Biblical Hermeneutics

Genre Principles: Parables

Genre Principles: Parables

Genre Principles

Hermeneutics—Literary Interpretation

Literary InterpretationGeneral Principles

Narrative

Law

Prophecy

Wisdom

Poetry Apoc.

Epistles

Gospel

Acts

Prose PoetryOld Test. New Test.

Gospel Genre

Hermeneutics—General Observation

General Observation

“. . . for all their charm and simplicity, the para-bles have suffered a fate of misinterpretation in the church second only to the Revelation.” —FS

Hermeneutics— Gospels: Parables

Gospels: Parables

• History of Interpretation• Nature of Parables• Exegesis of Parables

Hermeneutics— Parable Interpretation

Parable Interpretation

• interpretive problems• Mk. 4:10–12 misunderstood• church allegorical abuse• good Samaritan example• correcting allegorical abuse

Hermeneutics—Parable Interpretation

Augustine: Good Samaritan• man going down = Adam• Jerusalem = heavenly city of peace, from which Adam fell• Jericho = the moon, Adam’s mortality• robbers = the devil and his angels• stripped him = lost immortality• beat him = by persuading him to sin• leaving him half dead = living physically, but dead spiritually• priest and Levite = Old Testament priesthood and ministry• Samaritian = “Guardian,” therefore, Christ• bandaged his wounds = binding the restraint of sin• oil = comfort of good hope• wine = exhortation to work with a fervent spirit• donkey = the flesh of Christ’s incarnation• inn = the church

Hermeneutics—Parable Interpretation

Augustine: Good Samaritan• the next day = after the resurrection• two silver coins = promise of this life and the life to come• innkeeper = Paul

Hermeneutics—Parable Interpretation

Parable Interpretation

• interpretive problems• Mk. 4:10–12 misunderstood• church allegorical abuse• good Samaritan example• correcting allegorical abuse

Hermeneutics— Parable Interpretation

Parable Interpretation• differentiate kinds

• similitude (Yeast in Dough)• metaphor (salt of the earth)• epigram (grapes from thorns)• parable (story, plot, point)

Hermeneutics— Parable Interpretation

Parable Interpretation

• understand function• more than word pictures• more than revealing truth• context: often confrontation,

opposition, or ignorance• key: provoking a response

Hermeneutics—Parable Interpretation

Parable Interpretation

“For in some ways to interpret a parable is to destroy what it was originally. It is like interpreting a joke. . . . When the joke is interpreted, it can be understood all right and may still be funny (at least one understands what one should have laughed at), but it ceases to have the same impact.”—FS

Hermeneutics—Parable Interpretation

Parable Interpretation

• understand function• more than word pictures• more than revealing truth• context: often confrontation,

opposition, or ignorance• key: provoking a response

Hermeneutics— Parable Interpretation

Parable Interpretation• parable exegesis

• establish literary context• identify original audience• find the points of reference• use caution when no context• understand kingdom parables

Hermeneutics—Parables: Context & Aud.

Context and AudienceExample: Parable of the Two Debtors (Lk. 7:40–42)

Context and audience:• Simon’s Pharisee dinner• Jesus’ unwashed feet• prostitute’s devoted tears• Pharisees’ social affront

Hermeneutics—Parables: Context & Aud.

Context and AudienceExamples of Context and Audience Analysis

Example 1—Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:25–37):• self-justifying law expert steeped in Pharisee piety• in parable, almsgiving “hero” is not expected Pharisee;

love unlimited by “neighbor” definitions

Hermeneutics—Parables: Context & Aud.

