Sunday, May 25, 2003
The Humor of Christ
by Elton Trueblood
Interesting little book, in which the author puts forth the idea that some of Christ's statements should be taken as humorous. The book was written in 1963 and at the time the American church apparently was very prim and proper. I know that the image of Jesus that I got growing up was very quiet and proper and even tempered. Not the type of character who would chase money changers out of the temple or holler out to a festival crowd to come and get living water. Anyway, Dr. Trueblood makes a good case that Jesus might have cracked a smile once or two in His ministry. There's one point where he stretches the point a bit too long, when he attempts to sell his idea that Jesus' comment on the parable of the unjust steward were spoken in jest. I've heard a better interpretation of that in the book Poet and Peasant, but it is a hard passage so I have to give him credit for wrestling with the issue. Despite the slightly too liberal, mid-20th century theology, I'd say check it out.
Labels: CheckItOut
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