E.W. Bullinger — Doctrine of God
b1 — Number in Scripture: Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance
God’s Perfection and Attributes (Part I, Chapter I)
Bullinger states in the preface that his goal is:
“to strengthen believers in their most holy faith; and to convince doubters of the Divine perfection and inspiration of the Book of Books, to the praise and glory of God.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Preface
At the opening of Chapter I (Works of God) Bullinger establishes God’s absolute perfection as a foundational principle:
“There can be neither works nor words without number. We can understand how man can act and speak without design or significance, but we cannot imagine that the great and infinite Creator and Redeemer could either work or speak without both His words and His works being absolutely perfect in every particular.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part I, Chapter I
He then cites two Psalms as scriptural grounding for God’s perfection:
“‘As for God His WAY is perfect’ (Ps. 18:30). ‘The Law of the LORD is perfect’ (Ps. 19:7). They are both perfect in power, perfect in holiness and righteousness, perfect in design, perfect in execution, perfect in their object and end.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part I, Chapter I
On God’s holiness and righteousness in all His works:
“‘The LORD is righteous in all His ways: and holy in all His works’ (Ps. 145:17).”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part I, Chapter I
Bullinger describes God as both Law-giver and Law-enforcer visible in His works:
“In all the works of God we find not only what we call ‘Law,’ and a Law-maker, but we observe a Law enforcer. We speak of laws, but they are nothing in themselves. They have no being; they possess no power; they cannot make themselves, or carry themselves out. What we mean when we speak of law in nature is simply this: God in action.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part I, Chapter I
Bullinger draws the conclusion that God’s perfection flows directly into all His works:
“As He is perfect, so His works and His words also must be perfect.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part I, Chapter I
Number 3 as the Number of Divine Perfection
In introducing the four perfect numbers, Bullinger states:
“3 is the number of Divine perfection. 7 is the number of Spiritual perfection. 10 is the number of Ordinal perfection. 12 is the number of Governmental perfection.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part I (introduction to number significance)
Interpretation: Bullinger directly links the number 3 to God’s own nature as a category of perfection, distinct from the other perfect numbers.
Unity of God — Number One (Part II)
Bullinger opens the treatment of the number One with a direct statement on God’s unity:
“There can be no doubt as to the significance of this primary number. In all languages it is the symbol of unity. As a cardinal number it denotes unity; as an ordinal it denotes primacy. Unity being indivisible, and not made up of other numbers, is therefore independent of all others, and is the source of all others. So with the Deity. The great First Cause is independent of all. All stand in need of Him, and He needs no assistance from any.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part II: ONE
On the exclusivity of God’s oneness:
“‘One’ excludes all difference, for there is no second with which it can either harmonise or conflict.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part II: ONE
On the Shema and its relation to Trinitarian doctrine:
“When it is written: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD thy God is one LORD,’ it does not deny the Doctrine of the Trinity, but it excludes absolutely another Lord: it excludes, therefore, all idolatry. Hence the First Commandment declares ‘Thou shalt have NO OTHER GODS’ (Ex. 20:3). It asserts that there is in God a sufficiency which needs no other; and an independence which admits no other.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part II: ONE
On God’s primacy as the foundational principle of Scripture:
“‘God first’ is the voice of Scripture.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part II: ONE
On God’s independence as His glory:
“Independence, in God, is His glory. Independence in man, is his sin, and rebellion, and shame.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part II: ONE
Aseity and Names of God (Part II)
Bullinger cites a series of Scripture passages to illustrate God’s absolute primacy and aseity:
“Thus saith the LORD, the King of Israel, And his redeemer the LORD of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; And beside Me there is no God.” (Isa. 44:6)
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part II: ONE
“Before Me there was no God formed, Neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD; And beside Me there is no Saviour.” (Isa. 43:10-11)
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part II: ONE
“I am Alpha and Omega, The first and the last.” (Rev. 1:11,17; 2:8; 22:13)
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part II: ONE
Bullinger links the names ‘the First and the Last’ to three dimensions of God’s unique primacy:
“The first is the only one. There cannot be two firsts. He is first in priority of time. He is first in superiority of rank, and He is first in absolute supremacy.”
— Bullinger, Number in Scripture, Part II: ONE