Review of Short Stories By Jesus

Jewish and Christian Perspectives 39, 2024

Case studies and methodology on the comparative study of parables in Synoptic, Rabbinic, and Early Christian sources. Papers delivered at the Utrecht 201i9 closing Conference of the project Parables and the Partings of the Ways (2014-2020)

Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2018

The gospel parables are part of the broader genre of Jewish story-parables found in rabbinic literature. In the first half of this article seven preliminary characteristics of Jewish parables are presented, some of which challenge our widely accepted assumptions regarding gospel parables. For example, although there is near scholarly consensus that Jesus told his parables in Aramaic, we do not have a single Aramaic story-parable in Jewish literature in Roman antiquity. All are in Hebrew. In the second half of the study, an example is given of how twin parables are used to convey a novel idea that emerged in Judaism of the Hellenistic period – the value of the human individual because they have been created in the image of God – to demonstrate that Jesus not only embraced this innovative Jewish humanistic approach, but also how he did so with parables.

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.

Acta Theologica, 2009

Research history on parable studies, new Definition and methodology how to Interpret New Testament parables

SAPIENTIA GLOBAL JOURNAL OF ARTS, HUMANITIES AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, 2020

The Parables of Jesus are the essential part of his teachings as well as the aspect which has suffered a lot of misunderstanding. The argument of this paper is that Jesus used his parables to convey his message in such a way that it would leave lasting impression on those who heard him. His primary purpose was to communicate and not conceal his message. Understanding his parables requires a holistic approach which entails coming to grips with, not only the meaning, nature, characteristics and literary purpose of parable in Jewish culture but also with how they function in the teachings of Jesus and how they are adapted by the evangelists.

This article responds to Ruben Zimmermann’s latest book, Puzzling the Parables of Jesus (2015). In particular, one aspect of his proposed method is challenged, namely, his conscious attempt to do away with considerations of the pre-Easter context when interpreting the parables. The article finishes by proposing a variant methodology of parable interpretation, featuring the parable of the Good Samaritan as a working example.

Journal for the Study of the New Testament

This article deals mainly with four parables and proverbs attributed to Jesus, their synoptic parallels and their relationship to rabbinic literature: the parable of the wedding (Mt. 22.1-13//Lk. 14.15-24), the parable of the friend at midnight (Lk. 11.5-8) and the parable of the unjust judge (Lk. 18.1-7), and judging the judge and measure for measure (Mt. 7.1-5//Lk. 6.37-41//Mk 4.24-25). These parables and proverbs are treated as divergent versions of traditions, similar to the versions of traditions in rabbinic literature, and they are carefully compared with striking parallels in the latter. The integrative study of New Testament passages and rabbinic literature illuminates both and sheds light on the complexity, pluriformity, and religious message of these traditions.