History Main / AsTheGoodBookSays

In English, ''the Good Book'' is a metonymic for [[Literature/TheBible The Bible]]. Being by far one of the most influential books in Western culture, it is a natural quote source when wanting to lend some gravitas to a fictional situation. Having a character quote from it lets us know they're either [[GentlemanAndAScholar a scholar]], [[GoodShepherd a priest]], [[RealMenLoveJesus deeply religious]], a bonafide supernatural being [[TheScourgeOfGod or a psychopath]]. But also, having such a far-reaching influence, quoting it sounds familiar enough that it might be recognizable to many members of the audience. The fact that the Bible's text is numerically divided in relatively short chapters and verses also make it easy to refer to.

* In the anime of ''Manga/StrawberryMarshmallow'', native English girl tries to explain how she knows so much, especially about Japanese culture, with a quote from the apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus: "He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled."
* In ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', the blood seals have passages from Psalms in them, and the ''CreepyChild'' gives the exact location in Bible.

* ''ComicBook/{{Ultimatum}}'': Magneto, in full AGodAmI mode, compares his action with the great flood, and quotes passages of the Bible to that effect (the trope image cites Genesis 6:13 specifically).

* A new preacher comes to a small town on a Friday, and decides it would be a good idea to visit each member of his congregation at home to get to know them before Sunday's service. All goes well until he comes to one house. The preacher knocks, and rings the door bell, but even though the lights are on and activity can be seen inside, no one answers the door. Exasperated, but deciding it's best not to bother them, the preacher takes a card out of his pocket and writes "Revelation 3:20"[[note]]''Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.''[[/note]] on it, before slipping it under the door and leaving. Come Sunday, after finishing his sermon at the local church, the preacher finds the card in his collection basket, and sees that the resident of the house has written "Genesis 3:10".[[note]]''I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked.''[[/note]]

* Music/TheOffspring's "Hammerhead" has a botched version of the Psalm 23 before the TomatoSurprise, as another indication that the narrator is AxCrazy.

* "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" -- Matthew 16:26, Mark 8:36 and Luke 9:25. If you see this one, count on the [[AnAesop Aesop]] being WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity, with LonelyAtTheTop being a key illustration of this. Such as:

* This doubles as a TitleDrop in ''Theatre/ThereShallBeNoNight'', when the protagonist quotes Revelation 22:4-5 and its vision of the new Eden, in which "there shall be no night". The play is set during the darkest hours of the 1939-1940 [[UsefulNotes/FinnsWithFearsomeForests Winter War]] between Finland and the Soviet Union, but the main character quotes this passage as a way of expressing his hope in the triumph of humanity's better nature.

** In ''Episode 1'', Albedo quotes John 12:24 - "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone." - to describe his immortality and and the fear of living forever while his loved ones die.

* ''Webcomic/{{Reverie}}'' features an example of this in the srtip [[http://reverie.heavensentgaming.com/comic/something-technologic/ "Something Technologic"]]. Two of the main characters, Bronjay and Hoopes, are yrying to understand the meaning the phrase "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh", which is a reference to the Hebrew languages version of the Book of Exodus where God says "I am what I am."

--> "And I looked and saw the angel open the second seal, a gigantic woodpecker emerged. The people wailed and cowered in terror as its wings blotted out the sun."

* To all who think ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' is witchcraft, let it be known that its creator, Creator/GaryGygax, used Matthew 5:16 in his e-mail signature. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." He was a Christian, and made that clear when lurid accusations were made against ''D&D'' in the 1980s (not that it stopped them of course).

* Paddy McGurk, owner of the McGurk Bar in Belfast that was bombed in 1971 killing 15 people(the deadliest attack in Belfast during the Troubles) including his wife and daughter and who barred any talk of politics in his bar went on television and said "As the good book says, father forgive them"

A Bible quote can be an effective literary tool if used in a meaningful context, but, outside it, it's an obvious, major cop-out. It has been observed before that even [[Creator/WilliamShakespeare the devil can quote the Bible to his own advantage]] by choosing his verses with care.[[labelnote:specifically]]"Thus I clothe my naked villainy with old odd ends stolen forth from holy writ, and seem a saint when most I play the devil." ''Richard III, Act I, scene III''[[/labelnote]] [[note]] This happens in Literature/TheBible itself, even: see [[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%204:9-10&version=NIV Luke 4:9-10.]][[/note]] Parodies may include entirely fake and comical-sounding biblical verses, word swaps in the well-known verses which entirely change their meaning, or quoting ''some other'' book, mundane but supposedly holy to this character, in a manner clearly reminiscent of the Bible. The parody can also involve one character [[LampshadeHanging misquoting the Bible]] to point out that another character's quote is [[BeamMeUpScotty not actually from the Bible]], either. [[note]]Certain classic works based on the Bible is more likely to be cause of confusion, like "[[Literature/ParadiseLost Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven]]" or "[[Literature/TheDivineComedy Abandon hope all ye who enter here]]", which are not from the Bible. On the other hand, there are some works that have [[AdaptationDisplacement eclipsed the original Bible verses]], like the Hallelujah chorus in Handel's ''Messiah'', which may trick people into thinking it was originally from the music, even though [[Literature/BookOfRevelation the lyrics did come from the Bible]].[[/note]]

* In the [WesternAnimation/MGMOneShotCartoon "Peace On Earth," mankind has eliminated themselves through warfare. All the forest animals emerge to assess things as an owl discovers a Bible and turns to "Ye shall rebuild the old wastes" (KJV, Isaiah 58:12). This inspires the animals to create their own self-contained community with the war discards.

