The Bible’s storyline

TYPOLOGY:
understanding the Bible’s Promise-shaped Patterns
By James M. Hamilton jr
Zondervan. 384 pages. £26.00
ISBN 978 0 310 534 402

If you enjoy exploring how the amazing word of God fits together, you’ll be delighted with this book.

Rather than trying to find specific ‘types’, Hamilton shows how Scripture builds up expectation as people look ahead to the coming Messiah. It is worth giving his definition in full: ‘Typology is the God-ordained, author-intended historical correspondence and escalation in significance between people, events, and institutions across the Bible’s redemptive-historical story.’

Starting with Genesis, Hamilton demonstrates reasons for concluding that Moses deliberately chooses words and phrases in order to connect events and promises. These then become memes deliberately repeated by later authors with greater significance, becoming clear patterns for the coming of the Saviour. Although the Hebrew is quoted, the arguments are totally accessible for those who don’t know it. Moses expected readers to be familiar with all his writings, as he mentions things explained properly later in the Pentateuch. Other Biblical authors under the inspiration of God wrote in a way that was relevant to their situation and their understanding of earlier Scripture. They used words, phrases and concepts to connect their writing with earlier texts, and then amplified the significance of the pattern.

Part 1, on people, starts with Adam and flows through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to David, then Jesus via Daniel. Then priests – Adam – Melchizedek – Israel – Aaron, via the faithful priest promises to Jesus. Then a similar progressive overview of prophets, then kings, then righteous sufferers.

Part 2 is headed Events and looks at creation and the cosmic temple, and then Exodus.

Part 3 is called ‘Institutions’. This starts with ‘Leviticult’, (an invented word, originally a happy typo) which looks at the temple, priests, sacrifices, then marriage. ‘The covenantal creation ordinance of marriage exists to be fulfilled at the marriage feast of the Lamb.’ The final chapter seeks to show that writers used chiasms to bring out patterns – he uses Genesis as a detailed example.

Occasionally I felt the pattern matching was a bit forced, and for me arranging chapters in chiastic formation was a bit imposed. However this book will bless and encourage you as it opens up the Scriptures, and will increase your love for the Lord and His word.