From a purely literary perspective, what is your favorite Biblical passage?

Question

Muarice, Isaiah 40.

maurice-Is. 40
Sunscour-quite a loose paraphrase

ann-what is even remotely literary about that. You should read Lewis Carrol and get really inspired.

Answer 1

Unlike many of those answering, I'm not a believer. So the parts of the Bible that I like are parts that I like for purely literary reasons- not because I think that quoting them will advance the faith.

Some of the Psalms are good. There is an abiding comfort to many from Psalm 23 (the Lord is my Shepard) but while I am particularly fond of "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death" part, the imagery of being a sheep doesn't work for me at all. A shepard, after all, doesn't protect the sheep for the sheep's sake. The mutton image disrupts the comforting tone for me personally.

There are, of course, parts of the Song of Solomon. The erotic imagery is a nice change of pace but ultimately all the food references to things like almonds and pomegranates don't work for me. Historically I can see how attractive the imagery was, but for my own enjoyment it doesn't cut it.

Much of the Bible, frankly, fails completely for me on a literary level. But when I pick up the Bible because I want literature I usually turn to Ecclesiastes.

The poet of Ecclesiastes provides, for me, a real human voice. He's someone who has lived. He's seen things from all sides, he knows the highs and lows that life brings. He appreciates wisdom, but knows that it, too, is only fleeting. He has seen it all but extols the simple virtues of living your daily life well with your family in your home. I don't agree that for everything there is a season- I think that contradictory parts of life like joy and sorrow don't come serially but often come at once and can be experienced together- but I appreciate how well he expresses it. Ultimately I don't agree with his conclusions that God's the solution to the vanities of life, but because he's expressed his views on such a human scale instead of pronouncing from authority and demanding obedience, I listen more readily to his views.
So there you have it. Ecclesiastes.

Answer 2

I like "The Spirit of Truth will lead you into all truth, even the deep things of God." It's so Eastern-Western. Kind of Zen. To pack so much in a short phrase, it can keep you meditating on that for some time. So crypitc. Condenses the whole Bible if you think of The Spirit as the "still smal voice" of Ezekiel, termed the intuition in the West and relate that to God speaking to the Prophets and prayer, it says that you can ask that voice in you and it will answer and tell you all truth. Anyone into intuition will say that the intuition is always right, a slight exageration because we tend to slant the thought, but still it actually is right, if we get ourself out of it, except to question for clarification. It turns into a conversation. Incredible. It goes full circle back to asking God about everything as you would any parent. All spiritual texts were by revelation and the great scientists all gave intuition most of the credit at one time or another as Einstein did sometimes. Great writers say they where inspired, just taking dictation and that sort of thing. Literature is said to be inspired. "Truth is beauty, beauty truth."

Answer 3

Isaiah 36:12. I think the passage is in 2 Kings as well. It cracks me up.

But seriously, James 1:5-6

Answer 4

Psalm 40

Answer 5

I do not recall the script and verse, but the "speech" delivered by Paul at Mars Hill, ( i think its called) is fascinating how he takes the moment, and explains the "Unknown God". A very tactical speech to the Greeks and masses. ( I wonder if Paul ever heard of Sun Tzu? )

...in a literary perspective.

and that walk through the Valley of Death, just sound cool, ...
...and I shall fear no evil...

Answer 6

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat. - Psalm 19

Answer 7

I like 2 Corinthians 11 for the vigour and assertion of Paul's love for the congregation.

Answer 8

2 Corinthians Chapter 4 - Incredibly beautiful literary words of hope.

Answer 9

I like the exchange between Ruth and Naomi in the book of Ruth where Ruth refuses to abandon Naomi. It's an expression of love and loyalty between a woman and her mother-in-law.

Answer 10

Psalm 130 ("De profundis" -- Out of the Depths)

Isaiah 53