The Pattern and Structure of Sound Words in the Scripture
AIDS TO UNDERSTANDING WITHIN THE GOD BREATHED SCRIPTURE ITSELF
1. General Aids.
There are many general aids which are found in the order and/or the arrangement of The Scripture itself. For example.......consider the four books of The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Why four? In what way are they related? Unbelievers are quick to point out supposed errors because of apparent conflict in meaning between the four. It is truly said that any apparent errors lie only in the mind of those seeking to interpret, not in the perfect record. It is known that each Gospel shows The Messiah, The Christ, in one aspect of His character: King, Servant, Man, and Deity. Confirmation of this is characterised in the four faces of the living beings of the Cherubim described by Ezekiel in Chapter one verse ten and by John in his Revelation in chapter four verse seven:
Matthew..............King...................Lion
Mark...................Servant..............Ox
Luke....................Man...................Man
John....................Deity..................Eagle
Some thought, and reference in the Scripture to the two animals and one bird will confirm this meaning.
2. Structural Aids
This structure is not determined by human ingenuity but is one of the most important evidences of Divine Inspiration. This distinguishing feature is caused by the repetition of Hebrew or Greek words or sentences with a similar meaning, each book of the Scripture reveals its own structure which reappears, either in alternation or introversion, or a combination of both in many different ways. It shows forth the fact that whilst the works of The Lord are great and perfect, THE WORD OF THE LORD is the greatest of His works, and is ‘perfect’ also. [Psa 19.7]
Let us take the simplest example, that of Paul's letter to Philemon:
1. Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4. I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.8. Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:14. But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
20. Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow labourers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
The phrases of this letter alternate to and from a central point which contains the essence of the purpose of the document. Here is the basic structure:
A | 1-3 Paul and
B | 4-7 Philemon
C | 8-13 Onesimus
C | 14 Onesimus
B | 15-19 Paul and
A | 20-25 Philemon
Thus the main point of the letter was to tell Philemon about Onesimus. Your comment may be 'That is obvious, without the aid of any structure'. I would agree, however this is but the simplest of examples to illustrate a God imposed structure for our understanding. Let us now take it a stage further by extending the analysis:
This INTROVERSION structure is based upon the repetition of Greek words in Paul's letter to the Philippians. Most of the books in the Bible have this introverted structure. A variation of which is given in John's Book of The Revelation.
This God given ordered arrangement enables the student to easily retain this pictured structure in his/her mind, grasping the sense, purpose, emphasis and meaning with ease. Most importantly perceiving its Right Division as Paul exhorted Timothy:
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed , rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
3. The Order of The Heavens.
The study of God's Creation including His Word, leads us to recognise that both are based upon His use of numbers.
God has divided the expanse into 12 sections which He calls the Mazzaroth [Heb: RHZM] which we translate as the constellations, naming all of them in His Word as we do to-day, e.g. The Bear, The Virgin, The Scorpion etc. Each of the 12 tribes of Israel has as its standard one constellation, indicating their future responsibility. Each constellation is divided into three minor constellations, thus making 48 in all. Each minor constellation occupies 10 degrees of the Mazzaroth's 360 degrees. Contrary to atheistic belief, this is a design of God:
For more than two thousand five hundred years the world was without a written revelation from God. The question is, Did God leave Himself without a witness ? It is answered very positively by the written Word, that He did not. In Romans. 1:19 it is declared:"that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."
But how was God known? How were His "invisible things," i.e., His plans, His purposes, and His counsels, known since the creation of the world ? We are told by the Holy Spirit in Romans 10:18. Having stated in verse 17 that …...
"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word (hrEma the thing spoken, sayings) of God," He asks, "But I say, Have they not heard ? Yes, verily." And we may ask, How have they heard ? The answer follows—" Their sound went into all the earth (gE) and their words (hrEmata, their teaching, message, instruction) unto the ends of the world (oikoumenE)."What words ? What instruction? Whose message? Whose teaching ? There is only one answer, and that is, THE HEAVENS ! This is settled by the fact that the passage is from Psalm 19:
the first part of which is occupied with the Revelation of God written in The Heavens,and the latter part with the Revelation of God written in The God Breathed Word.
The fact that the material Universe, The Mazzaroth, will be ordered and governed by The Children of God is an act in opposition to the present partial occupation by The House of Esau. This fact and all that pertains to the witness in the stars is and will continue to be attacked as erroneous by those powers who rebelliously usurp the plans of God.
