That's very kind of you to say! And an interesting question. I really have no clue and think Chat GPT would give a much better answer, but perhaps that number had some significance for the Johannine community at the time, like the number of members of a particular early church. My Bible commentary says it has been read as representing perfection or particular words in Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic, but there is no consensus. It has some more recent significance for me as there are 153 Colet scholars at St Paul's, as Colet originally founded the school for 153 pupils.
I heard this reading at church on Sunday as well and the priest mentioned that the word 'love' used as Jesus asks Peter if he loves him changes: Jesus uses 'agape' the first two times, but Peter responds with 'philia' so Jesus switches to 'philia' the third time he asks, suggesting that Peter is not yet ready for the higher, universal love conveyed by agape.
I really enjoy your writing.
Coincidentally, the sermon at my parish church this morning was on John and some of these passages.
The minister asked why we thought he specified that the disciples caught 153 fish. Any thoughts? (I've asked Chat GPT!)
That's very kind of you to say! And an interesting question. I really have no clue and think Chat GPT would give a much better answer, but perhaps that number had some significance for the Johannine community at the time, like the number of members of a particular early church. My Bible commentary says it has been read as representing perfection or particular words in Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic, but there is no consensus. It has some more recent significance for me as there are 153 Colet scholars at St Paul's, as Colet originally founded the school for 153 pupils.
I heard this reading at church on Sunday as well and the priest mentioned that the word 'love' used as Jesus asks Peter if he loves him changes: Jesus uses 'agape' the first two times, but Peter responds with 'philia' so Jesus switches to 'philia' the third time he asks, suggesting that Peter is not yet ready for the higher, universal love conveyed by agape.
What a lovely echo with the Colet scholars