Context and AudienceExamples of Context and Audience Analysis

Example 2—Prodigal Son (Lk. 15:11–32):• Pharisee murmuring over Jesus’ social behavior

(15:1–2)• three parables, constant refrain: rejoice that what is

lost is found (15:6, 9, 23)• 15:6—“rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep

that was lost!”• 15:9—“rejoice with me, for I have found the coin

that I had lost!”• 15:23—“let us eat and celebrate; for this son of

mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”

Hermeneutics— Parable Interpretation

Parable Interpretation• parable exegesis

• establish literary context• identify original audience• find the points of reference• use caution when no context• understand kingdom parables

Hermeneutics—Parables: Points of Refer.

Points of ReferenceExample: Parable of the Two Debtors (Lk. 7:40–42)

Parable’s Reference Points:• moneylender = God• debtor of 50 = Simon• debtor of 500 = prostituteQuestion: why are points of reference not allegory?

Hermeneutics— Parable Interpretation

Parable Interpretation• parable exegesis

• establish literary context• identify original audience• find the points of reference• use caution when no context• understand kingdom parables

Hermeneutics—Parables: No Context

Without ContextExamples of Parables without Context

Example 1—Workers in the Vineyard (Mt. 20:1–16):• read until points of reference emerge• points of reference often fairly obvious• in this case, use summary verse at the end as clue:

only three characters resurface from storyline• points of reference:

• landowner = God• all-day workers = one set of laborers• one-hour workers = another set of laborers

• point: complaint of the all-day workers against apparent injustice of landowner’s scaled wages

Hermeneutics—Parables: No Context

Without ContextExamples of Parables without Context

Example 2—Lost Sheep (Mt. 18:12–14):• read until points of reference emerge• points of reference often fairly obvious• Matthew’s context: series of sayings on kingdom

relationships, “who is the greatest?”, children as “little ones,” seeking out one going astray

• points of reference:• shepherd = God• lost sheep = one going “astray,” weak in faith

• point: kingdom activity includes reclamation

Hermeneutics— Parable Interpretation

Parable Interpretation• parable exegesis

• establish literary context• identify original audience• find the points of reference• use caution when no context• understand kingdom parables

Hermeneutics—Kingdom Parables

Kingdom ParablesUnderstanding Kingdom Parables

Know category: “the kingdom of heaven is like”Know procedure: similar to other parables• context: establish what is possible of context and

audience• essence: recognize Jesus essentially is proclaiming

that the kingdom is now dawning with his coming• function: recognize Jesus functionally is calling for

a response and offering an invitation to discipleship• tension: recongize the “now–not yet” eschatological

tension present in the kingdom parables

Hermeneutics— Kingdom Parables

Kingdom ParablesExample: Parable of the Sower (Mk. 4:3–20)

Context: sabbath healing of withered hand, great multitudes, choosing twelve, confrontation by familyParable: teaching the multitudes by the sea• content: Jesus’ inauguration of kingdom in his

healing, preaching ministry and confrontation by leaders and family over his kingdom behavior

• essence: multitudes hear of dawning kingdom but individuals are called to make a personal decision

• function: Jesus calls all, even his own family, to a new discipleship based on his kingdom vision

• points of reference: four soils = four responses to Jesus’ kingdom proclamation

Hermeneutics—Kingdom Parables

Kingdom ParablesExample: Parable of the Sower (Mk. 4:3–20)

Parable: teaching the multitudes by the sea• tension: emphasis in kingdom parables on the

“now” of the “now–not yet” equation; urgency of the hour: “take heed how you hear.” Judgment is coming, but salvation still available.

• joy: available salvation provides a secondary theme of joy at discovering the Good News (cf. Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price, Mt. 13:44–46)

Hermeneutics—Kingdom Parables

Parable InterpretationThe Issue of Modern Application

Proclamation: bridge the revelation gap by clarifying the kingdom truths that Jesus proclaimed• timing: kingdom is now upon you• reality: kingdom centers on person and work of Jesus• decision: kingdom calls for personal decision• urgency: kingdom affords no procrastinationCommunication: bridge the emotional gap by translating parable points of reference into modern contexts• settings: invent new settings with contemporary

parameters• stories: invent new stories with contemporary

characters