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The 153 fish and the unity of the fourth gospel

2002; Volume: 36; Linguagem: Inglês

2518-4628

Richard Bauckham,

Development, Ethics, and Society

An important clue indicating the overall unity of the Gospel of John, including chapter 21, is often overlooked. This is the numerical value of 153 fish caught by the disciples according to 21 : 11, which represents the mathematical triangle of 17. The key text for interpreting the passage is Ezek 47 : 10, prophesying streams of living water flowing from the temple in the last days to make the Dead Sea fresh and full of fish. These symbolize numerically the children of God who receive life through believing in the signs given by Jesus, which are enumerated in the gospel. A complex but consistent numerical pattern or gematria can be demonstrated to underpin the structure and thematic of the whole gospel, particularly linking the Prologue with the Epilogue, which is expressed in the number 153.