Exegeting Jesus Parables
Exegeting Jesus' Parables: Exegeting Jesus' Parables Robert C. Newman Biblical Theological Seminary What is a Parable?: What is a Parable? Dictionary Short, fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or religious principle Literary A simile expanded into a story New Testament A rather broad genre of illustration, including parable (above), allegory, similitude, and sample parable, also proverb and paradox How Parables Work: How Parables Work Parables are stories Brief Unified Few actors Direct discourse Serial development Rule of three Repetition Binary opposition End-stress (often) Resolution by reversal (usually) Two-level How Parables Work: How Parables Work See John W. Sider, Interpreting the Parables Parables are analogies: Verbal comparison Tenor – 'heavenly meaning' Vehicle – 'earthly story' Point(s) of resemblance An Analogy from Shakespeare: An Analogy from Shakespeare 'As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods – they kill us for their sport.' Tenor – relation of gods to humans Vehicle – relation of boys to flies Point of resemblance – re/ how mistreated The Analogy Diagramed: The Analogy Diagramed Tenor Vehicle We: gods = flies: (wanton) boys With respect to how they mistreat us Point of Resemblance An Example from Jesus' Parables: An Example from Jesus' Parables Wheat andamp; Weeds – Matt 13:24-30, 36-43 Story: Man sows good seed, his enemy weeds. When discovered, slaves want to remedy situation right away; owner has them wait till harvest. Tenor: kingdom of heaven Vehicle: story above Points of Resemblance: several Parables in the Gospels: Parables in the Gospels Christological Lost andamp; Found Forgiveness andamp; Mercy Prayer Transformation Stewardship Invitation andamp; Rejection Parables in the Gospels: Parables in the Gospels Second Coming Warning andamp; Judgment Kingdom Illustrative (example) Parables Acted Parables The End: The End Let’s begin to make the parables come alive for our audience!