A Jehovah’s Witness named Angela dropped a letter in my postbox the other day, asking me to invite her around so she could give me a 16-week ‘home Bible course’. Despite the enormous spiritual benefits that would undoubtedly accrue to me, I shall have to decline this kind offer, partly owing to this assertion:

Many people who have not had the opportunity to read it are surprised at how practical and up-to-date the Bible is. Not only is it historically and scientifically accurate, but its record of fulfilled prophecies gives further reason for examination of its contents.

I wonder how Angela would feel if I asked her over and proceeded to show her that the entire Passion and Crucifixion narrative, rather than being the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies, was inventively constructed on the basis of them. And that many of these ‘prophecies’ were wrenched from their contexts and were not really prophecies at all. In other words, that Angela’s got it all the wrong way around and that the Passion is a work (actually several works) of fiction.

I tried this once. Only to learn that it’s not nice being called a hell-bound blasphemer in your own house. So perhaps I won’t do it again.

Filed in: Biblical criticism