The Way of Beauty by David Clayton

Author:David Clayton
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781621381419
Publisher: Angelico Press
Published: 2016-06-29T04:00:00+00:00

Number

God has arranged all things in number, sequence and proportion.

Wisdom 11:21

This section contains an account of some of most important examples of number symbolism in the Christian tradition.1 This is not meant to be an exhaustive survey, but rather an indication of how number is viewed symbolically and qualitatively in the Christian tradition.

One ought to aim for discernment when interpreting the significance of numbers. When considering accounts in the Bible, for example, it is good to remember that when a writer refers to the number of times that an event occurred, it is possible that he is simply recording the observation without an intention of communicating any spiritual significance. Nevertheless, the words of the Book of Wisdom (11:21) should always be borne in mind: “God has arranged all things in number, sequence and proportion.”

As with so many other things, the safest route is to allow tradition to guide us. The practice of the Fathers of the Church appears to be one of caution: there is greater confidence in the symbolic value of a number the more often it appears in the Bible or is confirmed by one of the other disciplines, for example, arithmetic, geometry, or music. Consider the number seven: its repeated occurrence in the Bible gives greater credence to the idea that it is especially significant, and comparison of the occasions on which it is mentioned has allowed for a greater understanding of what that significance is.

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