Nuances, Humor, Sarcasm, Etc. in the Bible
Many people express difficulty reading the Bible. Reasons include it’s a book of rules, it’s depressing (O/T mainly), hard to understand, outdated or irrelevant, and so forth. The one that gets me the most is when people say it’s boring. The Bible is filled with all kinds of nuances, humor, some sarcasm, but mostly hope. Not sure how that can be boring or irrelevant.
Let me highlight a few…
Personalities / Sarcasm / Ego (Competition between Peter and John)
John 20:2-4, So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
John constantly reminds us he’s the one Jesus loved and slips in that he’s faster than Peter.
John 21:20,21, Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”
Peter didn’t even refer to John by his name. Can you see the inside competition between those two.
Knowing those nuances may provide a bit more personal connection when reading about John and Peter.
How to Read the Weather
Red skies at night, sailors delight. Red skies in the morning, sailors take warning.
Matt 16:2,3, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’
Now you now where that saying came from.
Song of Songs - Love Notes
Passion for your Marriage (pretty hot stuff, like most of chapter 5)
Characteristics of Solomon’s wife (if we described our wife this way, we’d be sleeping on the couch)
Her waist is a mound of wheat, 7:2
Her nose is like the tower of Lebanon, 7:4
She had all of her teeth, 4:2
I haven't seen those in a Hallmark card yet.
No Cross-dressing
Deut 22:5, 5 “A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.
They had drag queens back then too
Best of the Bible is its Endless Hope For Everyone
Psalm 107: 10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, 11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. 12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. 13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
That’s some pretty good hope
Hidden Timelines
Timeline from Paul’s conversion to his meeting with the Disciples. Acts 9:19 says Paul regained his strength and then spent seven days with the disciples and immediately began preaching. However, Gal 1:18 states he went to Arabia for a while before returning to Damascus and then 3 years pass before going to Jerusalem to meet with Peter. If you are not careful, you may believe that Paul had a conversion and was immediately accepted and ready to preach.
John MacArthur pointed that out in one of his sermons. It forever changed the way I read the Bible because it highlighted that the writings are not standalone statements but recording of many intertwined events. As such, we should read all of the Bible, not just our favorite verses.
The Bible is full of hardship, hope, and redemption, but is is also full of experiences we can relate to, events we can laugh through, cry with, and apply to our every day life.
I hope this encourages you to read the Bible more. If you're just getting started, begin with the New Testament, as it really is a bit easier to understand and then, with the help of a study guide, read the Old Testament. It's all good stuff that will change your life.
