Posted on 01/16/2016 8:29:53 AM PST by Salvation
Msgr. Charles Pope The Catholic Answer
Q. I am trying to understand the different theological and philosophical terms that we use as a Church. Two big ones for me are teleology and typology. They both seem to point to the future, but how are they different? Typology was used by the Church Fathers, right? Claire, Alexandria, Va.
A. Teleology comes from the Greek word telos, meaning “end,” “goal,” “destination” or “perfection.” As such, teleology is that aspect of theology that looks to the end, or goal, of something. In terms of theology, the end goal of the Lord’s work in our life is perfection, holiness and completion for us. When Jesus says on the cross, “It is finished,” the Greek word translated as “finished” is Tetelestai (it has been finished). In other words, his work is accomplished, has been perfected or completed. When St. Paul says, “I have finished the race” (2 Tm 4:7), he is using the same Greek verb. St. Paul also said, “But [the Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). Again, the same Greek verb (translated here as “perfect”) is used. And there are many similar uses throughout Scripture. There is also a common teleological reasoning in Scripture wherein we are exhorted to live out the perfection that has been attained for us and to become what we are. For example, when St. John writes, “No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God” (1 Jn 3:9), he uses here a teleological argument. He does not mean one cannot sin at all now. Rather, he means that to the degree that God’s grace grows in us, sin is less and less common. And when grace has been perfected or attained its full goal and maturity (telos) we will no longer sin. This is the state of the saints in heaven who have attained to their goal or perfection (telos). Typology, in its biblical interpretation, is a way of seeing the relationship of the Old Testament people and events to the New Testament. Typology studies how events, persons or statements in the Old Testament prefigure events or aspects especially of Christ. For example, Isaac, a beloved son carrying wood on his shoulders up the same hill that Golgotha would one day occupy, is seen as the type, an image or prefigurement of Jesus, who carried the wood of the cross up the same hill more than a millennium later. The term “type” derives from the Greek noun typos, “a stamp,” or “a die that hits or stamps a figure on something.” In this sense, a type is an image, figure or stamp of what it prints or stamps; it is its original pattern, model or mold. There are hundreds of figures or types of Jesus and of New Testament events in the Old Testament. For example, the flood and the crossing of the Red Sea are images or types of baptism. The wound in Adam’s side which brought forth his wife Eve is an image or type of the wound in Jesus’ side which brought forth his Bride, the Church.Teleology vs. Typology?
Monsignor Pope Ping to OSV column.
Good information, thank you.
I was introduced to typology by a former Baptist minister who became a Catholic about 10 years ago. It was so fascinating to me.
To me the word ‘typology’ gave only thoughts of “study of type writing or type setting” as with printing presses and type writers. I never thought of it in a religiously related definition or heard of it before this article.
OWW! Those new words hurt my poor brain.
I guess I needed it! :o)
Was said minister Steve Ray, perchance?
Thanks for the ping. Interesting explanations.
No, this was someone in our parish.
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