Curious Facts About the Bible

House to House issue #1, Volume #18, had an article setting forth some interesting Bible facts.
Of particular interest were the numbers associated with certain facts about, though not necessarily in, the Bible.
There are 1260 promises in the Bible, 6,468 commands, 3,294 questions, 31,102 verses, and 773,692 words.
No information is given as to who actually counted all of these various notes of interest, and I can assure you that
I have no immediate (or long range plans) to authenticate the accuracy of these figures.

Digging a little deeper, I found some interesting triplets that appear in God's word. Jude was evidently fond of using triplets and even a causal reading of that short epistle will reveal the following groups of three: "Mercy, peace, love"(verse 2); three examples of punishment seen in Egypt, disobedient angels, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (verses 5-7); manifestations of rebellion seen in "defile the flesh, set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities"(verse 8). Jude also refers to "the way of Cain...the error of Balaam, and the gainsaying of Korah"(verse 11). Each of the three members of the Godhead are mentioned in verses 20-21, and the epistle closes three words that span the entirety of our existence: "all time, now, and forever."

On a wider scale, there are various triplets that most of us are aware of, but likely we have never considered them as belonging
in groups of three. Here are a few examples: (1) The Jewish people are referred to as Hebrews (Gen. 14:13),
Israelites (Ex. 4:22) and Jews (Esther 2:5). There were three God-appointed offices, namely the prophet (Jud. 6:8),
the priest (Mal. 2:7) and the king. Of course we are aware that God has dealt with man in three distinct and identifiable law systems:
Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian. Moving to the New Testament, there are various triads that surround the life of Jesus our Lord.
He raised three persons from the dead: the twelve year old daughter of Jairus, the young man of Nain, and Lazarus.
The time Jonah spent in the belly of the whale is symbolic of our Lord's burial in the tomb (cf. Matt. 12:39-40).
Jesus prophesied that after His death He would be raised in three days (Matt. 27:40).
It was the third hour that our Lord was crucified, and there were three hours of darkness while He hung upon the cross.
No doubt all of us are aware of the "three crosses"at Calvary. Paul referred to the essence of the gospel with these words:
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures"(1 Cor. 15:3-4).
We could go on, perhaps without end, in examining the various triads contained in God's word. But there is one more which I want you to consider.

Returning to the passage in 1 Corinthians 15, will you notice verses 1-2. Paul recalls that moment in his association with the Corinthians when he made "known...the gospel"(verse 1a). He also warned of the futility of his preaching and their obedience should they fail to "hold fast the word which I preached unto you"(verse 2). Sandwiched between these two thoughts are the following words regarding the Corinthians and their relationship to the word of God: "which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved"(15:1-2). Notice there important truths from these verses.

First, the gospel was something they had "received." Literally, the Corinthians had "joined themselves"to the gospel, and like the Thessalonians had "received from us [the apostles] the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God"(1 Thess. 2:13). Unless a man receives the word, i.e. joins himself to that word, it will remain powerless to change his life. After more than 40 years of preaching I can attest to the fact that multitudes of souls simply refuse to receive the word, marching on toward eternity refusing to embrace the only thing that will matter once they have passed into eternity. While men are anxious to receive and embrace the things of this world, they sadly reject, ignore, and often ridicule the only thing that will take them safely into eternity.

Second, in order for the gospel to benefit those who might have, at one time or another, received the gospel, it must be something "wherein ye also stand"(1 Cor. 15:1b). Imagine if you will a soldier standing guard. He is vigilant, watchful, dedicated, and determined to fulfill his responsibility, even at the point of giving his own life. Such is the soldier of God. Provided with the armor for spiritual battle (Eph. 6:10-17), he stands firm, unwavering, seeking the favor of his Father in heaven rather than the favor of men. All of this and more is what it means to stand in the gospel.

Finally, the word of God saves! It is the "power of God unto salvation"(Rom. 1:16-17). Another inspired writer stated, "For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart"(Heb. 4:12). When preached, the word of God is like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces (Jer. 23:29). It is precisely because the Corinthians and Thessalonians believed in the power of the word to save their souls that they were willing and anxious to receive it, stand in it, and preach it regardless of the cost to their physical well being.

While the "facts"about the Bible referred to in the first three paragraphs of this article may not have a direct bearing upon your eternal destiny, be assured that what you do with the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 most definitely will.


Tom Wacaster