153 Fish

4^TH and 1

153 Fish

Some people think 20:30-31 was the original end of the 4^th Gospel, but there is strong evidence to suggest it serves as the conclusion to the series of 7 signs that runs through the Gospel’s narrative. Chapter 21, then, is not a later addition, but an epilogue.

Opinions differ as to whether the disciples’ fishing trip should be interpreted neutrally (they had to eat) or negatively (they were going back to life as usual). In any case, the failure to catch any fish that night serves as a symbol of their need for Jesus.

Their failure to recognize Jesus could have been due to His glorified body or, more simply, the darkness and distance. Having failed to catch anything, the fishermen were willing to take the advice of a stranger. The miraculous catch proved to the beloved disciple that the stranger was the Lord! Simon Peter made his usual bold move, getting dressed and swimming to Jesus.

When they arrived on the shore, Jesus was preparing to serve them fish and bread for breakfast. He asked to use some of the freshly caught fish (there were 153 exactly).

In addition to being the 3^rd appearance of Jesus to the disciples, this account also contains great symbolism. Fishing was a metaphor for evangelism. Without Jesus, our mission is doomed to failure. With Jesus, we can expect supernatural success in our mission.

Interpretations of the 153 Fish

It is not necessarily surprising that the fish were counted (either for sale purposes or simple curiosity over the miracle). Therefore, it is possible that the number was simply recorded as added detail and has no symbolic value. Numerous theories, however, have been presented as to potential significance to the number 153.

1)    Jerome suggested that there were exactly 153 kinds of fish. Thus, the ‘153’ was symbolic for the fact that the Gospel was to spread to ‘all kinds’ of people. But this appears to be a case of ‘cooking the books’ b/c we have no record of an ancient belief that there were exactly 153 kinds of fish.

2)    Augustine, noting that 153 is the triangular number of 17, broke 17 down into 10 + 7. Thus, the ‘153’ was symbolic for the complete revelation of God constituted by the Law (10 commandments) and the Spirit (Revelation 1:4). But this breaking down of 17 seems somewhat arbitrary.

3)    Others see the passage as the fulfillment of Ezekiel 47:10. Using Hebrew gematria, the words Gedi and Eglaim add up to 17 and 153 respectively. Thus, the ‘153’ was symbolic for the eschatological collection of ‘all kinds’ of people into the Kingdom of God.

The possible significance of ‘153’ will not be appreciated if we are unaware that gematria was a well known practice in the ancient world.