Why are there dirty stories in the Bible?

Last updated on: January 11, 2014 at 9:23 pm by Joel J. Miller

Why are there dirty stories in the Bible? 2014-01-11T21:23:50-06:00 Joel J. Miller

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Anyone who’s read the Bible to children or come at it with some naivety knows it contains many tricky passages. Cough. Judah and Tamar. Cough. A reader who’s spent any time in the text has his or her own list of stories that are risqué, possibly even revolting. Why would the holy authors include these stories in the Bible?

Writing one of the very first Christian commentaries on Scripture, Hippolytus of Rome answered the question this way:

As the divine writings are not respecters of persons and with openness display all things, not only the righteous works of men, which after they did them they were justified, but also the terrible things which occurred under them, upon which they [lacuna] were disfigured, they died, so that those who have the fear of God imitate the righteous and in this way partake in righteousness, but those who do the opposite have before their eyes what is destined for them, vengeance before the presence of God. (Commentary on Daniel 1.15.3)

Hippolytus was discussing the story of Susanna (which, as I said Sunday, I’ll have to save for another time), but it applies to a whole range of immoral stories in the Scripture.

The Bible doesn’t shy away from sin. Since Scripture witnesses to its ultimate remedy, why should it? Rather, it puts it out in the open, under the light. By doing so, as Hippolytus says, it points out what ancient Jews and Christians knew as the two ways, one which leads to life, the other which leads to death. The paths are clearly marked. Choose wisely.

Previous Post

June 3, 2013

Why tolerance is a lousy virtue

Next Post

June 5, 2013 Christ is both our goal and our way

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Church Life Family Life Misc Prayer Quotes Society Spiritual Growth Theology Uncategorized Video

Select a Month April 2014 March 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 November 2008 October 2008 July 2008 June 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 August 2007 June 2007 October 2002 July 2002 November 1999 October 1999

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Paul tell Titus that God's grace teaches us to deny?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The devil Our sinful nature The flesh Ungodliness and worldly passions