A Biblical Vision, Part I: Mastering the Old Testament Witness to Christ

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Appendix 43 Diverse Usages of the Term “Typos” in the New Testament From Patrick Fairbairn, Typology of Scripture

The language of Scripture being essentially popular, its use of particular terms naturally partakes of the freedom and variety which are wont to appear in the current speech of a people; and it rarely if ever happens that words are employed, in respect to topics requiring theological treatment, with such precision and uniformity as to enable us, from this source alone, to attain to proper accuracy and fullness.

The word type ( typos ) forms no exception to this usage.

• Occurring once, at least, in the natural sense of mark or impress made by a hard substance on one of softer material (John 20.25) • It commonly bears the general import of model, pattern , or exemplar , but with such a wide diversity of application as to comprehend a material object of worship, or idol (Acts 7.43)

• An external framework constructed for the service of God (Acts 7.44; Heb. 8.5)

• The form or copy of an epistle (Acts 23.25)

• A method of doctrinal instruction delivered by the first heralds and teachers of the Gospel (Rom. 7.17)

• A representative character , or, in certain respects, normal example (Rom. 5.14; 1 Cor. 10.11; Phil. 3.17; 1 Thess. 1.7; 1 Pet. 5.3)

Such in the New Testament Scripture is the diversified use of the word type (disguised, however, under other terms in the authorized version).

~ Patrick Fairbairn, Typology of Scripture. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publishing. p. 42