Your point about the underlying message is particularly powerful. The Bible cleverly weaves this in its “inciting incident” (the Fall of Man) and the back story (the Fall of Lucifer).

The Book of Job is one I consider key to understanding the underlying message. Its a conflict between Power and Truth. Satan accuses God of being unjust manipulating Job to serve the Almighty from selfish interests. How poetic then, when we see God himself enter into his story, completely emptying himself of power and overcoming death by the truth of his very character.

Satan, having himself fallen, accuses Mankind under what we would now recognise as the rules of Karma. Christ, redeems Mankind and snatches victory from the jaws of defeat by the higher power of Grace. Grace (a free gift, undeserved) trumps Karma, every time. Its completely transformational. Which is why biblical themes in Les Mis and Babette’s feast are so very powerful.

The Bible also uses “set-ups” and “pay-offs” – a very common screenwriting technique. Eg. Abraham attempting to sacrifice Isaac (set-up), God follows through and sacrifices his son (pay-off). Jesus, a carpenter (set-up) ultimately dies nailed to a piece of wood (pay-off).

I could go on and on.

But I won’t :)