<Li> Per Shaheen, Timon of Athens "provides rare insights into his manner of composition and has several biblical references that are of considerable interest ." He further states, "As is Shakespeare's custom throughout his plays, his use of Scripture in Timon is primarily intended to serve dramatic ends rather than to have theological significance ." </Li> <Li> In Macbeth, Act IV, Scene iii, Macduff offers his assistance to Malcolm, saying, "Thy royal father / Was a most sainted king; the queen that bore thee, / Oftener upon her knees than on her feet / Died every day she lived ." The last part is a direct allusion to 1 Corinthians 15, verse 31: "I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily ." </Li> <P> All of the foregoing examples as provided by Shaheen suggest that Shakespeare was well - acquainted with the Bible and its various themes via individual verses spread throughout its various chapters enough so that he could easily expand upon any said theme with his own continuation of such verses . </P> <P> R.A.L. Burnet states: "(A) s Professor E.P. Dickie has pointed out to me, words found in the margin (of the Geneva Bible) will not have circulated very readily nor become proverbial sayings . Shakespeare would not have heard these words either in church or in conversation; he could only have read them ." </P>

List of biblical reference in merchant of venice