Other Verses
(可 惜 這 頁 沒 有 中 文 繙 譯)
This is a very brief survey of 3 Chinese Bible translations use of 天主, 上主 (Catholic), 耶和華, 神 (Protestant), and the effect of replacing them by 上帝 (the proper Chinese term for the one supreme God).
This web site has covered quite a number of Bible passages all with numeric features following Revelation 1:8 in one form or another. If the numbers are showing the importance of these passages, then it is possible they would have numeric features even in a different language. Eighteen of these passages include the term for God. These eighteen will be examined in Chinese. What happens when 天主, 上主, 耶和華 and 神 are replaced by 上帝? Does the change result in a Chinese passage that is divisible by 7 or 13? If so, how many? Is it just the odds?
(N.B. Of course this assumes there is nothing else that needs changing in these translations.)
| Theme | Translation | Replacing | Passage | Total | Count |
| Matthew 9:3-8 The son of man's authority to forgive. | Catholic | 天主 with 上帝 | 經師中有幾個人心裡說：「這人說了褻瀆的話。」 耶穌看透他們的心意，說：「你們為什麼心裡思念惡事呢﹖ 什麼比較容易呢﹖是說：你的罪赦了，或是說：起來行走吧？ 為叫你們知道，人子在地上有赦罪的權柄──就對癱子說：起來，拿起你的床，回家去吧!」 那人就起來，回家去了。 群眾見了，就都害怕起來，遂歸光榮於上帝，因他賜給了人們這樣大的權柄。 | 345722 = 2 x 13 x 13297. | 1/1 |
| CUV | 1/2 | ||||
| CNV | 神 with 上帝 | 有幾位經學家彼此說：“這個人在說僭妄的話。” 耶穌看出他們所想的，就說：“你們心裡為甚麼存著惡念呢？ 說‘你的罪赦了’，或說‘起來行走’，哪一樣容易呢？ 然而為了要使你們知道人子在地上有赦罪的權柄，（他就對癱子說：）起來，拿起你的床，回家去吧。” 他就起來回家去了。 群眾看見，就起了敬畏的心，頌讚那把這樣的權柄賜給人的上帝 | 342537 = 3 x 13 x 8783 | 2/3 | |
| Mark 2:6-12 Second confirmation of Jesus' authority to forgive. | Catholic | 天主 twice with 上帝 | 那時，有幾個經師坐在那裡，心裡忖度說： 「怎麼這人這樣說話呢﹖他說了褻瀆的話；除了上帝一個外，誰能赦罪呢﹖」 耶穌憑自己的神力，即刻認透了他們私自這樣忖度，遂向他們說：「你們心中為什麼這樣忖度呢﹖ 什麼比較容易呢﹖是對癱子說：你的罪赦了；還是說：起來，拿你的床走﹖ 但為叫你們知道：人子在地上有權柄赦罪──遂對癱子說： 我給你說：起來，拿你的床，回家去罷!」 那人遂起來，立刻拿起床，當著眾人的面走出去了，以致眾人大為驚愕，遂光榮上帝說：「我們從未見過這樣的事!」 | 498505 = 5 x 7 x 14243 | 3/4 |
| CUV | 神 twice with 上帝 | 有幾個文士坐在那裡、心裡議論說、 這個人為甚麼這樣說呢．他說僭妄的話了．除了 上帝以外、誰能赦罪呢。 耶穌 心中知道他們心裡這樣議論、就說、你們心裡為甚麼這樣議論呢。 或對癱子說、你的罪赦了．或說、起來、拿你的褥子行走．那一樣容易呢。 但要叫你們知道人子 在地上有赦罪的權柄、就對癱子說、 我吩咐你起來、拿你的褥子回家去罷。 那人就起來、立刻拿著褥子、當眾人面前出去了．以致眾人都驚奇、歸榮耀與 上帝說、我們從來沒有見過這樣的事。 | 512379 = 33 x 7 x 2711 | 4/5 | |
