Seventeens in Scripture (6)

Love is:

  1. patient
  2. kind
  3. not envious
  4. not boastful
  5. not proud
  6. not rude
  7. not self-seeking

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Seventeens in Scripture (5)

The roll–call of faith in Hebrews 11 is not only another list of seventeen but is specifically marked at its golden ratio. Look who gets the coveted eleventh spot.

  1. Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel
  2. Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch
  3. Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah
  4. Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham
  5. Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac
  6. Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob
  7. Hebrews 11:22 By faith Joseph

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Seventeens in Scripture (4)

This is the set of seventeens that started my investigations into its meaning as a metaphor in Scripture. I was reading Joost Smit Sibinga who happened to mention there are 17 instances of the use of ‘Father’ in Matthew’s narration of The Sermon on the Mount. He pointed out they are distributed so that the Lord’s Prayer divides them in the golden ratio. Sibinga was puzzled by the use of 17: was it, he wondered, something to do with the fact the Pythagoreans didn’t use it?

  1. Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
  2. Matthew 5:44-45 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
  3. Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Seventeens in Scripture (3)

Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος, καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, καὶ Θεός ἦν ὁ Λόγος

En archē ēn ho Lógos, kai ho Lógos ēn pros ton Theón, kai Theós ēn ho Lógos
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Seventeen words, in both Greek and English. This is the marvellous poem that opens John’s gospel and is sometimes called the ‘Hymn to the Logos‘.


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Seventeens in Scripture (2)

From Acts 2:5–12 NIV—Now there were staying in Jerusalem God–fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?  Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

  1. Parthians
  2. Medes
  3. Elamites
  4. residents of Mesopotamia
  5. Judea
  6. Cappadocia
  7. Pontus

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Seventeens in Scripture (1)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall

1. trouble

2. hardship

3. persecution

4. famine

5. nakedness

6. danger

7. sword?

As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither


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