--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The New Testament, compared with the Old…" description: "\"The New Testament, compared with the Old, is like a farce of one act\" — Thomas Paine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/thomas-paine-267_farce_the-new-testament-compared-with-the-old_2171024.png" --- # The New Testament, compared with the Old, is like a farce… ![“The New Testament, compared with the Old, is like a farce of one act” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/thomas-paine-267_farce_the-new-testament-compared-with-the-old_2171024.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/thomas-paine-267_farce_the-new-testament-compared-with-the-old_2171024.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/thomas-paine-267_farce_the-new-testament-compared-with-the-old_2171024.png) > “The New Testament, compared with the Old, is like a farce of one act” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The New Testament appears superficial compared to the depth of the Old Testament. **In simple terms:** New Testament seems shallow next to Old. Key Takeaway Explore both testaments for fuller understanding. Themes religion scripture comparison historical context Mood contemplative inquisitive Type theological literary When to use this quote - Bible study groups - academic courses - personal reflection Key Concepts theology literary depth cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - How does each testament speak to you? - What value do you find in each? A Different Perspective Interpretations vary widely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Farce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farce/) [Farce Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farce-act-2991394/) [Like Farce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-farce-2991392/) [New testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-testament/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Testament Compared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testament-compared-4649434/) ## Related quotes > [The NT, compared with the Old, is like a farce of one act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-nt-compared-with-the-old-is-like-a-farce-of-one-act/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The New Testament, they tell us, is founded upon the prophecies of the Old; if so, it must follow the fate of its foundation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-new-testament-they-tell-us-is-founded-upon-the-prophecies-of-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [It is the fable of Jesus Christ, as told in the New Testament, and the wild and visionary doctrine raised thereon, against which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-the-fable-of-jesus-christ-as-told-in-the-new-testament-and-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“It is not then the existence or the non-existence, of the persons that I trouble myself about; it is the fable of Jesus Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-is-not-then-the-existence-or-the-non-existence-of-the-persons-that/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The New Testament rests itself for credulity and testimony on what are called prophecies in the Old Testament, of the person called Jesus Christ;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-new-testament-rests-itself-for-credulity-and-testimony-on-what/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion, when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/is-it-not-a-species-of-blasphemy-to-call-the-new-testament-revealed/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Had it been the object or the intention of Jesus Christ to establish a new religion, he would undoubtedly have written the system himself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/had-it-been-the-object-or-the-intention-of-jesus-christ-to-establish/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Intellectualism is a poor master over passion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twe-stephens/intellectualism-is-a-poor-master-over-passion/) [Twe Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twe-stephens/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [As so often, a political event involving Donald Trump looks like swinging wildly between melodrama and farce. The Republican National Convention in Cleveland has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-colvin/as-so-often-a-political-event-involving-donald-trump-looks-like/) [Mark Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-colvin/) > [“After a tragedy, a farce. Philosophy enters into her power, and the earth returns under one's feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/after-a-tragedy-a-farce-philosophy-enters-into-her-power-and-the/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [I knew nothing about farce until I read Puce a l'Oreille, and had no idea what a deadly serious business it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-knew-nothing-about-farce-until-i-read-puce-a-l-oreille-and-had-no/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [One of the great problems of philosophy, is the relationship between the realm of knowledge and the realm of values. Knowledge is what is;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-monod/one-of-the-great-problems-of-philosophy-is-the-relationship-between/) [Jacques Monod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-monod/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. 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Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Farce quotes > [I knew nothing about farce until I read Puce a l'Oreille, and had no idea what a deadly serious business it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/i-knew-nothing-about-farce-until-i-read-puce-a-l-oreille-and-had-no/) [John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/) > [“After a tragedy, a farce. Philosophy enters into her power, and the earth returns under one's feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/after-a-tragedy-a-farce-philosophy-enters-into-her-power-and-the/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [As so often, a political event involving Donald Trump looks like swinging wildly between melodrama and farce. 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Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/i-have-observed-that-in-comedies-the-best-actor-plays-the-droll-while/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Keep in mind that the Iraqis are not telling us anything we don't already know or can't prove. This is what makes this whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/keep-in-mind-that-the-iraqis-are-not-telling-us-anything-we-don-t/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [History that repeats itself turns to farce. Farce that repeats itself turns to history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/history-that-repeats-itself-turns-to-farce-farce-that-repeats-itself/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Life is a farce, and should not end with a mourning scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/life-is-a-farce-and-should-not-end-with-a-mourning-scene/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Dinner at the Huntercombes possessed only two dramatic features: the wine was a farce and the food a tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/dinner-at-the-huntercombes-possessed-only-two-dramatic-features-the/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [A farce, or slapstick humor, does well universally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/a-farce-or-slapstick-humor-does-well-universally/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [The biggest farce of man's history has been the argument that wars are fought to save civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-mckenzie/the-biggest-farce-of-man-s-history-has-been-the-argument-that-wars/) [Charles E. 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