Bob,
Thanks for writing. However, before I address your specific questions
perhaps you would allow me to paint a brief backcloth to what must be
generally regarded as an extraordinary claim, viz that the Bible's
opening verse constitutes a standing miracle. The logical development of
my argument requires that I first bring to your attention a number of
incontestable facts - some of which no doubt will already be familiar to
you:
(1) All our Bible translations derive from copies of the Hebrew, Aramaic
and Greek originals whose words are fairly interpretable as whole
numbers by virtue of the schemes of alphabetic numeration adopted by
these early peoples.
(2) The Hebrew and Aramaic writings pre-dated the Hebrew alphabetic
scheme (c200BC) by some centuries, whereas the Greek writings post-dated
the Greek scheme (c600BC) by a similar span.
I suggest these verities should immediately raise a question in the
minds of those who - like myself - believe the Bible to be the Inspired
Word of God, viz Does such inspiration extend to the numbers which we
now find inextricably woven into the text of the originals? If yes, then
clearly the Bible has more to impart to its readers than has been
supposed hitherto - and its Author is a lot bigger than we can ever have
imagined! However, at this point we are in no position to give a
categorical answer either way - though sensibly agreeing that it would
be unwise to dismiss the possibility out of hand.
(3) There is a verse in the Bible's last Book, Revelation, which has
intrigued generations of readers and given rise to much fanciful
speculation. It emanates (as does the whole Book) from the mouth of our
Lord Himself (Rev.1:1), and though we are warned not to ignore it
(Rev.22;19) - and despite its offer of wisdom to those who would
seriously grapple with it - it rarely features as a topic for discussion
in Christian circles. I refer, of course, to Rev.13:18. Taken at face
value, this verse immediately provides two key items of information, viz
(a) the reading of strings of Hebrew or Greek letters as numbers is
ratified by the Lord, and (b) the specific number 666 is associated with
this ratification. Clearly, (a) has a direct bearing on the matter aired
earlier, viz that the numbers represented by the letters and words of
the scriptural originals might constitute a second channel through which
the Lord would be able to provide supplementary information relating to
the biblical text proper. And regarding (b), it suggests that further
inquiries regarding 666 are appropriate in order to determine whether
its attributes as a number per se include something more than mere
visual appeal as a denary object.
(4) ) It is observed that certain whole numbers, when represented as
sets of uniform counters (square, circular, cubic or spherical, as the
case may be), may be so arranged as to completely fill a symmetrical
polygonal or polyhedral frame. Such numbers are said to be figurate. A
small proportion of these will be bifigurate, ie may be realised
geometrically in two distinct ways - as, for example, 64 - the square of
8 and the cube of 4. Just two are found to be trifigurate, viz 37 and
91. The first exists as hexagon, hexagram and octagon (or truncated
square); and the second as triangle, hexagon and pyramid. Interestingly,
they are related in being, respectively, the difference and sum of the
two cubes, 27 and 64. Clearly, 37 and 91 are high-profile numbers in
respect of these absolute attributes.
(5) It so happens that 666 uniform circular counters may be compactly
arranged on a flat surface - 1 in row 1, 2 in row 2, 3 in row 3,..., and
36 in row 36 - to form an equilateral triangle, all of whose numerical
attributes are also triangular. The Lord has therefore presented us with
a singular example of numerical geometry - and a multiple of 37 - whose
symmetrical form is a simple expression of our Triune God - Co-Equal,
Consubstantial, Co-Eternal, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! The suggestion
is, therefore, that the numerical information we are to expect when
reading the Bible's Hebrew and Greek words as numbers will include
instances of numerical geometry - the triangle, in particular - and
multiples of the uniquely symmetrical number, 37.
(6) The 7 numbers that derive from the reading of the Hebrew of the
Bible's strategically-placed and foundational first verse total 2701, or
37x73 - a large triangular number (standing on a base comprising 73
counters, and having a perimeter of 216, or 6x6x6 counters)! The numbers
represented by the two final words (translated "and the earth") are 407
and 296 - each a multiple of 37. Their sum is 703, or 19x37 - 37th
triangular number - and it so happens that this figure, when inverted,
fits precisely into the 73rd (representing the whole verse), thereby
generating a triple of satellite triangles - each of 666.
(7) In both Septuagint and NT Greek the name "Jesus" and the title
"Christ" evaluate to 888 and 1480, respectively, ie to 24x37 and 40x37.
This means that our Creator, Jesus Christ, takes the value 2368, or
64x37.
Bob, I trust the above provides a clear view of how my argument runs.
