Did You Ever Want to Read a Blog Post on the Scripture Knowledge of P.G. Wodehouse?

Well, here it is! Courtesy of the Gospel Coalition, who seem like a spiffing bunch of coves.

Mention of P.G. Wodehouse and the Bible inevitably reminds me of the legendary prize-giving scene in Right-Ho Jeeves, when a completely hammered Gussie Fink-Nottle distributes prizes to schoolboys-- not realizing that three different people have spiked his orange juice with whiskey, in an effort to give him some Dutch courage. His examination of one of the prize-winners is hilarious:

"Well, G.G. Simmons."

"Sir, yes, sir."

"What do you mean--sir, yes, sir? Dashed silly thing to say. So you've won the Scripture-knowledge prize, have you?"

"Sir, yes, sir."

"Yes," said Gussie, "you look just the sort of little tick who would. And yet," he said, pausing and eyeing the child keenly, "how are we to know that this has all been open and above board? Let me test you, G.G. Simmons. What was What's-His-Name--the chap who begat Thingummy? Can you answer me that, Simmons?"

"Sir, no, sir."

Gussie turned to the bearded bloke.

"Fishy," he said. "Very fishy. This boy appears to be totally lacking in Scripture knowledge."

The bearded bloke passed a hand across his forehead.

"I can assure you, Mr. Fink-Nottle, that every care was taken to ensure a correct marking and that Simmons outdistanced his competitors by a wide margin."

"Well, if you say so," said Gussie doubtfully. "All right, G.G. Simmons, take your prize."

(This scene is sometimes described as the funniest in all English literature, and I can't think of one which deserves that title better. Of course, there's a lot more to it than just the passage above.)