Book Description
Jesus of Galilee taught through stories, stories which even today contain the power to startle us out of our prejudices and preconceptions. Now Father Andrew Greeley, one of Americas most beloved storytellers, examines the parables told by Jesus in search of a fuller understanding of the man and his message. This engaging and informal collection of homilies reveals a Jesus whose simple parables carry profound lessons about the Kingdom of Heaven. Along the way, Father Greeley touches on such provocative topics as the significance of Jesuss Jewish roots, his deep and revolutionary relationship with women, The Da Vinci Code, and The Passion of the Christ. He also singles out the four greatest parables that best illustrate the infinite love and mercy of the God whose kingdom began with Jesus and continues even today. As a storyteller, Jesus often surprised his listeners with unexpected twists that challenged them to see the world in a whole new light. Father Greeleys insightful tour of the Gospels provides a fresh look at the parables that strips away centuries of false and mistaken interpretations to get at the essential truth of who Jesus really was, and what he believed.
Customer Reviews:
Jesus of Galilee........2007-09-30
How I wish that the leaders of our Catholic Church were more like the real Jesus.He saw women as equals, men and woman created in His Father's image.Andrew Greeley's book tells how Jesus respected woman and of the wonderful relationships he had with them.
Excellent & uplifting.......2007-09-27
Jesus: A Meditation on His Stories and His Relationships With Women is a marvelous book.
The meditations are loving and uplifting, they show how much Jesus loves us and respects us and teaches other to do like wise.
I shared this book with my niece, who is 20 years younger than I am and she is presently enjoying it.
I recomend it to women, so that they can feel the love that is pure and I recomend it to men as a teaching tool showin them how women should be loved and treated.
God is like a . . . .......2007-09-11
According to his web site, Father Andrew Greeley (born 1928) is "one of the most influential Catholic thinkers and writers of our time, a priest, sociologist, author and journalist who has built an international assemblage of devout fans over a career that spans five decades. He is the author of over 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of non-fiction and his writing has been translated into 12 languages. A Professor of Sociology at the University of Arizona and a Research Associate with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, Father Greeley is a respected scholar whose current research focuses on the Sociology of Religion." This little book of meditations is not an academic or scholarly tome, but the sort of work he could write over a long and quiet weekend, and its awkward subtitle points to its lack of focus. But it's still worth reading.
The God whom Jesus revealed, writes Greeley, is a God of wonderful surprises and endless generosity. After illustrating this from the Christmas narratives and then from the story of the encounter on the road to Emmaus, in by far the longest chapter (pp. 57-106) Greeley explores the "profoundly shocking" nature of Jesus's relationship with women. He not only took their financial support but accepted them as traveling companions. He elevated them to an equality with men, just as he would elevate Gentiles to an equality with Jews. Although people could feel profoundly vulnerable in the presence of Jesus, women also felt unconditionally safe. These relationships with women, says Greeley, were not "passing incidents peripheral to the main story but central to Jesus' vision of the kingdom of God" (p. 104). In his final chapters Greeley examines the four "Great Parables" of reassurance that speak of God's outrageous and even profligate generosity: the stories of the Crazy Vintner, the Indulgent Father, the Lenient Judge, and the Good Samaritan. The parables of urgency remind us that grace is not cheap, life does not last forever, that our choices matter, and that the kingdom that Jesus announced calls us now and asks for everything. Along the way Greeley debunks the "absurd fantasies" of books like the DaVinci Code, and warns us of the many ways that we domesticate the Biblical stories into trite religious sentiment.
reminded why Jesus remains relevant today.......2007-05-27
Known for his Nuala Anne McGrail and Bishop Blackie mysteries, Father Andrew Greeley provides an enlightening look at Jesus especially his relationships with women and not just females named Mary and his place in the twenty-first century of technology, science, and Da Vinci Codes. Father Greeley also provides a fascinating interpretation of the four major parables and some other tales told of or by Jesus. Well written Jesus reminds us that God has room for everyone in his tent as he and his son love all. Insightful Father Greeley reminds the faithful that there is a special place for the victims of genocides; the victims of the Holocaust, Darfur, and Rwanda, etc. This is an excellent work that will probably lead to proclamations by those who use Jesus as a weapon that Father Greeley will burn for his sins; while those like this reviewer are reminded why Jesus remains relevant today.