4. Numerological Content of The God Breathed Word.
The expression of God contains, and is structured, on a basis of numbers. All the books and documents, whether Hebrew, Chaldee or Greek, are united in the different ways they make up this expression:
A. Every letter of the Hebrew, Chaldee text is the representation of a number.
B. Every letter of the Greek text is the representation of a number which differs slightly from that of the Hebrew, Chaldee texts.
C. Every one of these numbers has a God given meaning which has been understood from examples of its use: No revelation of The Scripture is of any private interpretation. [2Peter 1:20] There follows a simple, abbreviated guide to the meaning of the first twelve numbers: It is understood that all numbers including the more complex primes, have a unique meaning which is revealed by comparing Scripture with Scripture.
1 Unity. Being indivisible and not made up of other numbers, is therefore independent of all others, and is the source of all others. . . So with The Deity2 Division or Difference This may be for good or for evil. A thing may differ from evil and be good; or it may differ from good and be evil.
3 Stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete and entire. It is the symbol of the cube or solid contents. It has the meaning of divine perfection.
4 The manifestation of divine perfection in all that God creates. Particularly related to the earth: four regions, north, south, east and west; the divisions of the day: morning, noon, evening and night; four seasons of the year: spring, summer, autumn, winter; four great elements: earth, air, fire and water.5 Represents the grace of God. In fact this favour which He gives is not based upon any merit of the one to whom it is given. It is recognised by faith alone.
6 Represents man and the works of mankind, of which any offering to God is sin. It draws attention to the acts of created beings.
7 Draws attention to all that is Spiritually Perfect. The element of time, the Shemittahs or seven year span, is fundamental to the activities of God's chosen race, the Israelites. Its square, forty-nine years or Yobel, is used as the cycle of restoration in the affairs of Israel.8 Being one more than seven, indicates superabundance, the dominion of God, His true life as shown below, three times repeated in the number of the name Jesus.
9 Is a very powerful and remarkable number. It is the last of the digits and thus marks the end; and is significant of the conclusion of a matter. It is the number of finality or Judgement.10 Signifies the perfection of Divine Order. Completeness, nothing wanting.
11 Marks disorder, disorganisation, imperfection and disintegration. The unnecessary addition to Divine Order introduced to maintain man's control. It falls short of Divine Government represented by the next number, twelve.
12 Indicates the perfection of government represented by many examples such as: twelve patriarchs, twelve sons of Israel, twelve apostles. It is prominent in the design of The New Jerusalem.
D. God's meaning of these numbers is common to all the original languages of His expression, be it Hebrew, Chaldee or Koinee Greek. For example, the meaning of the number six in the Hebrew scripts is the same as that in the Greek codices. We must conclude therefore that these 'frozen' texts have been determined and designed by God as The Divine Record given to man.
E. God's expression of these numbers is applied in the following ways:
a. Various numbers are openly stated in the text of The Scripture, whether they refer to a number of people, things, events, years, days or activities. e.g:
40 is repeated many times in the Scripture, particularly with regard to a period of time, be it 40 days, 40 nights or 40 years. This relates to a time of probation, testing or chastisement.b. The sum of the numbers, or their factors, of the letters of any word or phrase, enhance, emphasise or indicate the true and underlying meaning of that word or phrase.
For example, The Lord's name in the Greek text is: I H S O U S, Jesus.
The summation of these digits is 888, the three times repeated number of Dominion. He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. [Revelation 19:16]c. The number of phrases in a group of activities indicates the Spiritual meaning of that group. For example, nine [the number representing judgement] individuals in the O.T. were afflicted with leprosy
1 Moses Exodus 4:6
1 Miriam Numbers 12:10
1 Naaman 2 Kings 5:1
1 Gehazi 2 Kings 5:27
4 lepers of Samaria. 2 Kings 7:3
1 Azariah 2 Kings 15:5
These are but a few examples of the means by which God uses the numerological basis of His communication to convey to the student the meaning of His Inspired Word.
For further instruction in the use of these God given gematria and numerological facilities please see the publications: NUMBER IN SCRIPTURE. (ISBN: 0-8254-2204-3). // THE BIBLICAL MEANING OF NUMBERS FROM ONE TO FORTY by Stephen E.Jones: http://www.Godskingdomministries.org
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