# Survey - If you had to re-create the Bible from memory. . . **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 13, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093 "2004-10-13T21:46:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/21 "2004-10-14T10:02:40Z")
I could probably do most of the “in the beginning” story from memory, and I can remember eight Commandments, maybe a few other famous quotes… the result would be a Bible composed mostly of filler. To make up for the bits of the creation story that I don’t know, I’d probably toss in a few scenes from Jurassic Park. That kind of thing. In Exodus, you’d get "And the fifth plague that afflicted the Egyptians was… uh, did we already do frogs? Cattle? Damn. Okay, let’s skip to the good stuff then. And the final plague was the death of the firstborn." I guess I’m saying I’d be the opposite of the Redactor. On the plus side, you’d probably be able to get through the whole Bible in a month’s worth of services, and even large-print versions would be very light and portable. With a lot of Simpsons references. [In The Begining, there was god- a guy with good hair, nice smell, a class act all the way.] And one book would absolutely _have_ to begin “IN A WORLD WHERE…” It sounds like a very good idea for a story, **Yllaria**. Go with it! ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/22 "2004-10-14T10:09:43Z")
C’mon folks John 3:16 And don’t forget er Jesus’birth,life death and resurrection.That’s an important bit of it 😃 Er wouldnt these castaway bods be able to take even ONE Bible with them.There are billions in the world after all ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/23 "2004-10-14T13:19:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Then one of the lawyers saw that Jesus answered them well, and he asked Jesus: “What is the greatest commandment of all?” And Jesus answered, “‘Hear, oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the greatest and first commandment, and the second is like it. ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two depend all the Law, and the prophets as well.” And the lawyer replied, “Truly you have answered wisely. It is true that the Lord our God is one, and to love the Lord with all the heart and soul and strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, this is greater than any sacrifices or burnt offerings.” And Jesus told the man, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask Jesus any more questions. Mark 12:28-34, IIRC. > [@](#): > > Be kind, loving one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:32 > [@](#): > > Beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God, and anyone that loves, is born of God, and knows God. He that does not love, does not know God, for God is Love. - 1 John 4:7-8. > [@](#): > > For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:23 > [@](#): > > For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life thru Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:28 > [@](#): > > These men are not drunk as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. - Acts, chapter 2(?). It was the motto of the graduating class at Luther Seminary in 1978. I can go on like this almost indefinitely. I was a fundamentalist in my younger days, and Mrs. Nelson, my Sunday School teacher, was the first great crush of my life. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/24 "2004-10-14T18:22:55Z")
I can rattle off some of the neighbor/foes of the ancient Israelites, many of whom met their doom on and off the battlefield when Jehovah aided the Jews (not in any particular order, though): Canaanites Philistines Hittites Ammonites Shumanites & the Egyptians, natch The writing on the wall that Daniel read? “Mene, mene, tekel, parsin,” or something along those lines. Some of the stronger punishments from Leviticus: capital punishment (IIRC, probably by stoning?) for wearing clothing made from two or more different fibers, stoning for adulterers, stoning for disobedient or defiant children, etc. And relay the sad story of the unfortunate Onan – which gave rise to a great Dorothy Parker joke when she named her pet bird Onan, because he spilled his seed on the ground… Is this a book we’d really care to recapitulate on an alien planet? Wouldn’t it be better to start over with some universal principles such as human rights, racial/religious/gender equality, non-discrimination, charity, environmentalism, animal rights (at least from superfluous cruelty) and handicapped parking zones? ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/25 "2004-10-14T18:34:14Z")
My memory utterly stinks. I’ve read the bible cover to cover and I _know_ I couldn’t repeat much of it word for word. Shoot, I could go read a chapter right now and probably give you only the general gist of it. My memory stinks. What the bloody blazes was I talking about? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/26 "2004-10-14T19:06:58Z")
two words: car chase. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/27 "2004-10-14T19:10:19Z")