Harriet Klausner
Well written but off target.......2007-04-28
This is a well written little book about a priest's feelings about Jesus. The subtitle - "A meditation on his stories and his relationships with women" may be misleading. Only one chapter of the book is concerned with women. And the quotations from the gospels may also be misleading, since Greeley uses the "Good News Bible" which is hardly standard fare.
As a christian text, one has to look aside at the many errors of historical fact, since this book isn't intended to be an historical account of Jesus's life. For example...
- Greeley claims that "Following the example of John the Baptist, he [Jesus] lived an ascetic life...(p.48)." Jesus himself contrasts his own life with John the Baptist (Luke 7:33), claiming that he differed substantially from John in his eating and drinking habits and in the types of people he associated with. Jesus was hardly an "ascetic" in the manner of John the Baptist.
- Greeley says: "Galilee was relatively peaceful...in the time of Jesus...(p. 48)." Apparently he ignores the numerous rebellions, including the actions of Judas the Galilean.
- He mixes up the reign of Herod the Great with the Roman prefects, claiming they overlapped (p. 49). In fact, Herod died in 4 BC and Roman prefects weren't appointed to rule Judea until 6 AD, more than a decade later.
- In several places he talks about a synagogue in Nazareth (p. 45, 55) yet we know from archeological evidence that there was no synagogue in Nazareth until long after Jesus had died.
- He talks about "Mary of Magdala" (p. 57) but that wasn't her name. Her name was "Mary the Magdalene"in 3 of the gospels, and "ary called Magdalene" in the Gospel of Luke. She was never called Mary of Magdala, although that is a common error.
Apart from these errors (there are more, but you get the point), another problem with this book is that Greeley apparently ignores the gnostic gospels in the one chapter that deals with the role of women in Jesus' life. It's an incredible omission.
Greeley says that "There are no grounds...for identifying her [Mary of Magdala] with the...woman who at the home of Simon the Pharisee washed the feet of Jesus...much less with the youthful Mary of Bethany...(p. 59)." Indeed! Entire books have been written about just this subject, and a very good case can be made for identifying these women. And what does he mean by "youthful" in describing Mary of Bethany. There is no evidence whatsoever about her age. Only that she was a sister to Lazarus and Martha.
While we're on the subject of Greeley's fiction writing, he describes Jesus as "...strong, handsome... (p. 59)." Now Jesus had many good characteristics, but I don't remember anything in the gospels about him being "strong" or "handsome."
This book has far too many errors to recommend it. It is nicely written, but it seems to ramble without foundation or purpose.
Customer Reviews:
Indispensable source for cultural and historical insights pertaining to many of the parables in Luke.......2007-07-30
Dr. Kenneth Bailey spent most of his life in the Middle East and as result has a great appreciation and understanding for its culture and its spiritual history. This book is actually two previously released books combined that examine in extensive detail the parables of Jesus in the book of Luke in their first century Palestinian context.
The first fifty or so pages in the first book goes into exhaustive analysis of the structure of parables showing that they have four basic types of patterns and there is sometimes a predictable symmetry to them. This segment is highly technical and can be overwhelming for the layman. But once you get through that part of the book and begin the chapters dedicated to each parable, it becomes a literary treasure, revealing the hidden cultural nuances in the setting of first century Palestine and unlocks many spiritual truths for 21st century Westerners.
Overall I strongly recommend this book - especially for someone who gives sermons or leads a Bible study on these parables. I only have a few minor criticisms. One is that I strongly disagree with Bailey's exegesis on the Parable of the Unrighteous Steward in Luke 16 and also but to a much lesser degree, his exegesis on the Parable of the Fig Tree in Luke 13. My other criticism is that Bailey does not cover every parable in the book of Luke. Fortunately he covers most including the Prodigal Son. In spite of these two issues, I still enthusiastically recommend this book.
Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes.......2007-05-15
An interesting view of the parables found in the Gospel of Luke from a literary and cultural perspective. It helped me understand some of the more obscure parables and gave a fresh perspective on the familiar ones.
Although some of the language studies lost me, the literary form and cultural perspective can be very enlightening.
