OT biblical theology of sexuality which is fearless, deep and comprehensive – almost encyclopaedic."
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Richard M.^^Davidson
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 8, 2010
Sheer genius. This is a very technical examination of the typos-word group in Scripture, so there is tons of untranslated Greek, Hebrew and German. This doesn't really obscure the book, but it does slow the reading down. There are a number of German words he uses repeated for the different senses of typology, so I ended up making a list of what they meant because I kept forgetting what they meant (I don't read German).
The first chapter, on the history of typology as a hermeneutic, was interesting, but really long (over a hundred pages) and wasn't what I was really interested in. The final two chapters were breathtaking and mind-blowing. You'll never look at typology--or, if you're serious about it, read the Bible--the same way again.
What I really liked was that there is both a theological and practical dimension to typology. It's not just a "way" to read the Bible, but an actual reality to be lived. There is a whole "ethical" dimension to it. See, the Greek word typos is usually translated "example" or "pattern," but it literally means not just that there "is" a pattern, but encompasses the "impressing" or "molding" of one thing by the type or pattern or example - like a seal into soft wax. He then shows that there is an ethical dimension to this - Christ is the "image" of God (the pattern or type) that impresses the Apostles, who are likewise then to become types for pastors. They "impress" themselves onto the pastors, such as Timothy. But Timothy is also supposed to be an example for his parishioners. Thus we as Christians are impressed and molded by our teachers, who were impressed by older teachers, who were impressed by the Apostles, who were in turn impressed by Jesus, who is the very image of God.
The book then, in chapter three, argues that typology is not just seeing a "similarity" between an OT story and a NT idea, or some such. A lot of us think that typology is mostly inventing connections between things that aren't there to begin with. He shows, through an exhaustive study of passages like 1 Cor. 10:1-13, Rom. 5:12-21, and 1 Pet. 3:18-21 that Paul and the Apostles clearly believed the connections they drew had always been present in the Old Testament reality they see Christ, Baptism and the Eucharist in. In other words, the connections made by New Testament typological readings are simply describing deep realities that had always been present in the historical events (like the crossing of the Red Sea as a baptism, the water from the rock and manna as Eucharist, etc.) when they actually happened.
A fantastic book. Anyone who wants to know what typology is really about needs to read it.
The first chapter, on the history of typology as a hermeneutic, was interesting, but really long (over a hundred pages) and wasn't what I was really interested in. The final two chapters were breathtaking and mind-blowing. You'll never look at typology--or, if you're serious about it, read the Bible--the same way again.
What I really liked was that there is both a theological and practical dimension to typology. It's not just a "way" to read the Bible, but an actual reality to be lived. There is a whole "ethical" dimension to it. See, the Greek word typos is usually translated "example" or "pattern," but it literally means not just that there "is" a pattern, but encompasses the "impressing" or "molding" of one thing by the type or pattern or example - like a seal into soft wax. He then shows that there is an ethical dimension to this - Christ is the "image" of God (the pattern or type) that impresses the Apostles, who are likewise then to become types for pastors. They "impress" themselves onto the pastors, such as Timothy. But Timothy is also supposed to be an example for his parishioners. Thus we as Christians are impressed and molded by our teachers, who were impressed by older teachers, who were impressed by the Apostles, who were in turn impressed by Jesus, who is the very image of God.
The book then, in chapter three, argues that typology is not just seeing a "similarity" between an OT story and a NT idea, or some such. A lot of us think that typology is mostly inventing connections between things that aren't there to begin with. He shows, through an exhaustive study of passages like 1 Cor. 10:1-13, Rom. 5:12-21, and 1 Pet. 3:18-21 that Paul and the Apostles clearly believed the connections they drew had always been present in the Old Testament reality they see Christ, Baptism and the Eucharist in. In other words, the connections made by New Testament typological readings are simply describing deep realities that had always been present in the historical events (like the crossing of the Red Sea as a baptism, the water from the rock and manna as Eucharist, etc.) when they actually happened.
A fantastic book. Anyone who wants to know what typology is really about needs to read it.
January 24, 2025
Very important work on typology. Those that disagree with its usage or definitions need to read this as the author draws principles of typology from the writings of the New Testament (specifically where the word tupos is used).
The only massive question left untouched, in my mind, is the question of the intent of the human author. Davidson argues that types are divinely intended and thus prospective, but is a type noticed by the human author? This is where the discussion must move forward. However, this is a very important starting point in typology.
The only massive question left untouched, in my mind, is the question of the intent of the human author. Davidson argues that types are divinely intended and thus prospective, but is a type noticed by the human author? This is where the discussion must move forward. However, this is a very important starting point in typology.
April 27, 2012
Excellent monograph attempting to discern the structure of typology from Scripture. Davidson's dissertation starts with a couple chapters of scholarly slog, but kicks into high gear when the exegesis starts, and a consistent picture of the nature of typology emerges. Very good treatment of the issues, but more for the stout of heart and lover of typewriter fonts than the casual reader.
I don't think I'll ever forget that "the term tupos in its signification of "hollow mold" was seen to be amazingly well-suited to encompass the linear Nachbild-Vorbild dynamics involved in the nature of OT tupoi(419 et al), partially because of Davidson's excitementbild, and (consequently) his choicebild to copy and paste that sentence another fifteen times throughout the book.
Needling aside, a very helpful book in clarifying what typology is.
I don't think I'll ever forget that "the term tupos in its signification of "hollow mold" was seen to be amazingly well-suited to encompass the linear Nachbild-Vorbild dynamics involved in the nature of OT tupoi(419 et al), partially because of Davidson's excitementbild, and (consequently) his choicebild to copy and paste that sentence another fifteen times throughout the book.
Needling aside, a very helpful book in clarifying what typology is.
December 17, 2012
Kinda boring, but very insightful in many key verses.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews