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How did they know there were 153 fish? (Original Post) hedgehog Apr 2013 OP
My guess is that 153 is symbolic meow2u3 Apr 2013 #1
Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2013 #2
That's what the priest at chruch said yesterday. 47of74 Apr 2013 #5
Augustine of Hippo, in one of his sermons Fortinbras Armstrong Apr 2013 #3
Maybe they counted them. rug Apr 2013 #4
It wouldn't be hard for Jesus to have counted the fish meow2u3 Apr 2013 #6
I head there would have been 153 nations/kingdoms/etc known at the time goldent Apr 2013 #7

Response to meow2u3 (Reply #1)

 

47of74

(18,470 posts)
5. That's what the priest at chruch said yesterday.
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 08:30 PM
Apr 2013

Something along the lines of that 153 was supposed to represent all the different kinds of people that the apostles would be called to bring into the church and that fish symbolized people. Fish with blonde hair, red hair, gray hair, gay fish, straight fish, sick fish, healthy fish, and so on.

Fortinbras Armstrong

(4,473 posts)
3. Augustine of Hippo, in one of his sermons
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 04:17 PM
Apr 2013

Last edited Tue Apr 16, 2013, 09:47 AM - Edit history (1)

Remarks that 153 is the sum of the first 17 integers. (He tells the congregation to work it out at home.)

I seem to recall that Raymond Brown, in his Anchor Bible translation of John, has a discussion of it. I will go to the library and see if I can find it.

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