A Very Scholarly Treatment of the Lucan Parables.......2007-01-10
Having grown up with his missionary parents in the Near East, among the very cultures that spawned the Judaeo-Christian Scriptures, Dr. Kenneth Bailey is uniquely qualified to translate their cultural nuances into such idioms as modern Western minds can grasp. Note that I did not say "readily grasp": as is the case with his other books, 'Poet and Peasant' and 'Through Peasant Eyes' (actually two books in one volume) is a VERY heavy and scholarly treatment of the subject matter. As the titles suggest, the author takes the positions that both Jesus and His first-century audience were peasants and that the Biblical writers were both poets and peasants. Hence, the key to understanding the Christian Parables--a form of poetry themselves--is to be found in the cultures and bodies of literature of the region.
As is the case with 'Jacob and the Prodigal' (which I have also reviewed here), 'Poet and Peasant' and 'Through Peasant Eyes' will be best appreciated by serious Bible scholars interested in exegetical study. If this category excludes you, pass on this one; there are lots of other decent commentaries out there that won't confuse or bore you to death.
Highest recommendation.......2006-10-12
Bailey's unique contribution is that he sat down with a number of trusted Palestinian nomads and listened carefully to their take on the cultural issues behind various parables. He contends, with some justice, that this group of people have something in contact with the original culture that these parables arose in, and thus can help us understand the unstated assumptions and cultural implications of the texts. He invested many years in this and did it with care and precision. On top of that, he has explored the early translations of the New Testament into Syrac and related languages. The result is nothing short of stunning. His analysis of the puzzling parable of the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13) is worth the price of admission alone, and even on the well-trod parable of the Good Samaritan, he has much valuable insight to share.
Bailey has also written other works including "Finding the Lost: Cultural Keys to Luke 15" that focus on the lost sheep, lost coin, lost son, parables of that chapter. All of his works I especially recommended.
Anyone else missing a page?.......2006-05-11
Just thought I'd write a note because my combined edition book is missing two pages that are supposed to follow p. 105. Though there is a page 106 and 107, I notice the footnotes in my book go from 79 on p. 105 and skip to 87 on p. 107...obviously a misprint. Amazon had never heard of such a problem so I'm getting a new one...just wondered if this had happened to anyone else.
Customer Reviews:
Parables.......2007-07-10
Herzog's book is excellent. He is able to offer insights into the cultural setting and how it influences the interpretation of a parable. It is a must read for understanding parables.
The great master of the parable.......2007-01-03
Herzog has reconsidered Jesus' sayings in the light of the modern recognition that He was first and foremost a Jew and thought in terms of the Judaic tradition. Some of the results are startling. You probably remember the parable of the 3 servants entrusted with money during their boss's absence. Who was the hero of that story? You'll be surprised.
That is just one example of the insights Herzog has in store for you. Easy reading? No. There is a lot of detailedn scholarship here. Rewarding insights? You betcha!
Controversial, but a great approach to the parables.......2004-11-16
I was introduced to William Herzog's book while taking a seminary course on the New Testament Parables. The professor included Herzog to provide some "angularity" to the more traditional approaches of other scholars and commentaries we were reading. And that it did.
Herzog is an acquired taste. For those with a more conservative bent, his liberation theology with Marxist ideology may be off-putting at first. In my opinion, his premise that Jesus' audience would have understood the parables through a Marxist lens limits the value of his interpretations. I think the work of the Context Group (Bruce Malina, et al) simply don't support that theory. But I do give him credit for being up front about his agenda.
Having said that, I still think the book is definitely worth buying. In particular, I very much appreciated his discussion of the work of Paulo Friere. This section of the book is dense, but worth the effort.
Herzog develops the premise that the parables were not designed to `teach' in the traditional sense, but to help the listeners break free of their perceptual limitations and see the world as a different reality. In this way, he compares Jesus' use of parables with Friere's work in `liberating' the self-defeating mindsets of illiterate peasants.
I found this approach to be very helpful in my own studies of the parables. Herzog's steadfastly refuses to too-quickly `spiritualize' the parables. Instead, he focuses first on the emotional or even visceral responses of the audiences to whom the parables were directed. By intently looking for the emotional reactions first, he helps to show the impact of the parables beyond simple `sermon illustrations.'
While I can't always agree with Herzog's conclusion regarding what that reaction would have been, the approach gives new insights into parable interpretation.
