Bible Numerics

Bible Numerics is the study of numerical patterns in the Bible (particularly involving the number seven) and the use of particular numbers to represent certain concepts. It was pioneered by Ivan Panin from around 1890 until his death in 1942. It was considered by Panin proof that the Bible is divinely inspired, and some modern Christians share this view.

Whilst Bible Numerics could originally not be disproved, more recent studies using a computer programme called "Panin's Panic" have questioned Bible Numerics, criticising the processes used in Panin's studies and suggesting that similar patterns can also be found in any non-Biblical text.More positve views and explanations of Bible Numerics is found at www.biblemaths.com

Bible Numerics is distinguishable from Bible codes, which involves manipulating Biblical passages to extract supposed hidden messages.

Gematria

Much of Bible Numerics revolves around the numeric values assigned to Hebrew and Greek letters. Neither of these languages (in which the Bible was written) have a separate number system, so letters were instead also attributed a number as follows:

Hebrew alphabet

Greek alphabet

Numbers in the Bible

Numbers and Biblical Themes

History of Bible numerics

Relevance of Bible numerics

Some Christians regard Bible numerics as irrefutable proof that the Bible is divinely inspired.

Those who believe in Bible numerics have used it to "prove" the authenticity and divine inspiration of controversial Bible passages such as Mark 16 (the last portion of Mark 16 is very important to some Christians, particularly in the Pentecostal movement, but is considered by many to have not been included in the original Gospel of Mark).

Criticisms