Letter: Biblical Beards

Sir: At the risk of splitting hairs, might I point out to the erudite Mr Jacobson (letter, 14 November) that the Gospel accounts of the passion of Jesus record that he was scourged (and so facilitated the early Christian application to him of Isaiah 50:6 - "I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.") but do not mention that his beard was pulled out.

Arguments from silence are never convincing, but at first blush this clearly favours the view that Jesus was clean-shaven.

The Rev Peter Hatton

Droitwich, Worcestershire