| CNV | 4/6 | ||||
| Hebrews 12:11-17 The closing door. | Catholic | 4/7 | |||
| CUV | 4/8 | ||||
| CNV | 主 & 神 with 上帝 | 但是一切管教，在當時似乎不覺得快樂，反覺得痛苦；後來卻為那些經過這種操練的人，結出平安的果子來，就是義。 所以，你們要把下垂的手和發軟的腿挺直起來； 也要把你們所走的道路修直，使瘸子不至於扭腳，反而得到復原。 你們要竭力尋求與眾人和睦，並且要竭力追求聖潔。如果沒有聖潔，誰也不能見上帝。 你們要小心，免得有人失去了 上帝的恩典；免得有苦根長起來纏繞你們，因而污染了許多人； 又免得有人成為淫亂的和貪戀世俗的，好像以掃一樣，為了一點點食物，竟把自己長子的名分出賣了。 你們知道，後來以掃想要承受祝福，卻被拒絕了；他雖然帶著眼淚尋求，還是沒有反悔的餘地。 | 556871 = 7 x 19 x 53 x 79 | 5/9 | |
| Luke 9:38-43 Perverse generation. | Catholic | 5/10 | |||
| CUV | 神 with 上帝 | 其中有一人喊叫說、夫子、求你看顧我的兒子、因為他是我的獨生子。 他被鬼抓住、就忽然喊叫．鬼又叫他抽瘋、口中流沫、並且重重的傷害他、難以離開他。 我求過你的門徒、把鬼趕出去、他們卻是不能。 耶穌 說、噯、這又不信又悖謬的世代阿、我在你們這裡、忍耐你們、要到幾時呢．將你的兒子帶到這裡來罷。 正來的時候、鬼把他摔倒、叫他重重的抽瘋。耶穌 就斥責那污鬼、把孩子治好了、交給他父親。 眾人都詫異 上帝的大能 | 353808 = 24 x 35 x 7 x 13 | 6/11 | |
| CNV | 6/12 | ||||
| Acts 2:45-3:1 Growth of the first church. | Catholic | 6/13 | |||
| CUV | 6/14 | ||||
| CNV | 神 with 上帝 (主 is left, referring to Jesus) | 並且變賣產業和財物，按照各人的需要分給他們。 他們天天同心在殿裡恆切地聚集，一家一家地擘餅，存著歡樂和誠懇的心用飯， 又讚美 上帝，並且得到全民的喜愛。主將得救的人，天天加給教會。 在下午三點禱告的時辰，彼得和約翰上聖殿去 | 248108 = 22 x 7 x 8861 | 7/15 | |
| Romans 9:33-10:4 The stumbling block for the Jews. | Catholic | 7/16 | |||
| CUV | 7/17 | ||||
| CNV | 7/18 | ||||
| 2 Timothy 2:22-3:5 The believer constrasted with the world. | Catholic | 7/19 | |||
| CUV | 7/20 | ||||
| CNV | 7/21 | ||||
| Philippians 2:14-15 Advice for service. | Catholic | 天主 with 上帝 | 你們做一切事，總不可抱怨，也不可爭論， 好使你們成為無可指摘和純潔的，在乖僻敗壞的世代中，做上帝無瑕的子女；在世人中你們應放光明，有如字宙間的明星 | 125372 = 22 x 13 x 2411 | 8/22 |
| CUV | 8/23 | ||||
| CNV | 神 with 上帝 | 無論作甚麼，都不要發怨言、起爭論，好使你們無可指摘、純真無邪，在這彎曲乖謬的世代中，作 上帝沒有瑕疵的兒女；你們要在這世代中發光，好像天上的光體一樣 | 153216 = 27 x 32 x 7 x 19 | 9/24 | |
| Revelation 3:14-17 Laodicea | Catholic | 天主 with 上帝 | 你給勞狄刻雅教會的天使寫：那做阿們，做忠信而真實見證的，做上帝創造萬物根源的這樣說：我知道你的作為：你也不冷，也不熱；巴不得你或冷或熱！但是，你既然是溫的，也不冷，也不熱，我必要從我口中把你吐出來。你說：我是富有的，我發了財，什麽也不缺少；殊不知你是不幸的，可憐的，貧窮的，瞎眼的，赤身裸體的 | 273980 = 22 x 5 x 7 x 19 x 103. | 10/25 |
| CUV | 10/26 | ||||
| CNV | 10/27 | ||||
| Revelation 4:8-11 Heaven praises God. | Catholic | 10/28 | |||
