Important People
So who is the most important person in the Bible? Well, besides Him, of course — and his Son and his Spirit.
It’s a curious question really, and maybe there’s not an answer. There are definitely people highlighted more than others, though that’s not necessarily a measure of importance. Saul takes up a good chunk of chapters, but in the long run he seems to be more of an oops than important. David steps in and his branch takes over the whole story.
I don’t really even mean honored. Isaiah, for instance, resonates to our day as being a great prophet. But, in the story he’s more of an observer and color commentator. He’s vital as a narrator, but not as a player.
How about Noah? He’s important. If he didn’t have that faith which builds boats then the story suggests humanity would have been wiped out.
David and Noah are important, for the Old Testament parts. As is Moses. We can’t forget Moses. Or Abraham. Abraham is a rather vital guy for all sorts of reasons. Maybe we could throw in Paul and Peter and John for the New Testament — both because they were major players and because if not for these three we wouldn’t really have much of a New Testament. Thank God for the writers, eh?
These are people we know. So they seem especially important, and for good reasons. But I’m thinking there are others. I’m constantly struck by the character actors in the text. You know, the men and women who show up, say a line or two, and then disappear.
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