What Bible Stories Should You Read Based on Your Favorite Movies?

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There are an awful lot of Christians in the world who have never read the Bible. They may feel that they do not have the time to sit down and read the entire thing. They may have tried and, like so many people, given up after they got halfway through Deuteronomy. Others may have never attempted to read it because they felt that they would be bored. You might be one of those people. You might be under the impression that all Bible stories are the same. They are straightforward moral tales that are painfully repetitive. This impression, however, could not be more wrong. The stories in the Bible deal with every sort of event and character. There really is something for everyone, but how do you know what you should read?

Stories are one of the most surefire ways to get people to remember things or learn a lesson. It is one thing to hear, “don’t text and drive.” It is another to hear the story about the teenager who killed his girlfriend by accident when he crashed the car while texting and driving. Stories, as a general rule, stick with people. So, if you want to make sure your Bible reading does not go in one ear and out the other, you need to make sure you are reading a tale that you enjoy. That, however, is not always as easy as it sounds because of how the Bible varies in tone and style. If you are in the mood for a happier story, the last thing you want to do is open up the Good Book to Lamentations. If you want a gripping tale, you better stay away from Leviticus. Revelation does not work so well for those who prefer a straightforward narrative, and Judges may not be the best bet if you want an uplifting story. To make sure you end up reading what you want to read, you should look back at what you normally enjoy. Movie genres are actually a great way to decide. What you like in movies tends to cross over to other mediums which gives you a place to start with Scripture. To get the most out of the Bible, you will need to read other stories as well, but here are some potential starting points based on your favorite movies.

Samson

The Old Testament is going to be the best place to look for Bible stories if you are a fan of action movies such as “Die Hard.” The books of the Old Testament are sprinkled liberally with tales of war, battle and Israelite heroes. Some of the most famous Bible stories of all would actually make great action movies. The tale of Samson, for example, involves a series of fights between Samson and the Philistine armies. Similarly, the tale of David would be a decent choice. After all, David’s decisive victory over Goliath is one of the most famous moments in the entire Bible.

If you prefer female action heroes, check out the accounts of Deborah, from the book of Judges, and Judith, from the apocryphal book of Judith. Both women saved their people through clever actions and were able to cut the head off the armies that threatened their home. In Judith’s case, she did so quite literally.

Paul's Conversion

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For those who love tales of redemption and human compassion, the Acts of the Apostles is one of the best books in the Bible for you to read. Acts is split largely between the story of Peter and the story of Paul. Peter certainly had to redeem himself after denying Jesus, but it is Paul of Tarsus who is the subject of one of the greatest redemptive stories ever told. Paul, originally known as Saul, was an active participant in the persecution of the young Christian faith in the 1st century. He hunted down Christians and is believed to have been the one who held people’s coats when Stephen was stoned. All of that changed, however, after Paul famously encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. Following that encounter, Paul went from persecuting the Church to becoming one of its cornerstones. The man who helped martyr Stephen turned his life around and went on to become a martyr himself.

Exodus

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They are often cheesy, the characters can be paper thin and the science tends to be laughable, but disaster movies have always been popular. Whether the entire world is imperiled or the filmmakers focus on a specific city that is facing destruction, there is always at least one summer blockbuster that takes great pleasure in destroying famous landmarks. For those who enjoy disaster flicks, whether openly or as a guilty pleasure, the Bible has an entire book made just for you. Revelation is, quite literally, about the end of the world. From start to finish the book deals solely with how the Earth will be destroyed and God’s kingdom set up in its place.

Revelation tends to be cryptic and involve the heavy use of symbolism, so if you prefer your disaster stories to be more straightforward, either the Plagues of Egypt in Exodus or Noah’s Ark in Genesis are your best bet. There are fewer riddles woven through the verses than Revelation, and both of them still have more than enough destruction.

Genesis

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Whether you are a hardcore Tolkien nerd who speaks fluent Elvish or a casual fantasy fan, the Bible has plenty of stories that deal with more fantastical situations. Large portions of Genesis read like they could be straight out of a fantasy movie. After all, they are not many other genres where the antagonist is a talking snake or a young man foresees his rise to the top in dreams filled with symbolism. The story of Christ would also fit well as many fantasy stories emphasize the power of one person giving their life for another.

