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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why 153 fish in John 21:11? Why not 154 | John 21:11 | loavesnfish | 231910 | ||
Please explain why there were 153 fish in the net in John 21:11. Why weren't there 154? | ||||||
2 | Why 153 fish in John 21:11? Why not 154 | John 21:11 | DocTrinsograce | 231911 | ||
Dear loavesnfish, Numbers are generally just numbers. No doubt 153 fish was an extraordinary catch. In Him, Doc |
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3 | Why 153 fish in John 21:11? Why not 154 | John 21:11 | loavesnfish | 239117 | ||
Hi Doc! Thank you for attempting to guide me here. I realize that my question was somewhat unfair, since it did not reveal anything about my thinking. In studying the numbers of the Bible, I have read many commentaries and some have really outlandish views, especially of this number. Yet, in the context it seems to have some significance or the text would just say an 'astounding number' of fish and leave it at that. One of the commentators suggested that there were seven fishermen, but did not elaborate. Dividing a catch of 153 by seven gives six shares of 22 (alef to tav) and one share of only 21. Clearly the problem is that one fish is missing, as in Luke 15 where one sheep, one coin and one son are missing. This would seem to go along with Peter's commissioning in the rest of the chapter. It also may have reminded Peter of the fish he caught in Matthew 17 which was a perfect provision for the tax. There seems to be potential here for discussing how God uses even details in our lives to communicate His love for us. Any thoughts? Abiding, loavesnfish |
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4 | Why 153 fish in John 21:11? Why not 154 | John 21:11 | DocTrinsograce | 239136 | ||
Hi, lovesnfish... You have quite of mix of parabolic interpretation and narrative interpretation. The numerology won't help much. Looking for hidden meaning in the text usually indicates a presuppositional flaw. You will rarely go wrong if you see the plain meaning of the text. I would highly recommend the book "How to Read the Bible for All its Worth" by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart (Zondervan, ISBN 0-310-24604-0). It is available for less then 10 bucks. Getting back to the basics of exegetics will put you light years ahead. I promise reading that book will set you on the right path. In Him, Doc |
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5 | Why 153 fish in John 21:11? Why not 154 | John 21:11 | loavesnfish | 239145 | ||
Doc, Thank you for responding! I think you may have misunderstood me. I am definitely NOT looking for hidden meanings in the text. I am not one of those who has to assign symbolism to every number. I have read FW Grant, Bullinger and Panin and a few others to see what they had to say--disappointing. I have also read the book by Fee and Stuart you keep recommending (although I can't lay my hands on it just now). I really am not mixing interpretations. In several places throughout the Scriptures there are things notably missing, not as a mistake, but as a hint or example. In Luke 15 Jesus reveals the Father's heartfor His straying people by giving three examples of precious items going astray. Like Abraham, negotiating God down to ten righteous men, Jesus also keeps reducing the number of items as their value increases. A shepherd with 100 sheep can afford to lose one, but He won't allow it. When He finds it He rejoices. The woman who finds her lost coin rejoices even more. The man who loses his son rejoices most of all when his son returns.Jesus compares the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents to those three. Peter heard Jesus teach this many times. So what might have been his first thought when there was a fisherman with one lost fish from an unbroken net full of large fish with no small or dead to throw back in the sea and Jesus standing there on the shore? Jesus had told Peter that when he turned back he should strengthen his brethren. Here was a personal memo, by way of fish, that Jesus was rejoicing at his return rather than blaming him for his denials. He was the one lost son returning home. Jesus wasmaking sure Peter knew that he was forgiven. Jesus didn't have to mention anything in front of the others and make Peter an example. Peter 'got' the memo. After his experience catching the one fish with the stater in its mouth for the taxes, Peter knew that Jesus could control the number of fish and this was no mistake. So the risen Christ had his full attention for the three commissioning questions. When he was asked about loving Jesus "more than these" he knew that he had no guilt to make up for, just a commitment to give to the One who cared about one lost one as if he were the only one. If this seems a little melodramatic, I'm sorry about that. I think God actually works this way from time to time and this is an example of it in Scripture. It also shows how we can missa blessing by focusing on the wrong thing. God gave us the Scriptures so we can know Him. I hope there is a blessing in there somewhere for whoever reads this. loavesnfishes |
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