The Book of Genesis (in the Old Testament) and John’s Gospel (in the New Testament) both contain a creation narrative which starts with the words ‘In the beginning’. In Genesis, God Himself walked with Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8), just as in John’s Gospel, the Son of God Himself walked the earth when the Word became flesh (John 1:14). In Genesis, God brought about physical creation after the Spirit hovered over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2). In John, the Spirit and water bring forth spiritual creation by way of spiritual new birth:
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
In Genesis, the moon reflected the glory of the sun. In John, it was John the Baptist who reflected the glory of Jesus.
John 5:35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
These thought-provoking associations exhibit a synergy of physical and spiritual creation between the Old and the New Testament of the Bible.
The connectivity between these two biblical texts (incidentally, written in two separate languages, Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament) is further emphasised by a precise mathematic relationship, which is best understood visually – see diagram below. The sum of the value of Greek letters in John 1:1, is a perfect plinth, to the sum of the value of Hebrew letters in Genesis 1:1:
Accreditation: The above shape relationship between John 1:1 and Genesis 1:1 was first brought to my attention by Vernon Jenkins MSc. (http://www.whatabeginning.com/).
Just one number above or below these precise numerical values, would utterly corrupt and distort this perfect picture. God’s way really is perfect. As the Psalmist says:
Psalms 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven …
The explanation of the diagram above is as follows. The sum of Greek letter values in John 1:1 is precisely 3627 and the sum of Hebrew letter values in Genesis 1:1 is precisely 2701. At the top of the chart is the representation of Genesis 1:1 made up of 2701 small squares. A perfect triangle is formed with sides of equal length – each side consisting of 73 small squares. It is remarkable that the number 73 is also the numerical value of the Hebrew word for ‘wisdom’. Wisdom, therefore, is fundamental to God’s spiritual and physical creation of the world, and the triangle of Genesis 1:1 represents God’s creation, founded and established by His wisdom. Our triune God is interested in such triangular numbers.
Underneath this triangle (of Genesis 1:1) sits the plinth of John 1:1. This plinth, in a darker colour, is made up of 3627 small squares, the precise numerical value of the Greek letters in John 1:1. It was the Word who was in the beginning, being God, and without the Word nothing was made that was made:
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. He was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
The Apostle Paul teaches the Colossian Church that Jesus is before all things and that in Him all things consist:
Colossians 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Given that the Word is before creation, it is entirely logical that John 1:1 supports Genesis 1:1 as seen in this mathematically visual way. The word ‘logical’ has been carefully chosen, as the Greek word for ‘Word’ in John 1:1 is transliterated ‘Logos’ and is the derivative of our English word ‘logic’. God is logical.
The 112th Prime is 613
Considering creation as being ‘prime’ (derived from the Latin word ‘primus’ which means ‘first’), it is notable that a prime number is cryptically embedded within this visual depiction of these two creation verses. The overall triangle of Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 has equal sides of 112 units. The diagram is to scale so you can count the squares to check, by zooming in! Why is this important? Well, the 112th prime number in mathematics is 613 – the number of commandments in the Hebrew Law (Torah).
God is teaching (those who are examining these ‘prime’ verses) that His Law is perfect (as seen by the perfect geometry) and fulfilled by His Son who was the Word and in Whom all things consist.
Psalms 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul...
Matthew 5:17 “[Jesus said] do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil.”
However, despite the Law being perfect and now fulfilled by Jesus around 2000 years ago, the Law still kills us physically, even though believers are spiritually ‘born again’ and spiritually alive.
Romans 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.
Only at the conclusion of the first resurrection will all believers be physically raised to eternal spiritual and physical life.
The Six Water Pots of Water To Wine Represent 6000 Bible Years
Consider that ‘time’ was also part of His creation – time being demarcated in the Bible by six working days (6000 Bible Years) and one day’s rest (1000 Bible Years – Millennial Kingdom – see 2 Peter 3:8).
The first sign miracle of Jesus when He changed water to wine, subtly alludes to this ‘time’ aspect of the work of God through the number of stone water pots (six) in the miracle – namely the preparation of the body of all believers over 6000 years of ‘work’, who will metaphorically benefit from the new wine (representing the blood of Jesus), and be raised and perfected at the conclusion of the first resurrection at the six-day mark (just as Adam was made perfect on the sixth day of creation see Genesis 1:26-31).
The six water pots which contained the water according to the manner of purification of the Jews (John 2:6) are described with a Greek numerical value of 613 and so link the deeper meaning of this first sign miracle regarding the grip of physical death through the Hebrew Law (Torah), with the 'In the Beginning' verses shown above.
Remember that this sign miracle poignantly depicts the work of Messiah’s Blood as perfectly fulfilling the Hebrew Law (Torah) as a ‘better’ covenant (Hebrews 8:6). Only after God’s six days of work will all believers fully benefit from Jesus’ victory over physical death by way of resurrection life, just before the seventh and final day of rest of the Millennial Kingdom.
