As a Baptist preacher, Dr. King naturally thought the Bible had a few important things to say. And like a lot of Christians, he found wisdom in both the New and Old Testaments. But it's clear he considered Jesus to be the biggest hero of the story. Like ya do.

The Big Boss of Bethlehem, as he's sometimes known (to us), pops up again and again in Dr. King's speeches, essays, and letters. Jesus' famous teachings to "turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5:38) to the one who strikes you, and to love one's enemies (Luke 6:27), are some of the oldest and clearest pacifist teachings recorded in world literature.

One of the most striking allusions in "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is the reference to the oppression of early Christians, who as Dr. King put it, "were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks rather than submit to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire" (17).

Thankfully, the Birmingham Police didn't have any lions on hand in 1963.