There is of course much more that can be said - but to say it here would
be merely to repeat what can be viewed on my web pages. You will already
have gathered that I am convinced this is all 'of the Lord' (indeed, I
would be most interested to hear of any reasonable alternative
explanation), and I believe it is primarily intended to bring us all to
our senses!
Let me now therefore proceed to address the specific points you made:
I use the term self-evident as meaning incontrovertible. While early
researchers like Panin have drawn attention to the numerical attributes
of Genesis 1:1 and other verses, none appear to have spotted its links
with the coordinated figurate number symmetries and their symbolisms.
I am at a loss to understand the relevance of your 'competing
cryptographic models'. How might such arise in the foregoing
development?
While I appreciate what you say in your closing paragraph I am still
left with the dilemma that Christians across the board resist my
arguments and evidences. One is surely entitled to ask why the
numero-geometrical data associated with Genesis 1:1 and Creator's Name
should be regarded so differently from those obtained from observations
made in any other field; and one is surely entitled to a reasonable
answer. Can it really be a matter of superstition? Not in the case of
the Christian, surely! Thus, I am reluctantly led to conclude that the
human condition is more dire than we are capable of understanding - or
are ever likely to admit! No wonder the Lord says, "... without me, ye
can do nothing." (John 15:5).
I would appreciate your sharing with me any further thoughts you may
have on these matters.
Sincerely, in His Name,
Vernon
Robert Schneider wrote:
> Vernon writes, in response to Dave: >"2) You follow a well-worn
> trail when you refer to the self evident numero-geometrical features
> of Genesis 1:1 >as "numerology". This, I suppose, implies that you
> agree the phenomena to be of supernatural origin - but of >the
> _wrong kind_. But surely, a moment's thought must dismiss that notion
> as illogical, for it requires the >"powers of darkness" to be
> involved in glorifying God and His Son, Jesus Christ (whose name and
> title >are directly linked numerically with this first
> verse)!"And in his earler response to Dave, Vernon writes: >"The
> Bible - already a most remarkable Book - has recently been shown to
> begin in a highly remarkable >manner - in fact, so
> remarkable as to defy all natural understanding! Perhaps equally
> remarkable has been >the universally negative response to this
> news! I interpret this as proof of the biblical strictures
> concerning >man (viz "creature of evil imaginations from his
> youth, enemy of God, deceitful above all things and
> >desperately wicked" - appropriately sanitized and shrouded in the
> euphemism "original sin"), and thus of our >utter dependance on
> the truths He has revealed to us in the Scriptures. This 'standing
> miracle' (it is nothing >less, as you will know from the evidences
> and arguments presented on my websites) is clearly something
> >that is feared by evolutionists (and, strangely, also by
> creationists!) - otherwise it would be allowed as a valid >topic
> for reasoned debate in forums such as ASA. These being the hard facts,
> I suggest it is highly >reasonable that we look
> nowhere else for a true account of origins than the early chapters of
> the Bible."
>
> Vernon,
>
> As to the first comment, while I may not have read your piece on
> "the numero-geometrical features" of Genesis 1:1 as carefully as Dave,
> I have to say that I do not find these features "self-evident." If
> they were, they surely would have been discerned much sooner than
> "recently." If they were self-evident, then I would have expected the
> earliest Christian commentators on Gen. 1 to have been delighted to
> find this confirmation of their identification of Jesus Christ with
> the word that spoke the creation into being, which they arrived at by
> interpreting the OT in the light, first, of the Jesus experience,
> then, of the texts that became the NT. As far as I know, they did
> not.
>
> But, more fundamentally, I think such claims of mathematical
> patterns or codes hidden in the text of Scripture ultimately fail to
> convince for two reasons. First, one can imagine competing
> cryptographic models, and then one has to ask, "Which one(s) are
> correct?" Second, and more importantly, because the meaning of texts
> is commonly, and correctly, understood to reside in the language of
> the texts (including grammar, style, context, word-play, etc.). While
> I respect your convictions about your interpretation, I have to say
> that such assertions as these about Scripture make no sense to me.
>
> Finally, the assertion that these claims have been received
> negatively because of our sinfulness and evil is simply an
> old-fashioned ad hominem argument. I do not "fear" these assertions,
> "evolutionist" that I am; I simply find them unconvincing. And,
> believe me when I say that I am not an enemy of God. I love God and
> his Son, just as I believe you do. We have been reconciled, and I am
> an ambassador of this good news of reconciliation.
>
> Grace and peace,
>
> Bob Schneider
>
>
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