The Christian Bible and Beowulf appear to contrast on the surface, the former the word of Christ and the latter a pagan tale of heroism, valor, and courage. Upon deeper investigation; however, the two works are closer in purpose than one might suspect. This is because both works provide a guide for living or being, and both works are more similar in terms of Christian ideology than one might suppose.
One of the most prominent sermons of Christ is the Sermon on the Mount, rendered in Matthew 5: 1-7: 29 and again in Luke 6: 20-26. In the sermon, Christ explains what characteristics are emblematic of a righteous man (Matthew 5: 3-16). Christ repudiated the interpretation of the law as promulgated by the Pharisees and correctly interpreted the Law of Moses as the most clear delineation of what God demands (Matthew 5: 17-48). Christ also delivered his sermon to those seeking to enter the kingdom of heaven. J. D. Pentecost (1981) argues that the Sermon on the Mount was ôour LordÆs exposition of the holiness of God. It set forth the demands that a holy God made on those who would be accepted by Him and received into MessiahÆs kingdomö (172).
The epic Beowulf contains many pagan elements within its themes of heroism, valor, and courage. Beowulf, similar to the Sermon on the Mount, is designed as a means of offering the right way or right conduct of human beings. While there are many elements within the epic that are of pagan orientation, the underlying current to the work is its Christian oriented principles, themes, and symbols. For example, when Beowulf decides to face Grendel, we see that the feelings of those around him express a significant Christian rite-that of the Sacrifice and Resurrection. Only by spilling the blood of Christ could manÆs sins be absolved, so that the sacrifice of one man represented freedom for all souls. Similarly, the way the men feel about Beowulf is an analogy to
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