| CUV | 主神 & 神 with 上帝 | 四活物各有六個翅膀、遍體內外都滿了眼睛．他們晝夜不住的說、聖哉、聖哉、聖哉、上帝．是昔在今在以後永在的全能者。 每逢四活物將榮耀、尊貴、感謝、歸給那坐在寶座上、活到永永遠遠者的時候、 那二十四位長老、就俯伏在坐寶座的面前、敬拜那活到永永遠遠的、又把他們的冠冕放在寶座前、說、 我們的主、我們的 上帝、你是配得榮耀尊貴權柄的．因為你創造了萬物、並且萬物是因你的旨意被創造而有的。 | 395619 = 3 x 7 x 18839 | 11/29 | |
| CNV | 11/30 | ||||
| Revelation 7:9-11 The Great Multitude praises God. | Catholic | 11/31 | |||
| CUV | 11/32 | ||||
| CNV | 11/33 | ||||
| Revelation 12:1-6 The woman & the dragon. | Catholic | 11/34 | |||
| CUV | 11/35 | ||||
| CNV | 11/36 | ||||
| Revelation 19:11-16 King of kings & Lord of lords | Catholic | 天主 with 上帝 | 隨後我看見天開了，見有一匹白馬；騎馬的那位，稱為忠信和真實者，他憑正義去審判，去作戰。他的眼睛有如火焰，他頭上戴著許多冠冕，還有寫的一個名號，除他自己外，誰也不認識；他身披一件染過血的衣服，他的名字叫作：上帝的聖言。天上的軍隊也乘著白馬，穿著潔白的細麻衣跟隨著他。從他口中射出一把利劍，用來打敗異民；他要用鐵杖統治他們，並踐踏那充滿全能天主忿怒的榨酒池。在衣服上，即在蓋他大腿的衣服上寫著萬王之王，萬主之主的名號 | 406651 = 72 x 43 x 193. | 12/37 |
| CUV | 12/38 | ||||
| CNV | 12/39 | ||||
| Romans 2:13-16 Doers of the law. | Catholic | 12/40 | |||
| CUV | 神 with 上帝 | （原來在 上帝面前、不是聽律法的為義、乃是行律法的稱義． 沒有律法的外邦人、若順著本性行律法上的事、他們雖然沒有律法、自己就是自己的律法． 這是顯出律法的功用刻在他們心裡、他們是非之心同作見證、並且他們的思念互相較量、或以為是、或以為非） 就在 上帝藉耶穌 基督 審判人隱秘事的日子、照著我的福音 所言。 | 270348 = 22 x 3 x 13 x 1733 | 13/41 | |
| CNV | 神 with 上帝 | 因為在 上帝面前，不是聽律法的為義，而是行律法的得稱為義。 沒有律法的外族人，如果按本性行律法上的事，他們雖然沒有律法，自己就是自己的律法； 這就表明律法的作用是刻在他們的心裡，有他們的良心一同作證，他們的思想互相較量，或作控告、或作辯護。 這也要照著我所傳的福音，在 上帝藉著耶穌基督審判各人隱情的那一天，彰顯出來。 | 312169 = 11 x 13 x 37 x 59 | 14/42 | |
| Exodus 17:16 War with Amalek. | Catholic | 上主 with 上帝 | 說「向上帝的旌旗舉手，上帝必世世代代與阿瑪肋克作戰 | 52731 = 35 x 7 x 31 | 15/43 |
| CUV | 14/44 | ||||
| CNV | 15/45 | ||||
| Isaiah 2:19-3:2 The end times. | Catholic | 15/46 | |||
| CUV | 15/47 | ||||
| CNV | 15/48 | ||||
| Psalm 89:8-12 God the Creator & Master. | Catholic | 15/49 | |||
| CUV | 15/50 | ||||
| CNV | 15/51 | ||||
| 1 Kings 8:2-9 Temple dedication. | Catholic | 15/52 | |||
| CUV | 15/53 | ||||
| CNV | 15/54 |
Conclusion
Out of 54 tries, 15 yielded results with 7 or 13 (1 in 4). To be more specific, 10 of 54 had a result divisible by 7. This is slightly more than the odds, which would have expected 7 or 8. And 6 out of 54 had a result divisible by 13. Going by the odds one would have expected 4 or 5. Six is just a bit better than the odds.
