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Wrocławski Przegląd Teologiczny

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Biblical Studies

Biblical Typology and Its Counterparts in Ancient Religious Thought

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52097/wpt.9425  [Google Scholar]
Published: 2026-02-18

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyse the concept of biblical typology in the context of its counterparts in ancient religious, including Greek, Babylonian, and Persian ones. The subject of the study is the phenomenon of describing earthly reality as a reflection of transcendent reality, with a focus on the differences between biblical typology and ancient allegorical and relational concepts. The article attempts to compare these ideas, demonstrating their evolution from cosmological and metaphysical models to historical and eschatological ones. The first part of the article introduces the origins and essence of typology and allegory, emphasizing their distinct cultural and theological roots. Subsequent sections investigate examples from Ancient Near Eastern literature, including the Enuma Elish and the Bodashtart inscriptions, as evidence of the idea of dependency between earthly and heavenly realities. In the biblical context, special attention is given to Old Testament references to typology, which set the stage for its development in New Testament texts. The article provides a novel perspective by highlighting the similarities and differences in the understanding of typology across ancient religions and the Bible, emphasizing their contribution to the interpretation of religious texts and the understanding of reality. The adopted research method combines literary, hermeneutical, and comparative analysis, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of the topic.

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