I could actually contribute quite a bit to this group. I could probably provide most of the Pentatuch in Hebrew. The reason I have most of this memorized is because I am the person in my synagouge who reads the Torah on Shabbos and on holidays. Becuase the Torah scroll is written without vowels, punctuation or cantallation marks, it requires review and preperation by the reader beforehand. And the cantallation makes it easier to memorize. I have been doing it for the last sixteen years. As for the rest of the Hebrew bible, I could probably give you those portions that are contained in the regular prayer cycle. So, for example, I could easily spout off Psalms 30, 145-150, 100 and 20 which are all recited every day in Prayer services. There are several others that are recited only on the Sabbath, but I can probably give you those as well. Psalms 112-118 are recited on holidays and the first day of the Jewish month - I’m pretty certain I can recite those by heart as well. I can give you just about the complete Book of Esther as well. This book is read on Purim. Like the Torah, it’s read from a scroll without vowels, punctuation or cantallation marks. The fact that Esther has it’s own cantallation “tune” makes it easier to remember. And the fact that I read it multiple times on Purim (besides reading it in synagouge, I also do private readings for homebound Jews) certainly helps. Lastly, there are assorted passages from the Prophets that are read in synagouge on Shabbos and holidays after the Torah reading. While I don’t think I can do any of these completely by heart, I know I can do significant portions of some of them – specifically the ones where I tutor Bar-Mitzvah students and spend months “pounding” it into their heads. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/28 "2004-10-14T19:18:39Z")
> [@The Scrivener](#): > > I can rattle off some of the neighbor/foes of the ancient Israelites, many of whom met their doom on and off the battlefield when Jehovah aided the Jews (not in any particular order, though): > > Canaanites > Philistines > Hittites > Ammonites > Shumanites > & the Egyptians, natch Close, but no cigar. The list of the “seven nations” are: Canaanites Hittites Emorites Jesubites Girgashites Perizites Hivites > [@](#): > > Some of the stronger punishments from Leviticus: capital punishment (IIRC, probably by stoning?) for wearing clothing made from two or more different fibers, Actually, wearing clothing from two different fibers is not forbidden at all, unless the mix is wool/linen. And then, while being forbidden, the sin is not a capital crime. > [@](#): > > stoning for adulterers, Only in specific circumstances > [@](#): > > stoning for disobedient or defiant children, etc. Actually, that’s in Deuteronomy, not Leviticus. But again, there is a whole corpus of Jewish law around this concept that renders the giving of the death penalty in this case just about impossible. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Niceguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mr.Niceguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Niceguy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/29 "2004-10-14T19:28:02Z")
From Exodus 20 If you build an alter unto me, build it of earth. If you built it of stones don not use hewn stones for if lay you tool upon it, you have defiled it. Do not ascend my alter upon steps, lest thy nakedness be exposed. Always used these two commandments as a reason not to go to church. ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/30 "2004-10-15T10:28:10Z")
If you’re exposing your nakedness and laying your tool on the altar,they’ve probably asked you to leave the church already. Forcefully, I would imagine. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/31 "2004-10-15T13:29:28Z")
And I saw a new Heaven and a new earth; for the first Heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. -----------------------------------------Revelation 21:1-4 All other memorization comes from choral music, so it’d probably be a little off. ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/32 "2004-10-15T19:02:32Z")
Lo, for it is written in the Book of Romans, Chapter 12, Verses 19 to… um… 22? > [@](#): > > Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves. But give anger unto its place. For it is written: Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink, for in so doing you heap coals upon his head. Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. Verily, and thou shalt also take heed, when forgoing the controls of birth, The Book of Karenina, Chapter 1, Verse 1: > [@](#): > > All happy families are alike. Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Tenebras, Biblical scholar at large… ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/33 "2004-10-15T19:27:00Z")
The only parts I can remember are “In the beginning” and “And they all lived happily ever after.” ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/34 "2004-10-15T20:02:48Z")
Definitely can’t remember any verses word for word, but I can recall the details of quite a few parables. There’s the prodigal son, the seven (six? nine? 135.43?) bridesmaids, Jesus cursing the fig tree, rich man going out and hiring men at different times of the day, rich man paying his servants money before he leaves and seeing what they did with it when he comes back, etc, etc. As a side note, isn’t this essentially how the gospels of the new testament were written? Also, since there’s bound to be contradictions in the way people remember things, how would these new people handle the contradictions? Just put it all in like the current Bible? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/35 "2004-10-18T14:41:04Z")
> [@](#): > > how would these new people handle the contradictions? Just put it all in like the current Bible? Ah, the important thing is that they would argue about it. And at least one of them would get all bent and sulk or yell or both and it would be dramatic. If it were happening in fact, I think the result would depend on the personalities involved, especially the personalities and needs of the grandchildren or great-grands. Up until then there might even be competing bibles, if only by rumor of what had been left out. I can picture someone slipping in non-biblical stuff. Or having hymns mixed in. I think Zev’s comment on the fact that having a tune to hang verses on makes them easier to remember is really important. Especially if there’s not much paper around. I wonder if people would shift verses to fit tunes they knew. Do you think there’s a psalm that could be sung to “Stairway to Heaven”? (And now I’ve got John 3:16 running through my head. I attended a Baptist elementary school and we sang it to the tune of “Anchor’s Away”.) Hmmm. So much to ponder. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/36 "2004-10-18T14:49:03Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I think Zev’s comment on the fact that having a tune to hang verses on makes them easier to remember is really important. Indeed. I’ve spent quite a few years giving Bar Mitzvah lessons to numerous 12-year olds. Having a tune _definitely_ helps memorization. That’s the reason (I think) that we teach little kids the alphabet with a tune rather than simply as a string of letters rattled off. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/37 "2004-10-18T14:49:25Z")