If you like a darker fantasy, Revelation would be a good choice. There are supernatural happenings and mystical dangers as well as an ominous villain, either Satan or the Antichrist depending on the reading. You might also enjoy Exodus. Moses’ self-imposed exile and return as a leader of his people fit perfectly into all sorts of fantasy stories.

Ruth

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For those who are a fan of romance, the book of Ruth should be your go-to. The story has all the staples of popular love stories. The heroine has a tragic background given that she is a foreign widow and thus something of an outcast. She crosses paths somewhat accidentally with Boaz, a man who comes from a different world. He is touched by her loyalty, and she enjoys his kindness. The two fall in love, but like every love story, there is an obstacle they need to overcome. In this case, the obstacle is another relative of Boaz’s who has a better claim to Ruth’s hand than him. There is, like the most popular love stories, a happily ever after at the end of the book. Ruth and Boaz get married and have a son together. It is a tale straight out of any romantic drama in Hollywood, even if there is a noticeable shortage of jealous exes.

Song of Solomon

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For some people, you know who you are, they are not interested in slow building romance as much as scorching hot chemistry and, admit it, steamy sex. Believe it or not, there is a book in the Bible that fits perfectly. For those that prefer their romance to have a side of shirtlessness or like films that dance along the edge of being almost too racy for the silver screen, you have to read through the Song of Solomon. This book is often described as a love poem, but that tends to conjure ideas about sweet, innocent poetry in the modern mind. Song of Solomon is raw and erotic yet deeply touching and passionate. The book was actually banned for many years for being inappropriate, and it is certainly not something the preacher is going to read from on Sunday morning. That does not mean, however, that it is not the perfect book for those who like their romantic movies to be less sweet and more spicy.

Crucifixion of Jesus

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There are, in many ways, two forms of horror movies. There are those that rely on psychological terror, creeping fear, suspense and often make excellent use of what is known as the Uncanny Valley, things that are familiar enough to be recognizable but warped in some unnerving way. Then, there are those that prefer to focus on the more visceral horror of violent death and gore. Neither version seem like they belong in the Bible, but the latter form of horror, normally dominated by slasher flicks, definitely seems out of place in the Bible. At least, it does until one takes a closer look at the stories of Daniel, the Maccabean rebellion or the crucifixion of Jesus. All three of those tales involve people suffering among the worst fates humanity has ever managed to create. Roman crucifixion was cruelty incarnate, and the tortures concocted by the Babylonians in Daniel would have looked right at home in ancient Rome. The Bible does not tend to shy away from the details of the executions either. Apocryphal stories involving the Assyrians are possibly even worse.

Fish for Caesar

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For those that like their entertainment to be light-hearted, comedy is usually the go-to genre. They like clever puns, ridiculous situations, slapstick humor and heaping amounts of humorous irony. Though some people say that the Bible is a stuffy book, there is certainly a lot of humor in it. If you like snarky, sarcastic wit, you might enjoy the story of Elijah facing off with the prophets of Baal. Elijah’s increasingly barbed questions about the priest’s inability to get Baal to set an alter on fire will appeal to your sense of humor. If you prefer clever witticisms, you should look to the New Testament. Jesus is normally thought of as very wise, and while He was, He also had a sharp sense of humor. The story about Jesus’ encounter with a group of demons who refer to themselves as Legion contains a running joke at the expense of the Roman Empire. Stories of Christ will also appeal to those who like off the wall humor. Following His famous declaration to “give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s,” Christ went and paid His Temple tax with a coin He had Peter pull out of a fish.

Reign of David

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Period dramas and tales of political intrigue have been popular for as long as there has been a ruling class to watch with curiosity. Today, many of the dramas of yesteryear are played out on the silver screen with stunning costumes and moving soundtracks. If shifting alliances and dangerous gambles are your cup of tea, you have quite a few tales in the Bible to choose from when you want to read it. The ascension of Solomon was a case of siblings attempting to outmaneuver each other and parents taking sides. David’s ascension was rather similar in that he was not chosen by Saul, the previous king.

If you would prefer a period drama that lacks the exhausting chess game that is politics in the royal household, the story of Samson and Delilah might be for you. The story deals with the issues of the time and has all the ill-advised love and betrayal that so many period dramas favor.