Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Godless Wonder · 12-21-2003, 09:42 PM

I was thinking about the Bible as literature. It occurs to me that most literary books topping 1000 pages contain a few lines of humor. What's the funniest line or joke in the Bible? (and I mean ones which are intended as humor.) Are there any jokes in there? I don't remember any. (But I haven't read every single word of the thing, and I also know that remembering humor is something I'm very bad at.)

"The bible lacks a sense of humor" seems a valid literary criticism. Big on smiting, less so on smiling.

Llyricist · 12-21-2003, 11:57 PM

Quote:

NRSV:
(John 2) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now."

If you take out the 4 bolded words above, that passage becomes a parable of the good nature people are capable of, and possibly Jesus' understanding of that. Plus it WOULD make what the steward said a joke.

Theophage · 12-22-2003, 02:46 AM

Funniest joke in the bible? That's an easy one...

*whap!*

"Prophesy! Who hit you?"

I'll leave it as an exercise for the reader to determine chapter and verse (there are a couple).

Ellis14 · 12-22-2003, 12:30 PM

in the Old testament, Elijah i believe is engaging with pagans in a contest between the Jewish god Jehovah and the false God Baal. when Baal cannot perform the miracles that Elijah demands, despite his worshipers performing dances and chants for hours, Elisha starts to take the p*** and say "maybe Baal has excrement and has to go to the privy?!"

pure blatant sarcasm! love it.

Doctor X · 12-22-2003, 12:54 PM

That guy who said he would be back after his execution within a generation. . . .

--J.D.

variant 13 · 12-22-2003, 02:53 PM

"Thou Shalt Not....."

Have you seen humans?! We fucking shall and often!

12-21-2003, 09:42 PM	#1
Godless Wonder Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,197	Funniest joke in the Bible? I was thinking about the Bible as literature. It occurs to me that most literary books topping 1000 pages contain a few lines of humor. What's the funniest line or joke in the Bible? (and I mean ones which are intended as humor.) Are there any jokes in there? I don't remember any. (But I haven't read every single word of the thing, and I also know that remembering humor is something I'm very bad at.) "The bible lacks a sense of humor" seems a valid literary criticism. Big on smiting, less so on smiling.

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12-22-2003, 02:46 AM	#3
Theophage Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 966	Funniest joke in the bible? That's an easy one... whap! "Prophesy! Who hit you?" I'll leave it as an exercise for the reader to determine chapter and verse (there are a couple).

12-22-2003, 12:30 PM	#4
Ellis14 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: England Posts: 3,934	in the Old testament, Elijah i believe is engaging with pagans in a contest between the Jewish god Jehovah and the false God Baal. when Baal cannot perform the miracles that Elijah demands, despite his worshipers performing dances and chants for hours, Elisha starts to take the p*** and say "maybe Baal has excrement and has to go to the privy?!" pure blatant sarcasm! love it.

12-22-2003, 12:54 PM	#5
Doctor X Banned Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,794	That guy who said he would be back after his execution within a generation. . . . --J.D.

12-22-2003, 02:53 PM	#6
variant 13 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: no where, uk Posts: 4,677	"Thou Shalt Not....." Have you seen humans?! We fucking shall and often!

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