An "Unconventional" View of the Scriptures
Considering the Bible's Natural Structure

Timothy S.Morton

(Isa 45:3)

Regular readers of our material realize that we place great emphasis on the dispensational divisions found in the Scriptures. We contend recognizing these divisions is essential to "rightly dividing" the word of God and understanding the Lord's overall plan and purpose. We believe these divisions are natural and obvious to all who read the Scriptures with a believing heart.

Last Spring (2009), however, a dear brother brought to our attention that there are other natural divisions of the text of the Scripture of what may be considered a more subtle sort. At least to us 21st century believers.

Chapters and Verses   

Since the Geneva Bible was first published in 1560 the text of the Bible has been divided into chapters and verses. The breaks in the text into these sections and subsections was and still is a great benefit. It helps in quickly finding a certain passage, aids in reading and memorization, and helps identify where a passage belongs. For nearly 450 years the Lord has used and blessed these inserted and arbitrary divisions.

The early Hebrews were the first to place divisions in the text of the Scriptures. As one said,
The Old Testament was originally divided into fifty-four sections by the Jews. One section was read in the synagogue every Sabbath day (Acts 13:15). These sections were subdivided by the Masoretes into 669 “orders.”
After the New Testament came along other believers divided it text into arbitrary divisions to aid in reading and consultation. Over the centuries others dabbled in this area. In the mid 1500s a man named Robert Stephens place the verses in the New Testament text as we have them today,
The present New Testament verses were introduced by Robert Stephens first in his Greco-Latin Testament published in 1551 A.D., and then later Stephens published the Latin Vulgate of 1555, the first whole Bible divided into the present verses. Legend has it that Robert Stephens numbered the verses of the Bible while on horseback on a trip. His son testifies that his father did indeed number the verses of the Bible while on a trip from Paris to Lyons, but that the work was done while resting at the inns along the road.
The main thing to note on this is the chapters and verses were completely arbitrary. That is, at the whim and fancy of the individual. This does not mean they are wrong or evil, only that they are not necessarily natural. As we have said the Lord has used them and blessed them. He allowed them to be used in His premier English Bible the Authorized Version of 1611. Most likely nearly all of use who are born-again believers were introduced to the Scriptures by someone quoting or use reading the Bible "chapter and verse."

A More Natural Way?

One of the peculiarities of human nature is its strong tendency to adhere to things that are familiar. Anything "new" is often regarded as suspect. The chapter/verse system of reading the Scriptures is all we and our ancestors for any generations have known, and it is as natural to most of us as breathing. But let's step back a little and consider some things.

What if one took out all the arbitrary chapter and verse breaks in the Scriptures, what would he have? A very long line of text that would be hard to manage. However, this huge paragraph would have some very obvious natural breaks in it, that is the books. Now our huge text is divided into 66 books. Nothing arbitrary about that, they are natural.

Now look at each Bible book. What further natural breaks could be found? Ah, there are sentences, questions, and even phrases. These breaks are there regardless of language. A question is a question in Hebrew, Greek, or English. So, one could place breaks or a new line in the text of the Scripture in any or all of these natural and inherent divisions. Granted, the chapter/verse system often makes breaks in these places  as well, but not always and not consistently. For instance, here is a section of Genesis divided at the sentences and questions,









And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked?





These breaks are clear, natural, and easy to read. Each break in a book could even be numbered and it would still be natural because numbers are universal.

An Even Better Way?

Breaking the Scriptures at the sentences is not a new concept, but a brother who calls himself, The Carpenter introduced me to a radically new and now quite obvious divider—the numbers.

Numbers have significance in the Scriptures. Who in reading the Bible hasn't noticed how the numbers 3, 7, 12, etc. have special (and possibly even hidden) meaning. Several over the years have written books examining the numbers in Scriptire. But, The Carpenter, ( showed me something else. To aid in seeing the numbers, they need to be changed from text into digits (3 for "three," 80 for "fourscore," etc.).  He had undertaken to do this, but it was a very difficult task. The written out numbers are often hard to see, especially the small ones.

