The Trial of our Faith

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:7ff (Spoke 16, Cycle 3)

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Zechariah 13:9ff (Spoke 16, Cycle 2)

Both of these passages contain the words (Gold, Fire, Trial/Tried) ^[Verify]. We therefore a strong thematic link:

Thematic Link: The Trial of our Faith

ZechariahI Peter

This is not a KeyLink because the link set also appears in one other verse, namely Revelation 3.18.

The division of the people into thirds in Zechariah, with one third being called the "People of God" links the Number 3 (e.g. Third Day of Creation) and to the idea of the People of God on Spoke 3 of the Inner Cycle of the Psalms.

Questions? Comments? Join the discussion on the Bible Wheel Forum!