The Many Faces of Biblical Humor

Funniest Stories                                           Scripture Reference                                      Pages

  1. Balaam and the Talking Donkey                      Numbers 22 - 24                                                  47-50

  2. The Man Who Formerly Was Blind                 John 9:1-41                                                          304-307

  3. Esther, Mordecai, and Haman                         Esther 1 – 10                                                       144-150

  4. Jehoshaphat and Ahab                                    I Kings 22:1-38                                                    121-123

  5. Paul and Silas in Prison                                   Acts 16:16-40                                                      346-348

  6. The Ark of the Covenant and Dagon               I Samuel 4 - 6                                                       78-79

  7. God’s Call of Moses                                       Exodus 3 - 4                                                         35-36

  8. Paul and the Captain of the Guard                   Acts 21:26 - 23:30                                                 356-361

  9. Jesus’ Argument on Resurrection                    Matthew 22:23-33                                                  251

10. David and Saul’s Robe                                    I Samuel 24                                                           91

11. Peter at the Door                                            Acts 12:1-17                                                        337-338

12. Jeremiah and the Remnant                              Jeremiah 42:1 - 43:3                                              214

13. Jonah and Nineveh                                          Jonah 1 – 4                                                          232-235

14. Miracle Groupies                                            John 6                                                                  297-298

 The Funniest:

    writer – Luke
    prophet – Jonah
    character – Peter
    story – Balaam (Numbers)
    one-liner – Achish (I Samuel)
    sidekick – Baruch (Jeremiah)
    use of guilt – Paul (Philemon)
    sarcasm – James 2:15-20

 Examples of the Humor of Jesus:

    Irony:                  Matthew 5:3-10; 11:24-26;
                                John 8:1-5; Luke 10:30-37

    Sarcasm:           Matthew 7:3; 9:13; Luke 16:1-9;
                                John 10:22-29; 18:33-34 

    Presposterous:  Matthew 5:29-30; 
                                 Mark 2:21; 8:37; 10:25