The New World of Jesus Parables (original) (raw)

The challenge of Jesus’ parables A scholarly handbook for ministers and preachers

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 2006

The parables of Jesus recorded in the Gospels are profoundly challenging, not only as far as their original audience is concerned, but equally so as far as present day readers, hoping to fully grasp their meaning, are concerned. Renewed efforts to interpret these parables were made by a number of first-rate scholars, who published their research results in a book entitled “The challenge of Jesus parables”, which forms part of the McMaster New Testament Studies Series. This review essay focuses on some of the book’s main characteristics, in particular the resurgence of allegory, the Gospel contextualization of the parables and their application to contemporary issues of life.

Reflections on Jesus’ parables as metaphorical stories past and present

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 2002

During the past decades scholars have endeavoured to read Jesus’ parables as metaphorical stories. This article provides a theoretical overview of the ongoing debate, reflecting both on past claims and present criticism. The assertion is made that the use of the metaphor as a model to read and study the parables of Jesus, remains valid and should be expanded to include the parables in their particular Gospel settings.

A parable in Greek-Roman, Old Testament and rabbinic literature

2014

One of the aspects that biblical hermeneutics deals with is the question of literary genres present in the Holy Scriptures. A parable is certainly a distinctive genre of biblical literature. We find it most frequently in the Gospels because Jesus used this genre in his teaching very often. Why? Not without a reason was Jesus called the Teacher. He was the Teacher in the full meaning of the word and he was aware of that his listeners – often very simple people – on more than one occasion might have difficulty understanding remarkable secrets he preached to them. That is why he applied different methods in accordance with the principles of rhetoric in order to impact the widest audience. Due to parables – short stories that convey a comparison of some known life situations or pictures – he could certainly easier influence a significant number of listeners and impart them in a simple way sublime contents of the kingdom of God, God’s love, mercy and salvation. Countless publications of ...

What If Jesus Is Not in This Parable

Scriptures, Scholarship, and the People of God: Essays in Honour of Sven K. Soderlund, 2021

This paper argues that an adequate exegesis of the Parable of the Minas in Luke 19:11-27 must take into account of the historical context of late Second Temple Roman-Jewish politics. While many commentators have noted the similarities between the nobleman in the parable with Herod Archelaus, according to Josephus's accounts, few have provided a cogent explanation for why. Most exegetes still read the parable along the same lines as Matthew's parable of the talents, in which case Luke's additional elements remain puzzling. Not going as far as the liberationist reading of this text, this paper argues for the rhetorical function of the Archelaus-like nobleman in Luke's parable as a negative figure, marking the parable as a flipped parable with a very different point to make.