"40 Questions about Typology and Allegory" (Mitchell L. Chase)

TITLE: 40 Questions About Typology and Allegory (40 Questions Series)
AUTHOR: Mitchell L. Chase
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2020, (320 pages).

The general agreement among Christians is that they believe the Bible is Truth, and that they would want to know the Bible more. Many study it and read books about it. They desire to know how to interpret and to apply God's Word into their lives. With the diversity of theological backgrounds, there is also a diversity of interpretations and hermeneutics. This ought to be seen more of a blessing because the greater the amount of tools and discoveries, the richer our collection of resources to help us grow closer to the Truth. For God's Word is infinitely rich, and our finite minds could only approach that wealth of knowledge over time and experience. Author and Professor Mitchell L Chase's key purpose in writing this book is to enable readers to "be more faithful readers of Scripture." He does this by presenting 40 questions for us to appreciate, ponder, and discover things that many of us normally would not have known how to ask. It is a kind of "seeing" via the lens of typology and allegory. In order to improve the way we see the Bible, we need to start with the big picture, which is exactly what the author has done: Re-read and re-read into a deeper experience. Before entering into the questions, Chase asks a question that all of us ought to ask: "What Story is the Bible Telling?" He then answers it in three ways: "Slowly but Surely"; "Leaning Forward and Looking Ahead"; "Promise and Fulfillment." The first is about seeing the Bible as being revealed over time. The second is the overarching themes from Genesis to Revelation, themes that reflect God's character and consistent messages throughout time, especially the Old Testament. The third is about the fulfilment of the promises made, and more specifically, Christ. With these, by linking historical and organic developments, and using Scripture to interpret Scripture, the author equips us by describing the different words used in the study; such as:

• Quotation, allusion, and echo
• Metalepsis and cluster of texts
• Narrative Recapitulation
• Figures of Speech (metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, symbolism)

These tools help us discover the interconnectedness of Scripture. In this book, Chase gives us two major ways to understand such interconnectedness: Typology and Allegory. In Typology, we learn that there are 15 occurrences of the word "type" in the Bible. Chase defines type as follows: "a biblical type is a person, office, place, institution, event, or thing in salvation history that anticipates, shares correspondences with, escalates toward, and resolves in its antitype." Sounds a mouthful, but he is essentially saying that these "types" are helping to progress our understanding toward a full or fuller revelation of the end-goal: the "antitype." Such a type can be expanded to a person, a place, office, institution, or event in history. Without assuming much, the author lists down several basic ideas regarding the study of typology. He lays down five theological assumptions and helps us grapple with the question: "Do all types lead to Christ?" This is particularly important especially when certain popular preachers overuse the words "Christ-centric" reading in absolution with regard to all of Scripture. Like what Chase has said, while the simple answer is yes, in reality, one needs to nuance this, especially when types tend to move not only in vertical ways, but also horizontal. He poses questions of history, of exegesis, of hindsight, and so on. After pointing out some of the key aspects of types, Chase leads us through eight chapters to help us discover types from the Old Testament books from Genesis to Malachi. He also takes us through the history of typology in the Early Church, the Middle Ages, Early Modern Era, the Enlightenment, the Postmodern Era, and so on.

In Allegory, Chase tells us that allegory is probably the most controversial term in the history of exegesis. Meaning "speak other," the challenge is to discover the truth about this "other." The difficulty lies in the wide subjective element in such manner of interpretation. If allegory is already quite subjective, "allegorical interpretation" is even more. The author puts it this way: "Allegory is a way of writing and allegorical interpretation is a way of reading." I like this phrase as it is simple and helps us make accurate sense of an otherwise complicated term. Guiding us further along, he even compares and contrasts the differences between typology and allegory. Just like the typology set of questions, he guides us through the history of allegory through the ages, to help us see the uniqueness and differences in the usage of allegory. 

My Thoughts

First, the author manages to discuss a potentially difficult topic using an easy to understand Question-and-Answer format. He uses 24 questions to deal with typology and 16 questions for allegory. Why did he allocate more space for the former? I suppose one of the reasons is because allegorical interpretations are inherently more subjective and more controversial as a result. With relatively more objective things to talk about, it is easier to discuss more about it. Having said that, the author manages to show us that both typology and allegory are related to each other. Thus, we could consider both of them together in our interpretive exercises. 

Second, I applaud the author for beginning the book with an emphasis on the big story of the Bible. This is essential for us to appreciate the use of typology in the revelation of God's will over time. It also gives us the opportunity to make sense of allegories without getting sucked into other potentially subjective extra-biblical frameworks. The overarching themes of God's revelation can only be revealed over time and Chase gives us various applications of this truth. He delves through the books of the Bible in a somewhat chronological way. He takes us through the Church eras and reminds us that there is much we can learn from our ancestors. Chase closes the book with an all important summary of why we study typology and allegory, and tells us why it matters. Christ says it. The Scriptures declare it. Tradition practices it. Modern preachers ought to continue to learn and to share it. 

Finally, a word to laypersons who might question the relevance of this dense topic. If there is any tool to help your pastors, preachers, teachers, or lay leaders to understand the Bible more, use it. The writer of this book affirms the whole Word of God as Truth and this heartfelt conviction belies the 40 questions about two important literary devices to read Scripture. Very often, I hear believers saying: "Let the Bible speak for itself," without actually explaining what they actually mean. Every written text needs to be read. Every reading will come with some level of interpretation. Every interpretation potentially means learning to recognize typology, allegory, or other literary devices used. Do not dismiss something just because it sounds too technical. In fact, the author has done us a big favour by putting difficult topics into an easy question and answer format and reference. By learning the use of these tools, one not only reads the Bible with more insights, they will see Christ and the will of God being fulfilled. 

Mitchell L. Chase is the senior pastor of Kosmosdale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and an adjunct professor at Boyce College in Louisville. 

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Kregel Publications without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.