Bible Quotations from Movies

This quiz will both be hard and easy. It is hard because some allegedly biblical lines used in films are not drawn from the Scriptures verbatim. It is relatively easy, however, because most references that actually are derived from the Bible are not obscure ones. Except for one or two..

Thus, in this and the following essay I will introduce Biblical verses, with context, from the following films, and you will need to find them. They are: (1) Shawshank Redemption; (2) Dead Man Walking; (3) Pulp Fiction; (4) Chariots of Fire; (5) Nell; and (6) The Apostle. All of these were "Hollywood" hits. Interestingly enough, Shawshank was passed over by critics when it came out (1994) because 1994 was a stellar year for Hollywood (headed by Forrest Gump). Shawshank, however, has been picked up by many cable stations so that it has now become one of the most-beloved and quoted movies in American culture. Note that I am not making reference to explicit Biblical or "Christian" films; I assume they will be suffused with Scripture.

Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Andy Dufresne, the bank executive, is now a prisoner in Shawshank, convicted of murdering his wife. The warden, Norton, wants to "use" Andy for his money-laundering operation, and so he stages a visit to Andy's cell. The warden is very committed to the Bible, and so is pleased to see that Andy has a copy of the Good Book with him. Here is the exchange.

WARDEN: I'm pleased to see you reading this. Any favorite passages?

ANDY Watch ye therefore, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh. MY Question: Which verse is this?

NORTON (identifying the quotation).. I've always liked that one. (strolls the cell) But I prefer: "I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." MY Question: Which verse is this?

ANDY...(correctly identifying the passage).

When Andy is in the Warden's office he notices the following sign.

"HIS JUDGMENT COMETH AND THAT RIGHT SOON."

NORTON..My wife made that in church group.

ANDY...It's very pretty, sir.

This would also be the sign that the camera focuses on just before Norton blows his brains out when the authorities are coming to get him. But you can search the "Protestant" Scriptures in vain to discover this latter one, though I did find reference in the Apocrypha which goes like this: "His judgment cometh speedily" (Eccl. 21:5). Episcopalians also use the Apocrypha, and perhaps that is what the writer had in mind.

Dead Man Walking

This is another film based on a Stephen King novel. It has to do with life on death row in a Louisiana state prison. Sr. Helen Prejean, who today has quite a vigorous and visible ministry opposing the death penalty, was portrayed by Susan Sarandon in the film. The following passage excerpts a discussion between Sister Helen and the prison guard directly before an execution.

Prison guard: Tell me something sister, what is a nun doing in a place like this. Shouldn't you be teaching children? Didn't you know what this man has done? How he killed them kids?

Sister Helen Prejean: What he was involved with was evil. I don't condone it. I just don't see the sense of killing people to say that killing people's wrong.

Prison guard: You know what the Bible say, 'An eye for an eye'. MY Question: Where is this from?

Sister Helen Prejean: You know what else the Bible ask for death as a punishment? For adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, trespass upon sacred grounds, profane in a sabbath and contempt to parents. ANY CITATIONS?

Prison guard: I ain't gonna get no Bible quote from no nun cause I'm gonna loose.

Nell

Nell is the 1994 story of a the life of a "wild woman," played by the wonderfully-talented Jodie Foster. The young woman had taken to the woods after the death of her Bible-quoting mother. She is discovered and visited by two doctors, Jerry and Paula. He is interested in her strange speech patterns. One evening, in order to help Nell overcome her fear of men, Jerry joins Nell in her regular swim au naturel (of course, this is Hollywood!) Encouraged by Paula, the psychiatrist, Nell overcomes her fear and hesitation. She embraces Jerry in the water, strokes his chest, and says tenderly, "Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah." Jerry is startled, then relaxes when Nell laughs and swims away. He swims towards her, also laughing, and asks, "Who’s Tirzah?"

That is my question to you. Where is that verse from? Extra credit, also, for the context.

Well, let's turn to the other three in the next essay.

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