The results are not spectacular, but once again it appears something has slanted the odds slightly to one side. The inconclusive results for 上帝 appear more significant when they are compared with the natural state of these verses. The chart below shows which verses and translations were naturally divisible by seven (s) or thirteen (t). The 1 or 2 represents the number of possible ways a total could have been derived from that verse (explained in the next paragraph).
CAT CUV CNV
Matthew 9:3-8 1 2 2
Mark 2:6-12 1 2 2
Hebrews 12:11-17 1 2 2s
Luke 9:38-43 1 2 2
Acts 2:45-3:1 1 2 2
Romans 9:33-10:4 1st 2 2s
2Timothy 2:22-3:5 1 2 2
Philippians 2:14-15 1s 2 2
Revelation 3:14-17 1 2 2
Revelation 4:8-11 1 2 2
Revelation 7:9-11 1 2s* 2
Revelation 12:1-6 1 2s* 2
Revelation 19:11-16 1 2s* 2
Romans 2:13-16 1 2 2s
Exodus 17:16 1 1 1
Isaiah 2:19-3:2 1 1 1s
Psalm 89:8-12 1 2s 2
1Kings 8:2-9 1 1 1
While the table above listed 54 trials on 18 verses, this chart is actually 84 trials on 18 verses. The difference occurs because the CUV and CNV use the character 神 (god/s) to stand in for 上帝 (the one supreme GOD). In the CUV and CNV, whenever 神 is used for GOD it is preceded by a space _神 to show that it stands in for something else. (Western translators avoided using 上帝 because it was incompatible with their Trinity.) The space with 神 in Big5 is a wide space and actually has a value (−767). Thus for certain verses in the CUV and CNV there two possible ways of obtaining a total: 1) include the space as a character subtracting 767 from the total, or 2) ignoring the space. The asterisks in the chart above show verses where the space was ignored. These verses would not be divisible by 7 if the space had been included. The converse is also true for some of the other CUV and CNV verses that do not have an asterisk. If the space had been eliminated they would not be divisible by seven. (In the exercise where 上帝 replaces 神 the space is also eliminated and need not be accounted for.)
Thus out of 84 tries, only 10 are divisible by seven. This is less than the odds would suggest. Only one was divisible by 13, and this is significantly less than the odds. In other words, the Chinese translations as they are now have fewer positive numeric results than they should. Since we know the Chinese translations are heavily influenced by English translations, we know the Chinese Bible could be better. One of these improvements would be using the Chinese term 上帝 for God.
Is it coincidence that so few verses were divisible by 13? Or is it because the proper Chinese term (上帝) for GOD was not used? Since the number 13 is related to GOD’s name in Hebrew (יהוה), and the CUV and CNV avoided the proper term, one might think this is why these two translations have no verses divisible by this number. In the exercise above, six of the sample verses ended up with totals divisible by 13 when 上帝 was used.
中 國 要 回 歸 上 帝
(For more on China and America in prophecy: Bible Issues.)