Sermon Tone Analysis

Horne, Charles, and Julius Bewer.

The Bible and Its Story: Gospels–Acts, Matthew to Apostles.

Vol. 9. New York, NY: Francis R. Niglutsch, 1909.

Background

Definition: A story or saying that illustrates a truth using comparison, hyperbole, or simile.

Can be a model, analogy, or example.

(Lexham Bible Dictionary)

A story or saying that illustrates a truth using comparison, hyperbole, or simile.

Can be a model, analogy, or example.

Story or saying

Illustration

Comparison, hyperbole, simile

Model, analogy, example

Comes from Hebrew מָשָׁ֑ל (mashal) and Greek παραβολή (parabolē).

(מָשָׁ֑ל, mashal; παραβολή, parabolē)

Parable (מָשָׁ֑ל, mashal; παραβολή, parabolē).

A

Old Testament Era

Wisdom literature is a genre of ancient literature characterized by an emphasis on teaching its audience the things necessary to attain to virtue and obtain divine favor (LBD)

Biblical wisdom literature (Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes), a subcategory of wisdom literature, is focused on the individual, not the broader national situation (religious or political)

Biblical wisdom literature (Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes) is focused on the individual, not the broader nation

Biblical wisdom literature gives much advice for everyday choices in life.

The basic unit of wisdom-teaching in the book of Proverbs is the short saying, a metaphorical comparison that gives advice in a memorable way (LBD)

The Hebrew word מָשָׁ֑ל (mashal) can refer to a taunt (), a riddle (), an allegory (), or a proverb ().

(LBD)

word מָשָׁ֑ל (mashal) can refer to a taunt (), a riddle (), an allegory (), or a proverb ().

A mashal is symbolic speech that teaches a lesson or makes a point.

It uses familiar situations, persons, or events to illustrate an unfamiliar or unrecognized truth.

For example, in , the Lord’s dealings with Judah are compared to a farmer working the soil.

(Andrew Hill, “Non-Proverbial”)

מָשָׁ֑ל (mashal) can refer to a taunt (), a riddle (), an allegory (), or a proverb ().

Parables in the Old Testament instruct in wisdom (), convey predictions (e.g., , ; , , , , ; ), enhance a message (e.g., ) or pronounce judgment (e.g., ; ; ).

(LBD)

Parables in the Old Testament instruct in wisdom (), convey predictions (e.g., , ; , , , , ; ), enhance a message (e.g., ) or pronounce judgment (e.g., ; ; ).

Greek rhetoric - parables were used in argumentation to clarify, prove, or cause something to appear livelier.

Rabbinic parables explain passages of Scripture, or illustrate an interpretation of a passage already provided.

(LBD)

New Testament

A central feature of Jesus’ teaching was His use of extended similes and short stories to express spiritual truths, usually relating to the Kingdom

Over one-third of Jesus’ instruction was done via parables.

Most of the studies on parables focus on Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

The Gospel of John employs metaphors rather than parables.

For example, in Jesus equates Himself with a shepherd tending sheep (the Jewish people).

In , the author calls this saying a παροιμία (paroimia)—often translated as “figure of speech.”

(LBD)

Purpose of parables by Jesus: conceal spiritual truths from unbelievers ()

Why would Jesus want to conceal spiritual truth?

OT saw only one coming of Christ—two were possible, but not explicitly taught

It was believed that Jesus would establish his Kingdom (Jews took this to be a political kingdom)

In the Gospels, Jesus comes and speaks of his Kingdom, the condition of which, was repentance ()

The people did not repent because they failed to understand the spiritual requirement for the Kingdom.

The Kingdom was delayed from the human perspective (though always God’s plan) because people failed to repent

Following this rejection of the Kingdom, Christ begins to teach in parables because the people were not ready to learn of additional truths

By the way, the period that ensued following this delay is what we refer to as the Church Age, and this is the mystery Paul referred to, that Gentiles would be welcomed into the program of God through the unique seed of Abraham, which is Christ.

Problems in liberal scholarship

Important terms: liberal and conservative

Historical reliability of the Gospels

Bart Erhman

Jesus Seminary

If the Gospels are found to be unreliable, then the story of Jesus is also unreliable.

Interpretation

History of Interpretation of Parables

Early Church Era

“The allegorical method of interpretation emerged early in the history of the church as a result of the influence of Greek philosophy, and was applied widely to all portions of Scripture as a substitute for a more legitimate, literal reading of the text” (Craig Blomberg, Interpreting the Parables).

The allegorical method of interpretation emerged early in the history of the church as a result of the influence of Greek philosophy, and was applied widely to all portions of Scripture as a substitute for a more legitimate, literal reading of the text.

The early church interpreted Jesus’ parables as allegorical; they assigned meaning to every detail in the parable.

“The allegorical method of interpretation emerged early in the history of the church as a result of the influence of Greek philosophy, and was applied widely to all portions of Scripture as a substitute for a more legitimate, literal reading of the text” (Craig Blomberg, Interpreting the Parables).

Of course, Jesus assigned meanings to certain elements in his parables for the sake of explanation (Example: Parable of the sower, )

It’s because of Jesus’ own explanations in passages like that led the theologian Origen to take this allegorical approach.

According to Origin (c.

AD 185-254), in the Parable of the Good Samaritan...

The Samaritan represented Christ

The man going to Jericho was Adam

The inn was the church

The wounds the man suffered stood for sin

For St. Augustine (AD 354-430)...

The wounded man stands for Adam

Jerusalem is the heavenly city from which he has fallen

The thieves are the devil who deprives Adam of his immortality

The priest and Levite are the Old Testament Law which could save no one

The Samaritan who binds the man’s wounds is Christ who forgives sin

The inn is the church

The innkeeper is the apostle Paul

Allegory versus Parable

Allegory: everything has a meaning

Parable: there is (at least) one central truth

The allegorical method ignores the realism, clarity, and simplicity of the parables (Blomberg)

Reformation Church Era

Allegorical interpretation of parables was rejected by many scholars (notably, Luther and Calvin, c. 1517), who opted for a more literal approach to interpreting the parables

Adolf Jülicher later (1888-1889) also argued against an allegorical interpretation of the parables stating that a parable teaches a single moral concept.

argued against an allegorical interpretation of the parables stating that a parable teaches a single moral concept.

Jülicher believed that a parable was a single metaphor with only one point of reference: the details of a parable should not be pressed for meaning—they only add cultural details to the narrative.

Jülicher believed that a parable was a single metaphor with only one point of reference: the details of a parable should not be pressed for meaning—they only add cultural details to the narrative.

(LBD)

His two massive volumes argued at great length that each parable briefly and concisely reflected true-to-life conditions of first-century Palestine, sharply contrasting with the artificiality of most allegories which made sense only when properly decoded (Blomberg).

He was strictly literal—there was no possibility of meaning beyond present day Palestine

Modern Church Era

Craig Blomberg notes that Jesus’ parables are in many ways similar to rabbinic parables, which usually had some allegorical element (Blomberg, Interpreting the Parables).

For example, the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son () represents God and the son who leaves home symbolizes sinners and tax collectors.