Biblical Humor and Performance: Audience Experiences That Make Meaning (Biblical Performance Criticism)

What’s so humorous about the Bible? Quite a bit, especially if experienced with others! Nine biblical scholars explore their experiences of reading and hearing passages from the Bible and discovering humor that becomes clearer in performance. Each writer found clues in their chosen biblical text that suggested biblical authors expected an audience to respond with laughter. Performers have a powerful role in either bringing out or tamping down humor in the Bible. One audience may be more disposed to respond to humor than another. And each contributor found that experiencing humor changed the interpretation of the biblical passage. From Genesis to Revelation, this study uncovers the Bible’s potential for humor.

Peter S. Perry is a visiting professor of Biblical Studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and Adjunct Assistant Professor of New Testament at Fuller Seminary Arizona. He is the author of The Rhetoric of Digressions: Revelation 7:1-17 and 10:1--11:13 and Ancient Communication (2009).

David Rhoads is emeritus Professor of New Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He is author of Reading Mark: Engaging the Gospel (2004).