The Number Three in the Holy Bible

1. Three as a Symbol of Being and Existence

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III clarifies that the three symbolizes being; everything that indicates an entity or existence is formed in a threefold image: examples appear in time, pronouns, numbers, and dimensions.

2. Linguistic, Logical and Natural Examples

Time appears as past, present, and future; pronouns as speaker, addressee, and third person; number as singular, dual, and plural; dimensions as length, width, and height; and every comparison, action or contest tends toward a threefold division.

3. Nature, Materials and Living Entities

Entities often divide into mineral, plant, and animal; materials into solid, liquid, and gaseous; even animal movement is distributed above the ground, on the ground, and under it — all in threes that indicate a complete image of existence.

4. The Human Being Composed of Three Elements

Man consists of body, soul, and spirit, and this human trinity expresses the full being in physical and spiritual dimension.

5. The Three in Religious Life and Church Symbols

The Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is a clear religious example; the holy anointing and the Magi’s gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) are mentioned as symbols of his kingship, priesthood, and redemption.

6. Sin and Virtues in Threes

Virtue, focused by the Apostle Paul, is faith, hope, and love; sin is described as lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — a threefold reflection of the human struggle.

7. Biblical and Didactic Examples of Threes

Examples in the Gospels: Peter’s three denials, the three temptations of Christ, and the parable of the prodigal son, the lost sheep, and the lost coin which present repentance in threefold episodes.

8. Spiritual Conclusion

The talk emphasizes that the number three is not merely a number but an image of completeness of being and existence and the spiritual reflection of life and relation with God, calling for a deep understanding of the threefold in Scripture and the Church.

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