This fits well with this triangle which therefore represents the whole of creation subject to the Law (the grip of physical death) until the end of God’s working week and the beginning of His seventh day’s rest of the Millennial Kingdom. In other words, the Hebrew Law (Torah) is symbolically spread across the first 6000 Bible Years of creation concluding at the end of day six until the full benefits of the fulfilled Law (resurrection life) are experienced by all believers.
When Jesus and the Godhead were choosing Jesus’ first sign miracle, clearly a Hebrew wedding (being seven days in length – see see Genesis 29:27 and Judges 14:17) was an excellent fit and a very suitable ‘time’ context to symbolically frame these truths.
Conclusion
The synergy of Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 is beautifully captured in a perfect geometric triangle derived from the underlying mathematical narrative. Together, these creation ‘in the beginning’ verses underpin the unity of scripture and the interdependence of the Old and the New Testament.
The triangle further encapsulates the perfection of God’s Law and the tragedy of humanity’s failure to keep the Law resulting in spiritual and physical death. A new believer is immediately benefited with spiritual life (being born again), however eternal physical life is not granted until the conclusion of the first resurrection. The triangle with the embedded 112th prime number of ‘613’ cleverly represents the whole of creation subjected to the Law (the grip of physical death) until the end of God’s working week (of 6000 Bible Years) when the full benefits of the fulfilled Law (resurrection life) are experienced by all believers.
The end of the seven-day Hebrew wedding could not have been a more suitable ‘time’ context for Jesus’ first sign miracle.
Mathematical Breakdown Of Genesis 1:1
The Hebrew mathematical letter associations are found here.
בראשית ברא אלהים את השמים ואת הארץ
בראשית (Word 1 of 7) 913 (In the beginning) Bet (2) + Resh (200) + Aleph (1) + Shin (300) + Yod (10) + Tav (400) = 913
ברא (Word 2 of 7) 203 (created) Bet (2) + Resh (200) + Aleph (1) = 203
אלהים (Word 3 of 7) 86 (God) Aleph (1) + Lamed (30) + Hey (5) + Yod (10) + Mem (40) = 86
את (Word 4 of 7) 401 (-) Aleph (1) + Tav (400) = 401
השמים (Word 5 of 7) 395 (the heaven) Hey (5) + Shin (300) + Mem (40) + Yod (10) + Mem (40) = 395
ואת (Word 6 of 7) 407 (and) Vav (6) + Aleph (1) + Tav (400) = 407
הארץ (Word 7 of 7) 296 (the earth.) Hey (5) + Aleph (1) + Resh (200) + Tsade (90) = 296
913 + 203 + 86 + 401 + 395 + 407 + 296 = 2701
Mathematical Breakdown Of John 1:1
The Greek mathematical letter associations are found here.
Εν αρχηι ην ο λογος και ο λογος ην προς τον Θεον και Θεος ην ο λογος
Εν (Word 1 of 17) 55 (In [the]) Epsilon (5) + Nu (50) = 55
αρχηι (Word 2 of 17) 719 (beginning) Alpha (1) + Rho (100) + Chi (600) + Eta (8) + Iota (10) = 719
ην (Word 3 of 17) 58 (was) Eta (8) + Nu (50) = 58
ο (Word 4 of 17) 70 (the) Omicron (70) = 70
λογος (Word 5 of 17) 373 (Word) Lambda (30) + Omicron (70) + Gamma (3) + Omicron (70) + Sigma (200) = 373
και (Word 6 of 17) 31 (and) Kappa (20) + Alpha (1) + Iota (10) = 31
ο (Word 7 of 17) 70 (the) Omicron (70) = 70
λογος (Word 8 of 17) 373 (Word) Lambda (30) + Omicron (70) + Gamma (3) + Omicron (70) + Sigma (200) = 373
ην (Word 9 of 17) 58 (was) Eta (8) + Nu (50) = 58
προς (Word 10 of 17) 450 (with) Pi (80) + Rho (100) + Omicron (70) + Sigma (200) = 450
τον (Word 11 of 17) 420 (-) Tau (300) + Omicron (70) + Nu (50) = 420
Θεον (Word 12 of 17) 134 (God) Theta (9) + Epsilon (5) + Omicron (70) + Nu (50) = 134
και (Word 13 of 17) 31 (and) Kappa (20) + Alpha (1) + Iota (10) = 31
Θεος (Word 14 of 17) 284 (God) Theta (9) + Epsilon (5) + Omicron (70) + Sigma (200) = 284
ην (Word 15 of 17) 58 (was) Eta (8) + Nu (50) = 58
ο (Word 16 of 17) 70 (the) Omicron (70) = 70
λογος (Word 17 of 17) 373 (Word) Lambda (30) + Omicron (70) + Gamma (3) + Omicron (70) + Sigma (200) = 373
55 + 719 + 58 + 70 + 373 + 31 + 70 + 373 + 58 + 450 + 420 + 134 + 31 + 284 + 58 + 70 + 373 = 3627