The number 153

[DaSeminarian]

We have been debating the past week as to the significance of the number 153 in this weeks Gospel. One person said that 153 is a perfect number, but that can't be since there are no odd perfect numbers that are known based on the calculation 2n−1(2n − 1):.
Only even numbers can be perfect so that leaves me with the mystery of 153. Perhaps DaRev or filosofer or any of you lay people might know what the significance of the number is.

 

[LilLamb219]

Never heard of it...but if you add up the last two digits in your screen name, you'll have 153 Does that make you nearly perfect??

 

[C.F.W. Walther]

Are there other numbers in the bible that are so precise? When they read the gospel this morning I remember seeing that in the text when Jesus told the fisherman to pull in the net and that was the count of the fish caught. Maybe it just far exceeds the standard catch limit for those kind of nets. THe net didn't break either. Showing that is was indeed a miracle. Being a sea would also indicate that the smallest fish would probably weigh 3-5 lbs. That would be 6-8 hundred pounds!

It is an odd number.

 

[BigNorsk]

It's probably just a number such as an eye witness would remember, a number that adds credibility to the account.

If I was to get into a bit of speculation, I would speculate that the number of fish in Jesus' last recorded miracle in John was equal to the number of gallons of wine produced in his first miracle recorded by John.

I wouldn't go and build a religion on that idea.

Marv

 

[Aibrean]

its 1521

2+1=3

 

[Edial]

We have been debating the past week as to the significance of the number 153 in this weeks Gospel. One person said that 153 is a perfect number, but that can't be since there are no odd perfect numbers that are known based on the calculation 2n−1(2n − 1):.
Only even numbers can be perfect so that leaves me with the mystery of 153. Perhaps DaRev or filosofer or any of you lay people might know what the significance of the number is.

I did a lot of research on that number.
The answer was eluding me for years.
I think I found one.

I personally do not accept any additions or subtractions of numbers to find a meaning to a number.
Because if one applies such arithmetic formulas, one would also need to use other complex formulas.

I look at it from a much simpler angle.

I found one definition in one of the books that proved it's claim by the listed Biblical facts.

1. We know that "fish" indicates "a blessing".
2. If we count all the individual blessings of Christ (healings, raising from dead) in ALL of the 4 gospels, guess what is the total? 153.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[filosofer]

I did a lot of research on that number.
I found one definition in one of the books that proved it's claim by the listed Biblical facts.

1. We know that "fish" indicates "a blessing".
2. If we count all the individual blessings of Christ (healings, raising from dead) in ALL of the 4 gospels, guess what is the total? 153.

Thanks,
Ed

[FONT= "Book Antiqua"]
That would assume that John (or at least John 21) was the last book written, not an established fact.

It aslo assumes the definition of "blessing" to be what the person claims it is, again not an established fact.

In Christ's love,
filo
[/font]

 

[DaRev]

We did discuss this at sem during my Gospel of John exegetical. I'll have to dig through my notes later to see if I can find any reference.

It makes sense, though, that John would mention a specific number that has some significance. He was, afterall, the author of the Apocolypse which uses numbers illustratively.

And we also discussed that John's Gospel may very well have been the last book written (at least by John), having been penned after his Patmos exile. The Apocolypse may have been his first writing.

 

[Edial]

That would assume that John (or at least John 21) was the last book written, not an established fact.

It aslo assumes the definition of "blessing" to be what the person claims it is, again not an established fact.

In Christ's love,
filo

I do not think it matters whether or not John was the last one who penned the gospels, since he only was presenting what he observed.
And he observed a catch of 153 fish.

John did not necessarily know what 153 meant.

What I am saying is if we are looking at the spiritual understanding of numbers, it is not necessary to follow the chronology of the writings, since this book was supernaturally authored.

Also, symbol of fish was the earliest Christian symbol for Christ (I-CH-TH-U-S), meaning Jesus Christ, son of God, Savior.

Fish is associated with salvation in the NT - a type of blessing.
"Fishers of men; Feeding the 5000 and 4000; catching 153 fish".

Each miracles of Jesus Christ was certainly a blessing.

So, in my view, this explanation of the 153 fish satisfies my opinion more than many other explanation of the 153 fish that I heard.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[TheCosmicGospel]

153 represented the known races of the people of the earth in Jesus' day. Each one was to be caught with the hope of the Gospel.

I saw a fishing mag today that had "153 ways to catch bass". Accident? I think not!

Peace,
Cos

 

[UBERROGO]

We have been debating the past week as to the significance of the number 153 in this weeks Gospel. One person said that 153 is a perfect number, but that can't be since there are no odd perfect numbers that are known based on the calculation 2n−1(2n − 1):.
Only even numbers can be perfect so that leaves me with the mystery of 153. Perhaps DaRev or filosofer or any of you lay people might know what the significance of the number is.

can you give some background on the formula plz?

 

[KagomeShuko]

http://www.scripturessay.com/q416a.html

http://www.greatdreams.com/153.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_of_153_fish

There's a few things to read and ponder. . .