The Typology of Scripture

by Patrick Fairbairn

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1854 edition. Excerpt: ...Ex. iii. 13. 2 Josh. xxiv. 14; Lev. xvii. 7; Ez. xxiii. 3; xx. 8; Amos, v. 25, 26; Acts, vii. 39. 3 It is admitted on all hands, that the worship of the gods under symbolical images of irrational creatures, had its origin in Egypt, and was especially cultivated there in connection with the cow, or bovine form. It was noticed by Strabo, I. xvii. as singular, that " no image formed after the human figure was to be found in the temples of Egypt but only that of some beasts Qrcov aXoy&iv 'wv rtv'oi) And no images seem to have been so generally used as those of the calf or cow--though authors differ as to the particular deity represented by it. It would rather seem that there were several deities worshipped under this symbol. Most of the available learning on the subject has been brought together by Bochart, Hieroz. Lib. ii. chap. 34; to which Hengstenberg has made some additions in his Beit. ii. p. 155-163. The latter would connect the worship of the golden calf in the desert with the worship of Apis; Wilkinson connects it with that of Mnevis (Manners of Ancient Eg. 2d series, ii. p. 96), and Jerome had already given it as his opinion, that Jeroboam set up the two golden calves in Dan and Bethel, in imitation of the Apis and Mnevis of Egypt (Com. on Hos. iv. 15). But however that may be, there can be no doubt, that if the Israelites were disposed to Egyptize in their worship, the most likely and natural method for them to do so, was by forming to themselves the image of a golden cow or calf, and then by engaging in its worship with noisy and festive rites. For it is admitted by those (for example, Creuzer, Symbol, i. p. 448) who are little in the habit of making any concessions in favour of a passage of Scripture, that the rites of the Egyptians...

Genres: Theology, Christianity, Religion

382 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1900

About the author

Rev. Patrick Fairbairn, D.D. (University of Edinburgh, 1826) was a minister and theologian of the Free Church of Scotland. He was Principal and Professor of Church History and Exegesis for the Free Church College from its 1856 founding until his death, and was Professor of Theology at the Free Church Theological College in Aberdeen from 1853.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second volume is less boring than the first one. There are many good observations, but the discussion is often too long-winded. The best part of the book was actually Peter Masters' foreword to the modern reprint where he defends a nuanced approach to typology, which avoids the two extremes of either seeing types around every corner or thinking only what is specifically mentioned in the New Testament as a type of Christ can actually be one.

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but being a 19th century author his writing is quite verbose. He could have covered his topics in a far less onerous fashion (806 pages!) and didn’t seem to cover the topic at hand, which was types.

[Josiah Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairbairn is so helpful on typology - this has been very useful over the past couple of weeks.