What is biblical 'Typology' in Catholic Scripture reading?
Typology is the discernment of God's works in the Old Testament as prefigurations ('types') that find fulfillment in the New Testament in the person of Jesus Christ. Saint Augustine beautifully encapsulated this: 'The New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.' For instance, the sacrifice of Isaac prefigures Christ's sacrifice on Calvary; the Passover Lamb prefigures Christ our Pasch; and the bronze serpent in the desert prefigures Christ lifted up on the Cross to heal those poisoned by sin.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 128-130
- John 3:14-15
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.