The number twelve is a significant symbol in the Bible and remained so for early Christianity.
Originally, the number twelve was probably seen to be significant because there are 12 lunar months in a year. In other words, the moon completes a cycle from full moon to new moon about every 28 days. This is probably why it is no coincidence that ancient Greek mythology had Twelve Olympians as the main gods in their pantheon. The Norse god, Odin, also had twelve sons.
But in the Old Testament, the number twelve became significant for the Twelve Tribes of Israel. There were twelve major tribes of people descended from the sons of Jacob, who God named Israel. The people of God and the promised land were divided into these Twelve Tribes.
The Twelve Tribes of Israel were named Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin
In the New Testament Jesus Christ then appointed Twelve Apostles to become the leaders of the Church. The Twelve Apostles connected to the Twelve Tribes of Israel in the Old Testament. God’s people would now be descended through Baptism from the Twelve Apostles.
Twelve was so important that after Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, he was replaced with another Apostle named Matthias. From the Twelve Apostles new bishops were appointed through the laying on of hands to become the successors to the Apostles.
This is also why the number twelve became so significant in the Book of Revelation, which referred to the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles in connection with the people who be taken up into heaven.
Fun fact: Twelve was so important that some Christians often wore exactly 12 buttons to church every Sunday.
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10 апр 2024
