Biblical scholars and theologians have long known that the Lord’s Prayer was a precise summary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. See some references in the Scholarly Comments section of this website.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ refers to the good news of God’s redemptive plan for humanity, accomplished through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. It is the proclamation of salvation and eternal life available to all who believe in Him. It can be summarized under the following four categories of messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, as they comprehensively encapsulate the major themes and events central to His mission. Here’s how each category relates to the core message of the Gospel:
- Prophecies About Jesus’ Birth:
- These prophecies highlight the miraculous and divine origins of Jesus, emphasizing His identity as the promised Messiah. His birth fulfills God’s promises to bring salvation to humanity, establishing the foundation of the Gospel.
- Prophecies About Jesus’ Life and Ministry:
- Jesus’ teachings, miracles, and the way He lived demonstrate the nature of God, His love, and His kingdom. His life provides the model for righteous living and the manifestation of divine power and compassion.
- Prophecies About Jesus’ Death:
- The death of Jesus is the climax of the Gospel, showing the ultimate sacrifice for humanity’s sins. This act of atonement is central to Christian belief, as it reconciles humans with God and provides a way for salvation.
- Prophecies About Jesus’ Resurrection:
- The resurrection is the triumphant victory over sin and death, proving Jesus’ divinity and ensuring eternal life for believers. It is the cornerstone of Christian hope and the promise of a future resurrection for all who follow Him.
These categories collectively narrate the Gospel story—from the anticipation of the Messiah, His life on earth, the sacrificial death, and His victorious resurrection. They align with the essential message of the Gospel as expressed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4:
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Thus, the Gospel can be meaningfully summarized under these four categories.
Mathematically, it is sufficient to show that the total sum of the identifiers of any set of pertinent messianic prophecies in the Old Testament about Jesus Christ under the four categories points to the Lord’s Prayer, whose identifier is 168 in the Gospel of Luke and 285 in the Gospel of Matthew.
Accordingly, let us identify the pertinent verses and their identifiers:
1. Prophecies About Jesus’ Birth
- Born of a Virgin: Isaiah 7:14 – “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Identifier=22.
- Born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.” Identifier=40.
- Descendant of Abraham: Genesis 22:18 – “Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.” Identifier=41.
- From the Line of David: Jeremiah 23:5 – “I will raise up for David a righteous Branch.” Identifier=52.
- Herod’s Slaughter of Innocents Foretold: Jeremiah 31:15 – “A voice is heard in Ramah… Rachel weeping for her children.” Identifier=70.
- Called Out of Egypt: Hosea 11:1 – “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Identifier=40.
Sum of all identifiers: 22+40+41+52+70+40=265.
2. Prophecies About Jesus’ Life and Ministry
- Proceeded by a Messenger (John the Baptist): Isaiah 40:3 – “A voice of one calling in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the LORD.’” Identifier=66.
- A Light to the Gentiles: Isaiah 9:2 – “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” Identifier=34
- He Will Teach in Parables: Psalm 78:2 – “I will open my mouth with a parable.” Identifier=99.
- Perform Miracles: Isaiah 35:5 – “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.” Identifier=63.
- Zeal for God’s House: Psalm 69:9 – “Zeal for your house consumes me.” Identifier=97.
- The King Comes on a Donkey: Zechariah 9:9 – “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey.” Identifier=56.
Sum of all the identifiers: 66+34+99+63+97+56=415.
3. Prophecies About Jesus’ Death
- Betrayed for Thirty Pieces of Silver: Zechariah 11:12 – “So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.” Identifier=61.
- Silent Before His Accusers: Isaiah 53:7 – “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.” Identifier=83.
- Pierced Hands and Feet: Psalm 22:16 – “They pierce my hands and my feet.” Identifier=57.
- Crucified with Criminals: Isaiah 53:12 – “He was numbered with the transgressors.” Identifier=88.
- Mocked and Insulted: Psalm 22:7 – “All who see me mock me.” Identifier=48.
- Given Vinegar to Drink: Psalm 69:21 – “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” Identifier=109.
- His Side Pierced: Zechariah 12:10 – “They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” Identifier=60.
- Cast Lots for His Clothing: Psalm 22:18 – “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” Identifier=59.
Sum of all identifiers: 61+83+57+88+48+109+60+59=565.
4. Prophecies About Jesus’ Resurrection
- Raised on the Third Day: Hosea 6:2 – “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us.” Identifier=36.
- Not Abandoned to the Grave: Psalm 16:10 – “You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.” Identifier=45.
- Ascends to Heaven: Psalm 68:18 – “When you ascended on high, you took many captives.” Identifier=105.
- Seated at God’s Right Hand: Psalm 110:1 – “The LORD says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” Identifier=130.
Sum of all the identifiers: 36+45+105+130=316.
Hence, the total of all the sums is 265+415+565+316=1561.
Now, there are 215 sphenic numbers less than or equal to 1561. We can also get 215 if we consider the fact that 1561 is the 1314th composite number and that an approximation of the function Prime Pi evaluated at 1314 is 215.
But the astonishing result is that the Euler Totient function evaluated at 215 is precisely 168, the identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke.
| Book | Chapter | Verse | Sum |
| 42 | 11 | 2 | 55 |
| 42 | 11 | 3 | 56 |
| 42 | 11 | 4 | 57 |
| 168 |
The identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke is 168
Conclusion. The Lord’s Prayer is a precise summary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Lord's Prayer: A Mathematician's Creed 