Mark Twain, Bible Scholar (1865)
Sundays with Mark Twain #69
1865
1865.1.77) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Beware of this faithless modern Esau, who would sell his birthright of freedom and ours, for a mess of pottage! - for a mess of tripe! - for a mess of sauerkraut and garlic! - for a mess of anything under the sun.
Scripture: And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. – Genesis 25:29-34
Work; Date: An Unbiased Criticism; March 18, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18650318.html
1865.2.78) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: I see that you understand how it is with us poor laborers in the vineyard, and feel for us in our struggles to gain a livelihood.
Scripture: For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. – Matthew 20:1,2 [the account of the laborers in the vineyard continues through verse 16 of Matthew chapter 20]
Work; Date: Important Correspondence - “Reply of Bishop Hawks”; May 6, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18650506.html
1865.3.79) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: I feel that so long as not even the little sparrows are suffered to fall to the ground unnoted, I shall be mercifully cared for;
Scripture: Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. – Matthew 10:29-31 [Rather than simply saying “...without your Father.”, some translations make the meaning plainer by translating it as “...without your Father’s knowledge.”]
Work; Date: Important Correspondence - “Reply of Bishop Hawks”; May 6, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18650506.html
1865.4.80) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Nobody deserves to be helped who don’t try to help himself, and ‘faith without works’ is a risky doctrine.
Scripture: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. – James 2:26
Work; Date: Important Correspondence - “Reply of Bishop Hawks”; May 6, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18650506.html
1865.5.81) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: How would it do to be less diffuse? How would it do to ask a blessing upon the specialities – I mean the congregation and the immediate community – and then include the whole broad universe in one glowing, fervent appeal? How would it answer to adopt the simplicity and the beauty and the brevity and the comprehensiveness of the Lord’s Prayer as a model?
Scripture: But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. – Matthew 6:7 [The Lord’s prayer, or model prayer, is found at Matthew 6:5-13, with specific instructions on how to pray especially given in verses 9-13]
Work; Date: Important Correspondence - “Reply of Bishop Hawks”; May 6, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18650506.html
1865.6.82) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Now, did it never strike this sprightly Frenchman that he could have gone in there and asked the man himself “why he does it,” as easily as he could write to me on the subject? But no matter - this is just about the weight of the important questions usually asked of editors and answered in the “Correspondents’ Column;” sometimes a man asks how to spell a difficult word - when he might as well have looked in the dictionary; or he asks who discovered America - when he might have consulted history; or he asks who in the mischief Cain’s wife was - when a moment’s reflection would have satisfied him that nobody knows and nobody cares - at least, except himself. [The basis for the question is that the Bible does not specifically state the names of any daughters that Adam and Eve may have had after Cain’s birth]
Scripture: And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: ... – Genesis 4:17
Work; Date: Answers to Correspondents; June 3, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18650603.html
1865.7.83) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: This grateful officer—this pure patriot—has been known to get drunk five hundred times in a year for the honor and glory of his country and his country’s flag, and no man cried ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant’--yet the very first time he ventures to remain sober on a battle anniversary (exhausted by the wear and tear of previous efforts, no doubt,) … ‘He don’t keep up his lick!--he’s DISLOYAL!’
Scripture: His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over may things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. – Matthew 25:21
Work; Date: Answers to Correspondents; June 24, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18650624.html
1865.8.84,85) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: The ‘damned naygurs’ - this is another descriptive title which has been conferred upon them by a class of our fellow-citizens who persist, in the most short-sighted manner, in being on bad terms with them in the face of the fact that they have got to sing with them in heaven or scorch with them in hell some day in the most familiar and sociable way, and on a footing of most perfect equality
Scripture: And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; – Revelation 5:8,9
Scripture: And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: – Mark 9:43
Work; Date: Mark Twain on the Colored Man; July 7-19, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18650719t.html
1865.9.86) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Verily, if old Noah had been here, he never would have known it had rained at all. I scarcely knew it - but then I never have had such a lively experience in such matters as Noah.
Scripture: For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. – Genesis 7:4
Work; Date: Letter; November 5, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18651100bt.html
1865.10.87) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: No - in old times Pharaoh’s gentle daughter took Moses out of the bulrushes and took him in and warmed him, kind soul! - but now, when a helpless Moses or a helpless Mars gets into the tiger-rushes old Faro takes him out himself and warms him.
Scripture: And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him a ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. … And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. – Exodus 2:3,10
Work; Date: Letter; November 5, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18651100bt.html
1865.11.88) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: There would be many reporters present at the launch, and the papers would teem with the inevitable old platitudinal trash which this sort of people have compelled to do duty on every occasion like this since Noah launched his ark—but I aspired to higher things.
Scripture: And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. – Genesis 7:1
Work; Date: “Mark Twain” on the Launch of the Steamer “Capital”; November 18, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18651118.html
1865.12.89) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Ladies and gentlemen, the painting now before you illustrates the beautiful and touching parable of the Prodigal Son.
Scripture: And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. – Luke 15:20
Work; Date: “Mark Twain” on the Launch of the Steamer “Capital”; November 18, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18651118.html
1865.13.90) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Ladies and gentlemen, the fine picture now unfolding itself to your gaze exhibits one of the most notable events in Bible History—our Savior and his disciples upon the Sea of Galilee.
Scripture: And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. – Matthew 14:25
Work; Date: “Mark Twain” on the Launch of the Steamer “Capital”; November 18, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18651118.html
1865.14.91) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Ladies and gentlemen, this exquisite painting illustrates the raising of Lazarus from the dead by our Savior.
Scripture: Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. … And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. – John 11:14, 44
Work; Date: “Mark Twain” on the Launch of the Steamer “Capital”; November 18, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Calif/18651118.html
1865.15.92) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: It is not jammed full of incendiary religious matter about hell-fire, and brimstone.
Scripture: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, ... -- Revelation 20:10
Work; Date: Letter, Christian Spectator; December 11, 1865
Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/18651215t.html
1865.16.93) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: HOW LONG, O LORD, HOW LONG” [title of article]
Scripture: How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? For ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? -- Psalm 13:1
Work; Date: Letter, HOW LONG, O LORD, HOW LONG; December 22, 1865
Source: Early Tales & Sketches, Vol. 2: 1864-1865
1865.17.94) Quote, Reference, or Allusion: Solomon’s wisdom was foolishness to this.
Scripture: Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. -- 1 Kings 3:12
Work; Date: Letter, MORE WISDOM; December 22, 1865
Source: Early Tales & Sketches, Vol. 2: 1864-1865
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