Harmonic of Three 

This page is a resource that we use for Christian bible study. We have developed some of the information on this page and we have borrowed information from other studies which are freely available. Our intent is to provide a study resource that we can access when traveling. We do not disagree with anyone's personal interpretation of scripture and our thoughts are not offered as an argument for the perspective from our understanding of this revelation. Please feel free to read or use the study material if it is of help. Thank you // JL|©

We are all use to the effect of getting information second or third hand. The information unintentionally changes ever so slightly with each generation of communication. God's revelation, in the bible, has numerous people who received portions of revelation directly from God, followed by multiple generations of communication and translation from one language to another, one culture to another, one age to another. For us, this thought does not challenge the validity of God's word as recorded in countless versions and translations of revelation. Rather, we ask ourselves if there are not attributes common to revelation in all forms and languages which by their integrated and harmonious nature give us a slightly different view of the single Author, God, and a better understanding of the revelation. We sometimes feel that such attributes are similar to a corporation's letter-head.  

When we find them, we term scriptures with these attributes: harmonics. 

Harmonics are often helpful to us in bible study. This page is a study of harmonic's of three.

Harmonic's of three seem to deal with progressive states in our relationship with God. 

We sometimes characterize these progressive states as: basic sustenance, supported relationship and transcendental relationship, though this interpretation is usually just a starting point for more complete development in our understanding as a bible study group proceeds with reading and interpretation of the Word of God.

Harmonics of 3

With regard to harmonics-of-three, we find it useful to consider the production of olive oil in biblical times.

Interesting enough, olive trees grow where other trees will not, thriving on rocky ground and in unproductive soil. The Garden of Gethsemane is such a place, olive trees are abundant on this rocky ridge that runs north to south just east of Jerusalem perhaps some two hundred feet higher than the temple mount. Gethsemane, as in "garden of", means “ olive oil press.” When Jesus went to that garden to pray, He probably could look out over Jerusalem.

Basically olives are picked, actually gathered after beating the olive trees with ripe fruit, then, in biblical times, they were wash and placed in a circular stone basin to be crushed by a millstone. The liquid from this initial step has a reddish hue. This liquid is often termed "extra virgin olive oil" as it has the original aroma of the olives.

The crushed olives form a pulp or paste which is then placed in a press on which are placed increasing weights of stone which results in three types of olive oil, in both biblical times and today - though today, the separation of the three weights of oil from the olive pulp is performed by centrifuges.

 Three types of olive oil produced in an olive press

• The lightest stone weights squeeze out the lighest oil (virgin oil) which was used for food and also as the anointing oil for priests and the temple bread

• The second oil from the olive paste was and is used for both healing (medicine) and as oil for lamps

• The third and heaviest weight oil, produced by the heaviest stone weights, was and is used for soap making.

Here we have Jesus as Messiah, the anointed of God, light to the world, healer of man and God's solution, our only source, for the cleansing of sin. If you read up on olive production, both in biblical days and today, the highest olive fruit yield is gained by grafting "wild" olive branches onto cultivated olive trees. To graft the "wild" branches onto cultivated trees they make a cross shaped cut on the cultivated tree into which the "wild" branch is grafted.

Note Paul's reference to this image in the New Testament Book Romans, chapter 11, verses 13-24

¹³ Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry ¹⁴ in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead! ¹⁶ If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy. ¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. ¹⁹ You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. ²² Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. ²³ And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

  Note the prophetic reference of Isaiah, chapter 4, verses 2-6:

² On that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. ³ Whoever is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, ⁴ once the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. ⁵ Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its places of assembly a cloud by day and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Indeed over all the glory there will be a canopy. ⁶ It will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

Other Harmonics

Harmonics of 4

Harmonics of 5

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