Noordzij — Anthropology
b8 — Jesus’ Signs in the Gospel of John
Old and New Man — the Number Six
In the interpretation of the first sign (wedding at Cana), the number six is presented as the biblical number of humanity.
Six is the number of man, both the “old” and the “new.” The “pharaoh” of “Egypt” (=“the flesh”) had six hundred chariots (Ex. 14:6, 28). All Philistine giants were associated with the number six (1Sam. 17:4, 7, 2Sam. 21:20). The golden image in Babylon, before which all had to bow, was sixty cubits high and six cubits wide (Dan. 3:1). The “old man,” the “flesh,” is “666” (Rev. 13:18). In a positive sense, six indicates the new man whom God uses. (Noordzij, b8)
This dual meaning—six as both old and new humanity—marks a transformation in human nature through Christ.
The Fallen State of Natural Man
In the sixth sign (the man born blind), the anthropological consequence of the Fall is explained:
The congenital blindness spoken of here represents the fallen state of natural man, who has been expelled from Eden! (Noordzij, b8, ref. John 9:1-2)
This characterization aligns with classical theology of original sin and human nature after Adam.
Redemption of the Body — Eschatological Anthropology
The cosmic redemption of the body is connected to human hope in an eschatological context:
We groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for… the redemption of our bodies (Rom. 8:23, cited in Noordzij b8, second sign)
Noordzij interprets this as future complete redemption, not merely spiritual restoration.
There will come healing of all inward conflict! There will come complete redemption! (Rev. 14:3-4, Isa. 62:12, Noordzij b8)
Resurrection in Christ — Solidarity with the Body
The seventh sign (the raising of Lazarus) uses the human body as central carrier of meaning:
Lazarus is a type of the “fullness of Christ,” of His Body of many sons. The Man of Nazareth became his life! (Noordzij, b8, John 11:1-44)
Human resurrection is grounded in Christ’s role as firstborn:
Jesus is “the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). Yes, the whole “body of Christ” will be completely freed from all bonds of “death.” (Noordzij, b8)
The universal law of resurrection follows:
A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned (John 5:28-29, Noordzij b8)
New Life — Resurrection Life (Number Eight)
The eighth and final sign concludes the cycle with the number eight as symbol of new life:
The number eight indicates new life, resurrection life. During the flood there were eight souls in the ark (Gen. 6, 1Pet. 3:10-22). In Israel, everything male had to be circumcised on the eighth day (Ex. 22:29-31). (Noordzij, b8)
This marks how Noordzij views human restoration not merely as personal-spiritual, but as cosmic and embodied.