* In the [=MGM=] short "Peace On Earth," mankind has eliminated themselves through warfare. All the forest animals emerge to assess things as an owl discovers a Bible and turns to "Ye shall rebuild the old wastes" (KJV, Isaiah 58:12). This inspires the animals to create their own self-contained community with the war discards.

-->'''Owl:''' (''upon skimming through the Ten Commandments'') Looks like a book of rules...mighty good ones, too. A shame they paid no attention to them.

* ''VideoGame/Persona5'': "Rivers in the Desert", the penultimate boss theme, is a reference to Isaiah 43:19-20. Fittingly, it describes creating "rivers in the desert" to give drink to the "chosen people", much like [[spoiler: Masayoshi Shido]] is planning to create a new world where his chosen "elites" can flourish.

* Music/TheRollingStones references Matthew 27:24 in the opening lines of "Sympathy For the Devil," indicating that Pontius Pilate bore some culpability for Jesus' execution.

** When Triela compares Claes' willingness to act as TheBait to being a grain of wheat, Claes gives the John 12:24 quote in full, though [[JustFollowingOrders she denies]] she's making a HeroicSacrifice and [[DoNotGoGentle rejects the idea of being a passive victim]].

* Claes from ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'' frequently shows off her wide-reading. Bad developments [[spoiler:such as Henrietta's recent breakdown]] prompt her to quote Ecclesiastes 11:8-9 to Rico. She never names chapter and verse, she simply answers Rico's question "Is that poetry?" with "Not quite, it's biblical."
** She quotes Ecclesiastes 11:9 ("Young people, enjoy your youth") to Henrietta, claiming tongue-in-cheek that she came up with the quote herself.
** When Triela compares Claes' willingness to act as TheBait to being a grain of wheat, Claes gives the John 12:24 quote in full, though [[JustFollowingOrders she denies]] she's making a HeroicSacrifice.

** When Triela compares Claes' willingness to act as TheBait to being a grain of wheat, Claes gives the John 12:24 quote in full, though [[[JustFollowingOrders she denies]] she's making a HeroicSacrifice.

** When Triela compares Claes' willingness to act as TheBait to being a grain of wheat, Claes gives the John 12:24 quote in full.

** She quotes Ecclesiastes 11:9 (Young people, enjoy your youth") to Henrietta, claiming tongue-in-cheek that she came up with the quote herself.

* ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption''
** The final story mission is named "The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed", which is from I Corinthians 15:26. The game leaves out the last two words of the verse: [[spoiler:"...is death," alluding to the fact that John Marston is killed defending his family.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' uses the very similar Revelation 21:6 (KJV) -- "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." It's the favorite quote of the protagonist's mother and "Waters of Life" forms the ArcWords of the game. [[spoiler: It also provides the passcode needed for final moment HeroicSacrifice.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' has one seen with the birthdate of the main character (7/13/2258). Micah 7:13 reads, "And the earth will become desolate because of her inhabitants, on account of the fruit of their deeds." It aptly describes the ''Fallout'' series as a whole.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'': Ray Gilette's brother Randy uses Genesis 38:8, Onan being commanded to sleep with his brother's wife, to justify his own open marriage and desire to sleep with Ray's ([[TheBeard fake]]) wife.

* Creator/GeorgeCarlin in his "Seven dirty words" bit would bring up double entendres from the unlikliest of sources, such as the Bible which has the text "And the cock crows three times" which actually paraphrases Mark 14: 27-31 (KJV). Jesus actually says "Before the cock crows two times, you will deny me thrice" to Peter. Luke 22:34 also bears this in some versions.

** In another strip, Snoopy comes in the house. Charlie Brown looks up from the Bible he'd been reading and asks, "What's up? Are you hungry?" Snoopy silently takes his Bible, turns to a page, and hands it back. Charlie Brown reads the indicated passage, Ps 50:12: "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee." He shouts to Snoopy (now presumably in the kitchen), "Give me a week, and I'll find an answer!"

* Creator/GeorgeCarlin in his "Seven dirty words" bit would bring up double entendres from the unlikliest of sources, such as the Bible which has the text "And the cock crows three times" which actually paraphrases Mark 14: 27-31. In the King James version, Jesus actually says "Before the cock crows two times, you will deny me thrice" to Peter. Luke 22:34 also bears this in some versions.

* Creator/GeorgeCarlin in his "Seven dirty words" bit would bring up double entendres from the unlikliest of sources, such as the Bible which has the text "And the cock crows three times" which actually paraphrases Mark 14: 27-31 for a joke. Jesus actually says "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times" to Peter. Luke 22:34 also bears this in some versions.

* Creator/GeorgeCarlin in his "Seven dirty words" bit would bring up double entendres from the unlikliest of sources, such as the Bible which has the text "And the cock crows three times" (which actually paraphrases Mark 14: 27-31 for a joke. Jesus actually says "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times" to Peter).

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* Music/TheKillers' two very blunt examples, first with "The Calling" which opens with Creator/WoodyHarrelson reading a quote from the Book of Mathew, and then later on "Fire In Bone" which is a retelling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
* Referred in Neil Young's "Southern Man," a call to end slavery and Jim Crow laws (which Lynyrd Skynyrd purportedly took umbrage to as a knock on their good ol' boys network):

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