1: The Importance of Numbers in the Bible

As I mentioned in my post about the significance of the 153 fish in the passage from John 21:1-9, I am interested in looking into the importance of other numbers in the Bible. 
 
The number one, in a way, is the most important number in the Bible. As a prime number, it is only divisible by itself and yet it is needed to compose all other existing numerals. In the Bible, it symbolises unity and supremacy, the oneness of God. To quote Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (NIV)
 
The number one also describes the relationship between God and Jesus: “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30 NIV) By Jesus making one sacrifice, albeit a considerable one, he has made forgiveness possible for all our sins. Jesus is also described as the one mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) and the one shepherd (John 10:16) – the bridge between mankind and God.
 
Now, it would be daft and nigh on impossible to list every instance of the number one in the Bible so I will stick to what I think are the interesting facts. 

• There are five books of the Bible that only have one chapter: 2 John, 3 John, Philemon, Jude and Obadiah.  
• In the King James Version, there are a few words that only appear once, for example:
  • Reverend (Psalm 111:9)
  • Grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5)
  • Eternity (Isaiah 57:15)
  • Lukewarm (Revelation 3:16)
• The Sabbath was the first thing to be designated as Holy (Genesis 2:1-3)
• Adam was the first man (Genesis 2)
• Abraham was the first prophet (Genesis 20:7)
• The first Commandment is “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3 NIV)
• Before Jesus started his ministry, only one instance is recorded of him speaking. “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49 NIV)
• Jesus’ first public message involved a reading of Isaiah 61:1-2, proclaiming a message about hope for a brighter future. 
• Colossians 1:15 (NIV): “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV): “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
• Several times in the Book of Revelation, Jesus is referred to as the Alpha, which is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. 
• Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV): “The is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all in all.”

 
I leave you with one final fact; the Bible was the first book to be produced using a printing press, which was produced by Johann Guttenberg in 1456.