3 Numerology in the Gospel of John I: A contribution to the understanding of the numbers (2:6) Thomas Mavromoustakos
Sotirios Despotis
Professor, Director of the Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou 15171, Athens Greece
Professor, Section of Biblical studies and Cultural life of the Mediterranean, Canon Law and Byzantine Theology since the 9th Cen. C.E. Faculty of Social Theology and the Study of Religion, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou 15171, Athens Greece
Corespondence:
e-mail: sotdespo@yahoo.gr
Abstract
For the Fathers the number six expresses the completeness and is related to (re-creation) of the world. For many contemporary readers the six water-pots are a symbol of the imperfect purification which will be substituted by the incarnated and crucified resurrected Logos through the baptism and the blood donation. The Messianic dinner is established between the Jewish in Cana of Galilea. The phrase two or three measures express the volume of stone water-pots probably not only literally but also in a poetic way. Therefore, the abundance/and richness arrive from just the presence of Jesus as in the first sign he does not speak or order for the transformation of water to wine. The presence of two consecutive numbers recalls for a gradual or climactic scheme to intensify the content of the sentence. Remarkably this does not appear only in Bible but also in Modern Greek poetry and music.
Keywords:
Number six, measures, synthetic parallelism, climax scheme.
Citation:
Mavromoustakos T. G. & Despotis S. Christ, Numerology in the Gospel of John I: A contribution to the understanding of the numbers (2:6). Theology & Culture. 2022; 4: 43-56. Doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18634.85443
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