Howard Dean's favorite New Testament Book: Job

New York Times ^ | 1/4/2004 | JODI WILGOREN

[leftcoaster]

Asked his favorite New Testament book, Dr. Dean named Job, adding: "But I don't like the way it ends." "Some would argue, you know, in some of the books of the New Testament, the ending of the Book of Job is different," he said. "I think, if I'm not mistaken, there's one book where there's a more optimistic ending, which we believe was tacked on later."

Job, the Old Testament story of a righteous man who suffers hardships as a test of his faith, ends with the Lord restoring his fortunes and the protagonist living to be "an old man, and full of days." Some scholars have posited that the original ending may have been more dour.

An hour after his comments, Dr. Dean returned to the clutch of reporters, saying he realized he had misspoken because Job is not in the New Testament.

"Many people believe that the original version of Job is the version where there is not a change, Job ends up completely destitute and ruined," he said. "It's been a long time since I looked at this, but it's believed that was added much, much later. Many people believe that the original ending was about the power of God and the power of God was almighty and all knowing and it wasn't necessary that everybody was going to be redeemed."

Asked again about his favorite part of the New Testament, Dr. Dean said, "Anything in the Gospels."

His press secretary, Doug Thornell, telephoned late Friday night to say that Dr. Dean did not mean to imply he was some kind of expert.

"He obviously has read the Bible and knows the passages fairly well," Mr. Thornell said, "but just in terms of having a theologian's knowledge of the Bible, he doesn't want to pass on the impression that he does."

[leftcoaster]

Must be it has been a long time since he read anything in the Good Book if he doesn't even remember it well enough to recall its location.

Follow up question: "Do you like everything in all 5 Gospels?"

[Tijeras_Slim]

A job is what he's gonna be looking for next November.

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[Guillermo]

is this a joke?

[Always Right]

is this a joke?

I think it is legitimate, though hard to believe. Dean's southern strategy of becoming a bible-thumper may be a tough sell.

[Polybius]

Let us pray:

Dear Lord, please ensure that Howard Dean does not self-destruct before securing the Democrat nomination. Amen.

[Lady Jag]

It's my Job

[Always Right]

Mr. Thornell said, "but just in terms of having a theologian's knowledge of the Bible, he doesn't want to pass on the impression that he does."

LOL, I don't think I would be too worried about that.

[leftcoaster]

is this a joke?

Doesn't look like it. I found the link at Drudge.

[tiamat]

I like your follow-up!

Tia

[Eva]

This was just another canned answer that someone had prepared for Dean, that didn't match the question. This response was much like the answer to the question about a relative in the military.

[Snuffington]

Well that Southern religious strategy is going well for him.

[abclily]

I'm sorry, but anybody who knows anything about the Bible knows that Job's story is in the Old Testament. Hope Dean has more knowledge on the other subjects he speaks about. Somehow I am beginning to doubt he has much real knowledge about anything. He should adopt Miss Hitlery's approach of saying nothing unscripted.

[leftcoaster]

Well that Southern religious strategy is going well for him.

One of his advisors should have told him it was a Southerner who sang "Take This Job and Shove It"

[CyberAnt]

Excuse me .. it isn't knowing the Bible .. anyone can memorize the Bible .. the key is DOES DEAN KNOW THE AUTHOR OF THE BIBLE. I would suspect not.

And .. Jesus could not have been a democrat .. because when Jesus went into the temple and threw out the money changers .. that was a unilateral and pre-emptive move .. both of which the democrats are against.

[Recovering_Democrat]

NEW TESTAMENT BOOK OF JOB????
BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Yeah, Howie...you just KEEP ON TALKIN', baby!!! :)

[Wilhelm Tell]

My favorite New Testament story is in the Book of Exodus, where Jonah makes a giant fish gulp down a part of the Red Sea, leaving a dry path where the Israelites can escape from the Romans. Jesus is then able to escape with a copy of the Ten Comandments the Pharoah gave him. Then the giant fish burps and drowns the entire Roman army. Man, that is an exciting story. I just about have it memorized and it to me has a deeper spiritual meaning then even the Gospel of David.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Asked again about his favorite part of the New Testament, Dr. Dean said, "Anything in the Gospels."

Please, someone ask him if he agrees with this statement by Christ in the Gospel of John (14:6):

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

[mercy]

Those who hold that the Bible is ought but the inerrant Word of God are CINOs.

In this case I don't even think he's nominal. More like make-believe.

[bcoffey]

Interesting that the NYTimes interviewer didn't know Dean had made a mistake! LOL