Alright, let’s talk about the number four in the Bible. I dove into this rabbit hole last week, and let me tell you, it was more interesting than I initially thought.
So, I started with the basics. I remembered hearing somewhere that four had something to do with creation. I grabbed my Bible, a notepad, and my ever-present cup of coffee and just started reading. I figured, “Let’s see where this takes me.”
First thing I did was flip to Genesis. Boom! Found it. God creating the material universe and finishing up on the fourth day. That was my starting point. I underlined it, highlighted it, the whole nine yards. It just screamed, “creation.”
Next, I thought about the world around me and how things were described. I started thinking about the points of the compass – North, South, East, West. You know, those things. I realized everything from navigation to describing plots of land uses those “four corners.” It almost felt like the natural world was built on the concept of “fourness”.
Then, I remembered someone mentioning the Gospels. I thought, “Okay, four Gospels… Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What’s the deal with that?” I skimmed through them, trying to see if there was a common thread beyond just telling Jesus’ story. I asked myself: Were they trying to complete a picture of Jesus from different angles? Like, were they a quartet painting a full, rich image of Christ?
And then… The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I’ll admit, that part was a bit spooky. I reread the passage in Revelation and it struck me that those horsemen almost represented the complete breakdown of the world. Famine, war, death… it’s like the four corners of destruction.
After that, I figured I’d try a different approach. I just started searching online. I know, not the most scholarly method, but hey, gotta start somewhere. I read a bunch of articles that talked about how four can represent stability and completeness in the Bible. It seems like scholars have different takes on it, but that was the general consensus.
So, after a few days of reading, note-taking, and a whole lot of coffee, here’s what I ended up with:
- Creation: God wrapped up the material world on day four. Big deal.
- Completeness: Four Gospels paint a full picture of Jesus. The four corners of the earth… it just gives a sense of wholeness.
- Stability: It’s linked to foundation and things that last.
I’m no expert, and I’m sure there are a million other interpretations out there, but that’s where I landed. It was a fun little journey, and I definitely learned something new. Maybe I’ll tackle another number next week. Who knows?