Try this… Next time Match of the Day is on, singalonga 🙂 Why don’t you put your trust in Jesus and ask Him to come in He saw your need from up in Heaven and died to save from sin Why don’t you take Him at His promise and let Him hold your hand He will take and guide and lead you till you reach the Promised Land Learnt it in Sunday School. Can’t hear the tune without adding the words… ---
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/38 "2004-10-18T16:26:42Z")
> [@Tenebras](#): > > Lo, for it is written in the Book of Romans, Chapter 12, Verses 19 to… um… 22? > > > [@](#): > > > > Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves. But give anger unto its place. For it is written: Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink, for in so doing you heap coals upon his head. Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. > > \ That ain’t Romans! 🙂 Paul did use “dearly beloved”, but some of the rest is Jesus speaking, and comes from one of the gospels (probably Matthew 5 or 6, but could be from the Luke version). Although if you think you’re correctly quoting the KJV, you’re off on that, too. Or are you whooshing us?? :dubious: I can recite the 66 books of the protestant Bible, in order. I think I was 8 or 9 when I learned them, and I still find it useful. OTOH, I also learned the long version of the ten commandments (Exodus 20) that same year in Sunday School, but I can’t quote all of them anymore, and sometimes get the last 3 or 4 in the wrong order. I can quote some Psalms that Zev didn’t list (e.g., 23rd, 91st, the first 7 verses of the 1st, and some more that I don’t recall which Psalm they’re from, frex, _The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein_) and I can quote parts of the book of Isaiah (first part of ch. 6, and big hunks of 53, mostly). And I can quote a lot of verses correctly (in KJV translation) that I can’t give complete references (book, chapter, verse) for. Some examples: _Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily, thou shalt be fed._ _If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and heal their land._ (from Chronicles, when Solomon is dedicating the temple) Oh, yeah, Yllaria. You did know that story’s already been written, sorta-kinda, didn’t you? Except that it was a post-apocalypse setting. The title is A Canticle for Lebowitz, by Walter M. Miller, Jr. It won a Hugo the following year. Yes, you needed to know, because if you write the story, it will automatically remind any reader who knows of Leibowitz. What does that mean? Write your story, but do the very best job you can, and get some SF pedants to read it and give you feedback to revise by. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/39 "2004-10-18T18:09:01Z")
Yep. Tunes help. Let’s see… bits and pieces of the Bible via Handel’s _The Messiah_ (freely punctuated and partially recalled off the top of my head): All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way. And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd. And he shall gather the lambs with his arm… Come unto him all ye that labour. Come unto him all that are heavy laden and he shall give you rest. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. And hath redeemed us to God… Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Hosts. The Lord strong and mighty in battle. There were shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them. And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not. For behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a saviour which is Christ the Lord.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God, in the highest. And peace on earth. Goodwill towards men.” (most excellent music here!) Rejoice, greatly. Rejoice o daughters of Zion. And shout (or something…) He is the righteous savior and he shall speak peace unto the heathens. Amen. (over and over and over) Hallelujah. For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ. And he shall reign forever and ever. King of kings and Lord of Lords. But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulders. And his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I know that my Redeemer liveth and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleep. Since by man came death, by man came also the ressurection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinking of an eye at the last trumpet. The trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible. And we shall be changed. I’m sure I could come up with most of the work with a bit of time and help from other Handel lovers. BTW, I never really realized how much repetition there is in this music until I had to write them out! p.s. I could also probably remember most of the Latin Mass if anyone on this castaway planet wanted it… ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093/40 "2004-10-18T18:56:12Z")
“Jesus wept.” I read somewhere that it’s the shortest verse in the Bible. And I’ve got it memorized. I guess “Dear Corinthians … Regards, Paul” isn’t in there, although it should be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-if-you-had-to-re-create-the-bible-from-memory/269093.md?page=3)