Bible Quizzes for Really Smart People XXXV

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Biblical Quizzes for Really Smart People

Quiz II--Movies

Quiz III--Movies II

Quiz VII--X rated

Quiz VIII--X rated

Quiz X- The Numbers

Quiz XXIX (Messiah)

Quiz XXX (Messiah II)

Quiz XXXI (Mess. III)

Quiz XXXII (Mess. IV)

Quiz XL--vivid images

Quiz XLII--Latin

Quiz LV--denigration

Quiz LIX--weird doct.

Quiz LXIV--doctrine

Quiz LXV--doctrine II

Biblical Quizzes for Smart People XXXV

Bill Long 1/21/07

1. '"Bad, bad,' says the buyer, then goes away and boasts," NRSV. The KJV has language that we wouldn't use today: "It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth."

Don't you just have to smile, and maybe even laugh, when you read this verse? It so captures the sentiment of the American consumer today. Well, we might not say "bad, bad," but you get the idea--the consumer always wants to think s/he is getting a good deal. And so we try to bargain people down, where it is appropriate, or we "shop for sales" and then we boast of it to other people. 'Do you know how much I got THIS THING for?' We are anxious for others to tell us that what we bought is worth so much more than we actually paid for it. The implication is that we are consumer geniuses and that the history of the world will not fully be written until it takes into account how savvy we are. But the real joke is on us, for this Bible verse tells us that our attitude has been with the human race since the beginning of time. How do we live, both as buyers and consumers when this is the rule? Well, you just have to be smart and have a sense of what things are worth, both to you and to the market in general. That is something that doesn't come overnight for most people. But we all are consumers of this type (and stripe). The next time you are buying something just think about this verse, and realize you are just one note in the human symphony of consumption. Where do you find this verse?

2. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord."

I heard this verse most recently in a rather dumb but endearing movie, Keeping Mum. Keeping Mum is a British comedy set in Cornwall, starring Maggie Smith. So as not to give away the "punchline," I will only say that she is a nanny/housekeeper that moves in and helps clean up not only the house but also the family relationships of a rector's family. The rector, played by Rowan Atkinson, has to give an address to a convention of priests. He selects as his theme "God's Mysterious Ways." This is really going to be a yawner until Maggie comes along and helps him with some "church humor." Well, of course he pulls it off at the convention and is a rousing success. One of the verses that is significant for him in his talk is this one. The thought is rather lamely expressed in the movie (what, really, do you expect from Hollywood?), but it is a good thought nevertheless. Where do you find it in the Scriptures?

3. "Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today," NRSV. Or, in the stately KJV, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

The theme of this passage is one of the richest theological themes of the Bible. Humans propose, but God disposes (I think this apothegm is from Thomas a Kempis, the 15th century spiritual writer, rather than from the Bible. His Latin words are "Homo proponit, set Deus disponit." My, it is almost as if you know Latin without studying it, isn't it? Well, why not study it then? By the way, don't you think we can spell apothegm in two ways: apothegm and apophthegm? Let's not go into that now, Ok?). Back to the passage. What is so remarkable about this affirmation at the end of a long drama is that God's presence in the narrative is nowhere marked. The author of the story which culminates in this verse doesn't use the word "God" one time in the previous several chapters. This contributes to the theological power of the story. Life just seems to happen, without any divine interest or intervention. God is not only silent; God appears to be absent. But then, at the end, when the last human words are spoken about the events of the previous chapters, the leading actor brings God in. God had things in mind all along; God's purposes were realized after all. There is something deeply satisfying about that thought, even though it can in no way be "proven." Well, where do you find the verse and which story does it bring to its conclusion?

4. "Consider the lilies of the field..."

I could, of course, quote many words on either side of these words and the passage would grow in significance and power. But I want to stop on these words. They are part of someone's words relating to the theme of worry. Worry is our ever-present companion in life, and I think there really is nothing that can happen to remove worry from our midst. Why? Because we know how chancy life seems to be. We read about horror stories happening to people all the time and we imagine that one little "slip" and this could happen also to our loved ones. So, we worry. We can't control others' lives but we still worry. And, we worry not just about accidents but about money. About having enough. About ending our life in poverty, as we stand on the street corner trying to beg a few quarters from passersby. My generation (baby boomers) is probably more concerned about this than any other that I know. Millions of dollars, in some cases, need to be "set aside" before some of my colleagues feel they have "enough." In fact, few if any think they have enough money. So, they worry. They compromise their freedom and do things they don't want to do primarily because of excessive worry. This Scripture would have them (and me) think about things differently. Since the lilies of the field neither toil nor spin, yet are richly arrayed, why do we think that we will end up in abject humiliation? God will also take care of us. I don't advocate financial dumbness, of course. But that is another subject. Where do you find this verse?

5. "But in humility regard others as better than yourselves," NRSV. The KJV has, "but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves."

The KJV expresses it in an interesting grammatical construction. We would say today, "let each esteem others better than themselves.." Why is the singular appropriate or correct here? There is so much about the English language that we don't know--not only the words, which is why I spend so much time writing about them, but about grammar, syntax, word usage, etc. Well, let's get to the theme of the passage. I think this verse is potentially both dangerous and liberating. It is dangerous for those who have no self-image to begin with. It might encourage them just to confirm in their own minds that they are worthless. But, on the other hand, it can be a tonic to those who vaunt themselves. It is great advice, I think. It arises out of the conviction that others have lots to offer the world and ourselves. This verse has been a key for me as I "re-entered" the world of human relationships after several years of difficult times. Well, where do you find it and in what context does it appear?

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