39

[Pastor Gary]

I am not at all sure where I am going with this -- kind of thinking out loud here: In studying for my message for Sunday from Mark 2:23-28 ("“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.") I noticed one of those things that had slipped past me before.

There were 39 categories of “abot” or principal classes of actions prohibited on the Sabbath under the law. That number, 39, was also the number of stripes Jesus took. I am not much for mystical numerology, but isn't it odd that that number, 39, pops up here?

Okay --- just ruminating.

[RamboPreacher]

speaking of gematria and numerology, have you seen this website?
http://www.mysticalinternet.com/gematria/index.php

[Gerald Creasy]

For some reason I expected this thread to be about something else.

[Brenda]

ROTFLOL

[one love]

I am not at all sure where I am going with this -- kind of thinking out loud here: In studying for my message for Sunday from Mark 2:23-28 ("“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.") I noticed one of those things that had slipped past me before.

There were 39 categories of “abot” or principal classes of actions prohibited on the Sabbath under the law. That number, 39, was also the number of stripes Jesus took. I am not much for mystical numerology, but isn't it odd that that number, 39, pops up here?

Okay --- just ruminating.

that is interesting, there are a lot of "numbers" that match up in the bible, some I feel are signifigant and others people take to far. But this is very interesting im going to study that out, thank you!

[Pastor Gary]

Digging a little deeper into the "39" business...

The 39 categories of activity prohibited on Shabbat can be divided into four groups.
• The first 11 categories are activities required to bake bread (סידורא דפת).
• The next 13 categories are activities required to make a garment (סידורא דבגד).
• The next 9 categories are activities required to make leather.
• The final 6 categories are activities required to build a house.

It seems to my present understanding that the 39 prohibitions are basically centered around food, clothing and shelter, the things we consider the basic necessities of life. My sense of this, as I continue to study, is that these things represent a commitment to trust God to supply every basic need, and to represent that trust by suspending human effort to achieve those things through human effort.

The obvious parallel might be the ways in which we tend to depend upon our own works of righteousness to provide our own worthiness toward God.

[MrDanger]

For some reason I expected this thread to be about something else.

Great pic and I thought the exact same thing.

[macgulley]

That number, 39, was also the number of stripes Jesus took. I am not much for mystical numerology, but isn't it odd that that number, 39, pops up here?

I heard someone say that the other day and I've been trying to find documentation for it. I know Paul said he had been beaten 5 times with forty stripes save one (the maximum under Jewish law is 40 but the practice was to deliver only 39 in case there was a miscount) but I couldn't find a number for Jesus. I did find a reference that pointed out that He was punished by the Romans who had no such restriction. Can you direct me to a source for Jesus taking 39 stripes?

[Pastor Gary]

That number, 39, was also the number of stripes Jesus took. I am not much for mystical numerology, but isn't it odd that that number, 39, pops up here?

I heard someone say that the other day and I've been trying to find documentation for it. I know Paul said he had been beaten 5 times with forty stripes save one (the maximum under Jewish law is 40 but the practice was to deliver only 39 in case there was a miscount) but I couldn't find a number for Jesus. I did find a reference that pointed out that He was punished by the Romans who had no such restriction. Can you direct me to a source for Jesus taking 39 stripes?

No... you are correct that the Bible does NOT specific 39 stripes for Jesus, only in reference to Paul. It is a tradition to attribute 39 to Jesus because of Paul listing the number he took.

But we don't want to mess up a bunch of songs and sermon illustrations with facts, do we...?

[RamboPreacher]

39 does not equal 42.

[macgulley]

But we don't want to mess up a bunch of songs and sermon illustrations with facts, do we...?

That would be a tragedy, wouldn't it.

I was a little put out with The Passion when the scourging continued WAY past 39 and I tried to find out then if they were straying from the Bible but it seems their portrayal is as likely to be true as not.

You didn't mention the comparison that I have heard most, 39 categories of diseases, one stripe for the healing of each one.


This discussion sort of reminds me of the Lincoln/Kennedy asasination comparisons:
http://www.coverups.com/jfk/lincoln.htm

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters.
Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost children while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.

Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners.
Both successors were named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are comprised of fifteen letters.

Lincoln was shot at the theater named "Ford's".
Kennedy was shot in a car called "Lincoln - made by Ford Motor Co".

Booth ran from the theater and was caught in a warehouse.
Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater.

Both John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

[Mole_J]

This discussion sort of reminds me of the Lincoln/Kennedy asasination comparisons:
http://www.coverups.com/jfk/lincoln.htm

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters.
Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost children while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.

Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners.
Both successors were named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are comprised of fifteen letters.

Lincoln was shot at the theater named "Ford's".
Kennedy was shot in a car called "Lincoln - made by Ford Motor Co".

Booth ran from the theater and was caught in a warehouse.
Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater.

Both John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

A little off topic, but http://www.snopes.com/history/american/ ... ennedy.asp

Also a lot of information on the Kennedy assassination can be found http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/sbt.htm

[oletimer]

Thought for a minute that we had the beast. Have heard it preached that way.

[macgulley]

A little off topic, but http://www.snopes.com/history/american/ ... ennedy.asp

I hope nobody thought I was promoting the lincoln/kennedy connection theory.

[Pastor Bill]

Numbers in the Bible do hold significance, especially in prophecy. I don't put too much weight on it, but here is what I was taught long ago, and it seems to show some representation in the numbers

3 - representing the trinity/godhead
4 - representing the earth (4 corners of the earth, 4 directions)
7 - representing perfection, a perfect combination of God and earth together. also in perfection also representative of infinity/unending (which puts a different spin on forgiving your brother 7 times, or even 70 X 7!)
6 - less than perfect, sin, Satan (666)
12 - another combination of God & this world (3 X 4)
40 - If I remember correctly this is as an extension of 4, generally a time period of waiting.