The Oxyrhynchus guys still have not figured out that it was a reference to RONALD (6) WILSON (6) REAGAN (6). They have however put up a picture of the earliest 616 reading for Rev. 13:18, and a discussion of the numerology involved.
They did not mention the possibility of Hebrew gematria in the interpretation of the verse. Any takes on 666? (I do not really think it is Reagan.)
A forum for people with knowledge of the Bible in its original languages to discuss its manuscripts and textual history from the perspective of historic evangelical theology.
- Contributors
- Peter M. Head (ed)
- Tommy Wasserman (ed)
- P. J. Williams, and others
I have a forthcoming article on this subject some time in the Tyndale Bulletin. I'll let you know details when I know when it's due to appear (the excellent editors have suggested some revisions!).
ReplyDeleteSome time ago I wrote about 666; the resultant article -- which could probably use some touching up -- is online at
ReplyDeletehttp://www.curtisville
christian.org/TRBeast.html
(just type in all together).
And there's a pretty good essay from a Reformed perspective at
http://www.christchurchreformed.
com/revelationbibleoutlines/
Revelation42.pdf (again, just type the URL all together) .
Happy reading, and Happy Easter!
Yours in Christ,
James Snapp, Jr.
I suspect that the possibility of Hebrew gematria is being ignored because this passage could be the earliest approximately datable example of the practice. Greek examples seem much better attested.
ReplyDeleteHowever, attributions in Jewish texts to second-century sages suggest that it could well have been known considerably earlier; perhaps as soon as the use of the Hebrew letters instead of Greek ones as numerals had become a general practice among Jews, rather than a conscious patriotic/religious gesture.
aylchanan,
ReplyDeleteGot any bib on Greek gematria?