A task like this is a sinch for a computer. The Carpenter came across our Bible Analyzer Bible study application on the internet and posted some comments in the forum. He mentioned his desire to be able to see all the numbers in the Scripture as digits. Being a self-taught software programmer (who had an incompetent teacher) I offered to write a script to do the conversion. I also wanted to see what the Lord may be reveal in the numbers.

After writing the program, in a few seconds the computer made the vast majority of conversions. I had no idea there were over 8000 numbers in the Bible. I sent the text to
The Carpenter and he made the final few and proofread the text. He also tagged the numbers with a different color that started with a capital letter. (The capital letters of the AV is another interesting study).

As a result we produced a new edition of the Authorized King James Version like no other in existance. We call it the Authorized Version, Numerical. It is identical to the regular Authorized Version in words and meaning. The only differences are the written out number words are changed to digits, with brackets around the digits for clarity (basically just a spelling change), and the text is broken at sentences, questions, and the digits. In fact, this represtation of the AV text may have enhanced meaning! Consider this passage from John 11-12 in the AVNum,
(1) the children of God that were scattered abroad.





Then Jesus
(6) days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

(1) of them that sat at the table with him.


Then saith
(1) of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for
Who says the 1611 is not found in the Bible! As far as we know this is the first time this has been revealed. This sequence transcends language and translation. The digits 1611 are found in any true Bible text in any language!

Also of significance, notice how the first 1 in 1611 speaks of how the Lord will "gather together in (one) the children of God that were scattered abroad;" the 6 is associated with the Passover; the second 1 refers to Lazarus; and the last 1 to Judas. There are many applications that can be made from this.

Think this is just a random coincidence? First, is anything written or done by our infinite God a coincidence? Think before you answer. Second, as a simple test try to find the dates that some of the "new Bibles" were published in sequence like 1611. How about,

1885, (The Revised Version that was destined to "replace" the AV) — Nope
1901, (The American Standard Version) 
1952, (The Revised Standard Version)  Nope
1967, (The New American Standard Version)  Nope
1978, (The New International Version)  Nope
(New King James Version)
(English Standard Version) 
and many more!

Thus the only major Bible translation with its publication date found in order among the numbers of the Scriptures is that of the Authorized King James of 1611!

Furthermore, what is indeed ironic is the 1611 sequence is found in all the new versions while their own publication dates are not! How is that for an insult?

Some will still claim coincidence, but this is the excuse of the willingly blind. It appears the Lord hid a key in the Scriptures nearly 2000 years ago that He kept hidden until 2009. He is showing those who have ears to hear and eyes to see where His pure truth can be found in these latter days.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that 1161 (1611 reversed) is found twice.
Coincidence? Yeah, right. I suppose it is just a coincidence the sun is in the sky.

The 1611 sequence is so obvious that even your author can see it, but without doubt there are many more yet to be discovered.

For instance, look how Revelation "lights up" with the digits highlighted,
(1)st angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the
(3)rd part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
And the
(2)nd angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the
(3)rd part of the sea became blood; And the
(3)rd part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the
(3)rd part of the ships were destroyed.
And the
(3)rd angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the
(3)rd part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the
(3)rd part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

And the
(4)th angel sounded, and the
(3)rd part of the sun was smitten, and the
(3)rd part of the moon, and the
(3)rd part of the stars; so as the
(3)rd part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a
(3)rd part of it, and the night likewise.

(3) angels, which are yet to sound! And the
(5)th angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Is there a method or sequence to these numbers in Scripture? Surely there is, but the Lord has not revealed many things as of yet. Maybe in these last days He will open the eyes of someone to see them.

Copyrighted, But Free

The Carpenter and I freely present the AVNum to the Bible Believing community for its consideration. It is copyrighted for one reason: to keep it free. Some in the past have taken public domain works and locked them up in encrypted, password protected, or proprietary formats thus sealing it from the public as a whole text. We do not want that. We want it to remain absolutely free in its entirity.

The AVNum is available in two Bible Analyzer Library texts. If you don't have a copy of Bible Analyzer you can download it free from here. Then just install the AVNum bonus files from the Download page and see what the Lord may reveal. For an online version visit
The Carpenter's excellent website, and view the text, and much more, there.
