What is a Parable? Characteristics of a Parable

A Parable: Definition and Characteristics

A parable is a brief, straightforward tale that uses comparison to impart a spiritual or moral message. The fact that parables are narrative in form yet contain figurative meaning separates them from other literary figures. To make their analogies, they employ metaphors and similes. The purpose of the parables is to convince, inform, or persuade the audience as a result. Jesus did this by using parables to provide fresh insights about the God’s Kingdom. Thus, a parable might be defined as a brief and straightforward tale that Jesus used to inform his disciples about the Kingdom of God.

Characteristics of a Parable

Parables have specific attributes that distinguish them from other literary figures. The parables of Jesus are brief. This is the first characteristic that sets them aside from other literary figures. In this regards, it means that parables do not use more words than needed. They are thus covered in short verses making sure that unnecessary details are excluded. The descriptions of people are thin and as scanty details about a character, their history, appearance, are ignored. It is thus not easy to picture the characters described in parables. Another attribute of parables is that they are marked with symmetry and simplicity. In this sense, the characters and their activities are not complex. For example, the father is not related to the prodigal and his eldest brother at the same time.

Another characteristic of parables is that their focus was mostly on humans. Jesus’ parables had their focus on humans. It is only in the Mustard Seed in Mark that humans are not included. From this, it is deducible that Jesus’ parables focused on the lives of people, shepherds, masters, fathers, servants, women, and sons. It is the humanness in the parables that make them interesting. Another attribute of the parables is that they are imagined descriptions that are taken from the normal everyday life, despite not portraying everyday events. While some of the imagined descriptions are realistic, some are not. Parables are also engaging in that they aim to create interest among people and to keep the audience attentive. They thus contain surprising elements that can leave the audience fascinated. They tend to elicit thought among the members of the audience through the use of exaggeration and dialogue. Their aim, in this case, is to enable the listener to judge based on the story narrated. Given that they also ask and seek to answer questions, it can be said that they are meant to engage the audience.

Parables also have the element of reversal since they seek to rearrange behavior and thought to some other teachings of Jesus. While not all of the parables use this feature, when they were implemented, they were powerful change instruments utilized by Jesus. When the element of reversal is used, unexpected associations and decisions arise. For example, the Samaritan turns out to be a good neighbor, not the Jew. Another characteristic is that the parables have their matter at the end. These are the major aspects that characterized the parables as taught by Jesus. As seen, they have some attributes that describe the elements that cut across most of the parables.

Principles and Methods of Parables Interpretation

A significant portion of the Jesus’ teachings was done through parables. The parables of Jesus are known widely, but they are also prone to misinterpretation. Understanding the settings of the parable is vital for the interpretation of the parables. Most scholars have not paid enough attention to the historical setting, and this has led to misinterpretation of the parables. The writers have ignored the historical settings of the parables as they try to find implications favoring the present conditions. It is not only the historical context that is important. Bailey points out that for proper interpretation of parables, understanding of the cultural setting is also significant.

An examination of how parables have been interpreted in the past can help in the understanding of the strides made. The interpretation of the Good Samaritan by Augustine is considered fanciful and incorrect and thus elicited many comments seeking to correct it. The first approach of the correctives is that parables are allegories. This was meant to correct the idea that had characterized the history of the church where parables were interpreted as allegories. This means that the objects and the characters in the parables were considered to stand for something other than the way they are described. As such, this meant that parables were read on two levels. Therefore, scholars were critical of the allegorical approach and pointed out that parables were not allegories. The second approach of the correctives has it each of the Jesus’ parables made only one point. Therefore, it is evident that there has been a change of the way Jesus’ parables have been interpreted over time.

It is the works of Adolf Jülicher that brought an end to the allegorical approach by denouncing it. It was his argument that the instances of allegory in the parables were the additions of the evangelists but not the real teachings as demonstrated by Jesus. While the works of Jülicher added some important literature to the interpretation of the parables, they were heavily criticized in the early 20th century. Many of these scholars that out forward the criticisms pointed out to Jülicher’s inadequate definition of metaphor and an incorrect understanding of allegory. As such, there was a need for his works to be corrected to yield a more valid parables’ interpretation.

The works of Joachim Jeremias and C.H. Dodd in the 20th century sought to put the parables in their historical contexts. Other significant figures that have made contributions to the interpretation of the parables are Dominic Crossan and Robert Funk who used phenomenological approach. However, their presuppositions are not in line with the self-claims of the scripture and the divine Scripture inspiration as understood by evangelicals. Another development in the interpretation of the Bible was made by Dan Ovia. Ovia took on the aesthetic rhetoric framework where less emphasis is put in the historical settings of the parables.

The above people have made a significant contributed in regards to how Jesus’ parables have been interpreted in the past. Through their criticisms and development of new approaches, the interpretations of the parables have undergone some significant changes. While the earlier interpretations considered parables as allegories, later developments denounced them. As noted above, the setting of the parables, both cultural and historical are vital in the interpretation of Jesus’ parables. A conclusion that can be made is that the appearances of the parables in the Gospels depict some elements of allegory.

Bibliography

Bailey, Mark L. Guidelines for Interpreting Jesus’ Parables. 1998. https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_parables_bailey.html (accessed September 10, 2017).

Bible.org. The Interpretation of Parables: Exploring “Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads”. n.d. https://bible.org/article/interpretation-parables-exploring-%E2%80%9Cimaginary-gardens-real-toads%E2%80%9D (accessed September 10, 2017).

Reformed Reader. Characteristics of Jesus’ Parables. n.d. https://reformedreader.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/characteristics-of-jesus-parables/ (accessed September 10, 2017).