Luke 5:1-11
Mathematical Beauty of 153
I do not believe the following formulas are
related, at least not directly, to the message St. John was
conveying, but they are interesting.
“Biblical numbers in the patristic thought must be
understood symbolically (pointing to higher truths) and not mystically
(having a metaphysical importance in themselves),” writes Fr.Vassilios
Bebis, Orthodox priest.
The number 153 has interesting qualities. Although,
other numbers have unique qualities as well. For example see
73.
However, as is explained below, I believe that none
of these qualities listed below, however interesting, were John’s primary reason for including
this number in his Gospel.
The mathematical properties of 153
153 = 3 x 51 (symmetrical)
13 + 53 + 33 = 153
153 is the smallest three-digit number which can be expressed as the sum
of the cubes of its digits.
122 + 32 = 153
(10 + 7) x 32 = 153
17 x 32 = 153
1 + 5 + 3 = 9 = 32
153
÷
(1+5+3) =17
153 is the 17th triangular number. (see
below)
1 + 2 + 3 ... + 17 = 153
153 is the sum of a square, triangular, and
circular numbers.
153 = 100 + 28 + 25 with
100 being a square number, 100 = 102
28 a triangular number, see below, and
25 a circular number.
A circular number is a number whose square
“ends” in the same digits as the number itself.
e. g., 25 x 25 = 625 |