From: richard@biblewheel.com
Date: Mon Sep 15 2003 - 14:49:42 EDT
Hello Don,
You wrote:
> I conclude that Richard's biblewheel is based mainly on coincidence
> and is of little theological significance.
I address this conclusion in detail in my post called "A Cavalcade of
Coincidence" where I list eleven high-level super-obvious "coincidences"
that are strikingly beautiful, theologically significant, and in many cases
*optimal* with regards to the feature under consideration. Here is the link
to the post:
http://www.calvin.edu/archive/asa/200309/0345.html
One would not think it necessary to constantly reiterate that strikingly
beautiful theologically significant optimal structures inextricably embedded
in the Word of God are probably not properly understood as the product of
mere "coincidence."
> I say "mainly on coincidence" because I think it likely
> that in the canon of the OT there are precisely 12 books
> of the Minor Prophets and 12 historical books
> because 12 is also the number of tribes of Israel, and
> that there are 5 wisdom books and 5 books grouped as
> the major prophets because there are also 5 books
> in the Law. (Note that Lamentations is part of the
> Kethubim -- not the Nebi'im, in the MT scriptures).
> Sure, the primary reason for inclusion in the canon would
> be a book's intrinsic merit, but when it came down to
> borderline cases considerations of numerical symmetry
> could have been a consideration. Esther, which does not
> mention God, made it into the canon. Judith, which says a lot
> about God, did not make it.
Can you cite any historical evidence for there being a conscious connection
between the 12 tribes and the selection of the 12 Minor Prophets in the
minds of those involved in the process? Can you cite any OT scholars who
would agree with you on this? You might as well argue that the 12 inches in
a foot correspond to the twelve tribes if you have neither historical nor
scholastic support for your assertion.
And where was God in all this? Are you saying that the selection was a mere
human one, and that God did not inspire specifically the 12? What then is
your opinion of the Word of God? Do you believe there is such a thing as a
"Christian Canon?" If so, which one do you believe in?
Yet even if we assent to your assertion for the sake of argument, you still
have the problem explaining why the symmetry of the 66 book canon is
*missing* from the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Jewish canonical
structures if indeed "numerical symmetry" was a consideration in the
formation of these different canons. It seems that the historical evidence
controverts your assertion about what is "likely."
Of course, your approach also fails to explain how the symmetry could remain
hidden till the end of the 20th century if it was, in fact, part of the
process used in establishing the structure of the Canon. Why has nobody in
the history of the world ever seen this? Doesn't the fact that this is a
*discovery* greatly amplify the implication of divine origin?
Concerning Lamentations: Since it is not in the Prophets in the MT, where do
you think it should go in the Christian Canon? The "likely" answer seems to
be History, since it records the destruction of Jerusalem. But perhaps it
would go better in the Wisdom books because it is poetic (and acrostic). But
then we would have either 13 History books or 6 Wisdom books, or some other
category altogether. In any case, such a change would destroy the Canon
Wheel symmetry. Move one little book like Lamentations and BOOM! The entire
structure is destroyed. No bilateral symmetry, no radial symmetry. Its not
nearly as "likely" as you suggest. In reality, there is one chance in
688,324 that 66 objects divided into seven arbitrary divsions would exhibit
the bilateral and radial symmetry seen in the Canon Wheel. Here's the proof:
http://www.BibleWheel.com/Wheel/probabilities.asp
Lamentations is included in the Major Prophets because it was written by a
Major Prophet, Jeremiah. If we followed what seemed "likely" we would likely
destroy the Canon Wheel.
There are other aspects impacted by these considerations. There is an
interesting relation between the bilaterally symmetric 5 Major Prophets and
5 NT History books. In both cases, there are 5 books written by 4 authors.
The Wheel reveals many biblical symmetries like this never before noted.
Here is a link to an article that lists a bunch of them, called "Symmetries
of the Bible Wheel:"
http://www.BibleWheel.com/Wheel/symmetries.asp
The Bible Wheel has provided unparalleled insight into the structure of Holy
Scripture. I have a thousand pages of insights published on my site from
little more than two years efforts (and only in the last year have I been
able to devote myself fulltime, before that I held a fulltime job at GE as
Sr. Systems Engineer). Such intellectual fecundity is not from my own
genius, let me assure you! ;-)
Good talking,
I look forward to your response,
In service of Christ, the Beauty of God's Holiness,
Richard
Discover the sevenfold symmetric perfection of the Holy Bible at
http://www.BibleWheel.com
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