Abstract
This essay explores the generative role of humor in biblical interpretation, arguing that humor disrupts expectations and invites openness to new meaning. Through close readings of stories like Jonah, the Emmaus disciples, Balaam’s talking donkey, and the prodigal son’s elder brother, it demonstrates how biblical texts and their interpreters use humor to resist premature closure and foster creative engagement. The essay further suggests that interpreters are called to “play in the ruins” of these narratives—dwelling with ambiguity and surprise. In doing so, humor becomes a vital theological resource for encountering grace in unexpected places.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.