A Sojourner's Quest

2 1 6 / A S O J O U R N E R ’ S Q U E S T

levels of meaning is typos = form, figure, symbol, or prefiguration (Rom. 5.14; 1 Cor. 10.6, etc.); but in Galatians 4.24, where he presents the sons of Hagar and Sarah as prefigurations of the Jews and Christians, he says ‘Now this is an allegory ( allegoroumena ), showing that he regarded ‘typos’ as synonymous with ‘allegory.’ In deference to Paul’s terminology, modern scholars call this kind of interpretation – which, as we shall see, enjoyed immense success and became the authentic Christian way of reading the Old Testament – ‘typology’ or ‘typological interpretation.’ In antiquity [i.e., in olden times] it was called ‘spiritual’ or ‘mystical.’ It was rooted in the firm conviction that the old Law was consistently directed towards the great Christ-event, and that, as a result, it would give up its true significance only to those who interpreted it in Christological terms.

~ Manlo Simonetti. Biblical Interpretation in the Early Church . p. 11-12.