St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

In our "Questions to the clergy" slot, John will try to answer any query you throw at him, without hesitation, deviation or repetition...

Jokes in the bible?

Q. Why aren’t there any jokes in the bible?

A. I think there are jokes in the bible, but they’re hard to recognise.

Technically speaking, a sense of humour is very much culturally-determined. That’s to say, what you think is funny depends on where and when you were brought up and what kind of society you live in. Watch a TV comedian nowadays and ask yourself whether your great grand-parents would have considered the jokes funny? Or watch a Morcambe & Wise video and see how some of their subjects are now thought racist or sexist or abusive.

So it is almost certain that some bible texts were written tongue-in-cheek and were supposed to be humorous, and it’s just that we can’t see the joke. Because of poor translation, or we simply don’t expect a joke at that point, or we don’t understand the cultural situation which is intrinsically funny.

Bible jokes (I suspect):

“Out of the eater came something to eat - out of the strong came something sweet.” (Judges 14:14). Samson’s riddle is a smutty reference to what was going on at a wedding party. They are all having a ‘good time’ getting drunk and making passes at the pretty girls, so Samson makes a lewd comment on their behaviour. Use your imagination and think of creative answers to his riddle!
“I’ve found one good man in a thousand ... but not one woman!” (Ecclesiastes 7:28) is, I think, a joke. Maybe it’s a very hurt comment, but a joke seems more likely! Likewise 2:3 “I tried getting drunk and being stupid - while guided by wisdom the whole time!” What?
“All Cretans are liars. One of them said so. This testimony is true.” (Titus 1:12-13). It’s a famous logical conundrum, because if he said so, he’d be lying. Commentators can’t understand why Paul wrote it, but I’m quite certain he meant it as a private joke - that’s why he includes the last four words.
“Well, Lord, you’d better wash my hands and head as well,” (John 13:9) was (I think) Peter’s joke at the Last Supper, and Jesus smiles as he says he’ll stop at Peter’s feet, thanks.
Proverbs 25:16? Is the writer entirely straight-faced?

I could go on. I admit it’s hard to prove, but I think the bible has a lot of good jokes in it!

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. September 2009, Page 4.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (September 2009) Back to church, Song, Question, CAP Money, Lectionary. Other questions.	In our "Questions to the clergy" slot, John will try to answer any query you throw at him, without hesitation, deviation or repetition... Jokes in the bible? Q. Why aren’t there any jokes in the bible? A. I think there are jokes in the bible, but they’re hard to recognise. Technically speaking, a sense of humour is very much culturally-determined. That’s to say, what you think is funny depends on where and when you were brought up and what kind of society you live in. Watch a TV comedian nowadays and ask yourself whether your great grand-parents would have considered the jokes funny? Or watch a Morcambe & Wise video and see how some of their subjects are now thought racist or sexist or abusive. So it is almost certain that some bible texts were written tongue-in-cheek and were supposed to be humorous, and it’s just that we can’t see the joke. Because of poor translation, or we simply don’t expect a joke at that point, or we don’t understand the cultural situation which is intrinsically funny. Bible jokes (I suspect): “Out of the eater came something to eat - out of the strong came something sweet.” (Judges 14:14). Samson’s riddle is a smutty reference to what was going on at a wedding party. They are all having a ‘good time’ getting drunk and making passes at the pretty girls, so Samson makes a lewd comment on their behaviour. Use your imagination and think of creative answers to his riddle! “I’ve found one good man in a thousand ... but not one woman!” (Ecclesiastes 7:28) is, I think, a joke. Maybe it’s a very hurt comment, but a joke seems more likely! Likewise 2:3 “I tried getting drunk and being stupid - while guided by wisdom the whole time!” What? “All Cretans are liars. One of them said so. This testimony is true.” (Titus 1:12-13). It’s a famous logical conundrum, because if he said so, he’d be lying. Commentators can’t understand why Paul wrote it, but I’m quite certain he meant it as a private joke - that’s why he includes the last four words. “Well, Lord, you’d better wash my hands and head as well,” (John 13:9) was (I think) Peter’s joke at the Last Supper, and Jesus smiles as he says he’ll stop at Peter’s feet, thanks. Proverbs 25:16? Is the writer entirely straight-faced? I could go on. I admit it’s hard to prove, but I think the bible has a lot of good jokes in it! John Hartley
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