keithr@tekchips.UUCP (Keith Rowell) (03/21/85)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** Do any of you out there know anything about this book: Lucas, Jerry and Del Washburn. Theomatics: God's Best Kept Secret Revealed. Stein and Day, 1977. I have read the book and find the basic thesis fascinating. It is a detailed account of the gematria (a form of numerology) hidden in the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. The author also implies that the same gematria is to be found throughout the Hebrew of the Old Testament. The book is written from the perspective of a fundamentalist Christian. Here is part of the blurb from the paperback cover: "...the authors of *Theomatics* demonstrate how God assigned each letter and in turn each word of the Bible with a number of theomatic [my comment: gematrical] value. This means that all the meanings in the Bible can be reduced to numbers...the like meanings in scripture all tie together by theomatic design." The authors have coined the word "theomatics" out of apparent ignorance of the ancient Jewish and Greek traditions of gematria. First, some background for the uninitiated: the Greek letters from alpha to omega are assigned in order the numbers 1 through 9, 10 through 90, and 100 through 800, alpha being assigned 1 and omega being assigned 800. Here's an example from the book: The name "Jesus" in Greek transliteration is "Iesous". (Since I can't give the Greek letters here, I give the transliteration, but the author works with the Greek letters in the book, of course.) I (iota)= 10 e (eta) = 8 s (sigma) = 200 o (omicron) = 70 u (upsilon) = 400 s (sigma) = 200 We now add these up: 10+8+200+70+400+200 = 888 888 is the basic number of Jesus Christ. However, there are other numbers related to Christ also. Note that 37 x 8 x 3 = 888. So, 37 relates to Jesus Christ also. The name "Christ" in Greek transliteration is "Christos". Ch (xi) = 600 r (rho) =100 i (iota) = 10 s (sigma) = 200 t (tau) = 300 o (omicron) = 70 s (sigma) = 200 Add these up: 600+100+10+200+200+300+70+200 = 1480. Note that 37 x 8 x 5 = 1480. You may say that this is all well and good, what with numerology applied to simple names and such, which is true, but wait! This book is a real tour de force. Here are some more examples. (I have omitted the transliteration, but, again, the Greek is given along with each English phrase in the book.) Messiah is coming, the one called Christ = 37 x 100 (Jn 4:25) We have found the Messiah = 37 x 42 (Jn 1:41) The Messiah = 37 x 25 (Jn 1:41) His eternal power and Godhead = 37 x 84 (Rom 1:20) For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead = 37 x 146 (Col 2:9) Godhead = 37 x 26 (Col 2:9) Christ, who is the image of God = 111 x 35 (2 Col 4:4) Image of God = 37 x 37 (2 Col 4:4) Note that I slipped one in on you -- the second to the last (111 x 35), but, of course, "Iesous" also equals 111 x 8 = 888, so 111 is also a number associated with Jesus Christ. Thus, we have more examples: Christ = 111 x 12 God (ton theon) = 111 x 5 Lord (kyrion) = 111 x 9 This is My beloved Son = 111 x 37 (2 Pet 1:17) My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased = 111 x 34 (2 Pet 1:17) Only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father = 111 x 37 (Jn 1:18) God sent His only begotten Son into the world = 111 x 40 (1 Jn 4:9) Believe in the name of the Son of God = 111 x 44 (1 Jn 5:13) Yes Lord, I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God = 111 x 56 ( Jn 11:27) Christ, the Son of the blessed = 111 x 38 (Mk 14:61) Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God = 11 x 24 (Jn 1:49) I am the Son of God = 111 x 18 (Jn 10:36) Son of Man = 37 x 80 (Lk 22:22) Lord of the Sabbath = 111 x 8 (Mk 2:28) Jesus, the Nazarene, Who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God = 111 x 81 (Lk 24:19) Jesus, the Nazarene, a man approved to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs = 111 x 63 (Acts 2:22) This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee = 111 x 40 (Mt 21:11) Nazarene = 111 x 2 (Lk 4:34) Jesus of Nazareth = 111 x 13 (Mk 10:47) Gift of God = 111 x 13 (Jn 4:10) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men = 111 x 71 (Jn 1:4) The light of the world = 111 x 31 (Jn 8:12) Bright morning star = 111 x 22 (Rev 22:16) The first born into the world = 37 x 87 (Heb 1:6) Author of eternal salvation = 111 x 32 (Heb 5:9) Christ is the Son of David = 37 X 75 (Lk 20:41) He raised a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant = 37 x 139 (Lk 1:69) Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ = 111 x 33 (1 Jn 2:1) Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God = 111 x 48 (Heb 7:1) For in Him all things were created = 111 x 29 (Col 1:16) The alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end = 111 x 55 (Rev 22:13) The lamb fo God Who takes away the sin of the world = 111 x 28 (Jn 1:29) I am the root and offspring of David = 111 x 16 (Rev 22:16) Way, truth, life = 111 x 11 (Jn 14:6) Thou art the holy one of God = 111 x 14 (Mk 1:24) Here are some phrases from the Old Testament (using the gematria for the Hebrew alphabet, of course): I am Jehovah your God = 111 x 2 (Ex 6:7) I have sworn by Jehovah God most high, possessor of heaven and earth = 111 x 16 (Gen 14:22) I am Jehovah, I change not = 111 x 8 (Mal 3:6) Lord of hosts = 111 x 5 (1 Sam 1:3) Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever = 111 X 10 (Dan 2:20) Lamb for a burnt offering = 111 x 4 (Gen 22:8) And it goes on and on in the book. However, this should be enough to give you a good idea of what is going on. The question that intrigues me is: Is Del Washburn playing number/letter games or were the words of the Bible actually chosen with gematria as a guiding principle? (Perhaps there is another explanation?) I have only a passing acquaintance with the games you can play with numbers, so I am looking for more expertise than I have to help me decide whether Washburn has proved his thesis. Ordinary, Christian Bible scholarship says very little about gematria. I have done some searching of the literature, but so far I have found precious little out there, especially material bearing directly on Washburn's thesis. At last, we have something in religion that appears to be falsifiable, right? I would think that some scholar with appropriate credentials and background could confirm or disconfirm Washburn's basic assertions within three or four months full time. Well, have fun. I would appreciate your comments. Keith Rowell
mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate) (03/25/85)
Numerology is an important part of the Kabbala. but no orthodox (not meaning Eastern, but in the more general sense) christian group that I know of employs it, except for the dispensationalists. Charley Wingate umcp-cs!mangoe