MATHEMATICAL THEOLOGY: MULTIPLICATION IN THE CREATION NARRATIVE OF GENESIS

Abstract

This study investigates the presence of mathematical concepts in the biblical creation narrative, particularly in Genesis 1:22 and 1:28, where God commands living beings to “be fruitful and multiply.” Through a qualitative, theoretical, and bibliographic approach, the research examines the mathematical knowledge developed by ancient civilizations, especially the Babylonians and Egyptians, and their influence on the cultural environment of the Hebrews. The study argues that the concept of multiplication was already embedded in the worldview of the ancient Near East and could be understood by the original audience of the text. Furthermore, contemporary population growth models are employed as illustrative tools to demonstrate the coherence between the biblical command to multiply and mathematical principles of proportional growth. Although modern mathematical theories were developed centuries after the composition of Genesis, they help reveal the logical structure implicit in the biblical narrative. The findings suggest that mathematical reasoning was part of the sociocultural framework of the Hebrews and that the command to multiply expresses not only a biological imperative but also a principle of expansion, preservation, and occupation of creation. Thus, mathematics and theology appear as complementary perspectives for understanding the creation account.