Refreshing.......2003-08-24
Professor Herzog's work is not the socialist denial of the Gospel that it has been accused of being. Neither is it an overly difficult text, as some reviewers have claimed.
Instead, it is a thoughtful, scholarly, re-examination of the parables, which raises the possibility of alternate readings, more appropriate to the first century a.d., rural, Palestinian context in which the parables were first proclaimed. Professor Herzog's work is challenging. It refuses to accept as sacrosanct any of the old verities that many of us were taught years ago in seminary.
In a modified form of redaction criticism, Professor Herzog closely examines each parable in its canonical form, and then seeks to work back to the most plausible words of Jesus, consistent with Biblical archeology and the sociology of religion. The results are new possibilities for proclamation.
This is not a book for the casual reader, or those who wish to maintain long-held beliefs at any cost. However, for educated seekers of truth this book is a gem.
diferent and challenging.......2001-03-28
William Herzog has taken the parables of Jesus and has certainly put a different twist on them. As some other reviewers have noted, Jesus was put to death for what he SAID and did, so the stories he told must have been more then aphorisms. To reduce Jesus to a fire brand revolutionary is useless, though not as useless as making Him an american, and reading these parables as middle class people in the 21st century. They are certainly both timeless and of their time,and their time was in a far away backwater occupied by a viscious,brutal efficeint machine called Rome.I also, cannot agree on everything that professor Herzog puts forth. However, I know enough to realize that Jesus was more then aware of what was going on around Him,and that his stories would have great signifigance for the motley group that listened to Him.If not, then the parables are mere fables, Aesop for the age,with cute morals. I think that the message of Jesus is so challenging and difficult that we have added all the historical accretion we can find to soften its impact. I do not think, even remotely, that this is a defining portrait of Jesus,or even the only viable view of his parables. What I do think is that it is time to look, really look at the message of Jesus, not just outside of time, but in its time. And for that,for stimulating and causing me to re-think some of my tenents, I am grateful for this book.
Book Description
Fully one-third of JesusÂ' words in the Synoptic Gospels occur in parables. It could be said that knowing the parables is essential for understanding the person of Christ. In his newest work on the parables, Brad Young displays his unique perspective as a scholar steeped in both Jewish and Christian studies. While parables have timeless messages, reinterpretations in new contexts throughout the centuries have distorted the original meanings and undermined the essence of what Jesus intended for his initial listeners. Young examines the parables that best illustrate the parallels between the rabbinic and Gospel parables. Young challenges readers to remember that first-century Judaism was not merely the backdrop for JesusÂ' teachings but the very stage from which Jesus delivered the message of the kingdom. JesusÂ' ethics and theology can be properly understood only in the light of first-century Jewish teachings. Young focuses on the historical development and theological significance of parables in both traditions, then he examines five theological subjects that are dealt with in parables: prayer, grace, reconciliation, calling, and sovereignty.
"This great new book by Brad H. Young is a decisive step in the right direction. Like his previous books, this innovative work on the parables shows that Jesus is both a foundation of the Christian faith and at the same time an integral part of Second Temple period Judaism. Jewish thought is not—as is often claimed—merely a background for Jesus but is in reality the original context and natural framework of his message. Few people have recognized this basic fact, not only because of inveterate Christian inhibitions but also because it is a very rare case that a New Testament scholar can break the language barrier and move freely in the Hebrew and Aramaic sources of early Judaism proficiently, as Young is able to do. Similarly, Jewish scholars often do not use their advantage in this area of research and sometimes cannot move freely in the Christian material because even they are not always free from their own inherited inhibitions. All who are involved in the study of Judaism, however, as well as everyone seeking a better understanding of Jesus, will be challenged by Young's creative and solid research." (From the foreword)
—David Flusser, Professor Emeritus of Second Temple Period Judaism and Early Christianity, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Customer Reviews:
good.......2007-08-23
Hello
I'm really pleased with this book, and the condition is brill, and arrived in good time,
Too much for the scholar........2007-04-13
This book was not what I expected. It is not written for the layman but for the scholar and was not useful for my need.
It isnt what I waited!.......2007-01-20
The jewish tradition about parables are an effort to defigure the Christ meaning. Rabi's wisdom never will be the same of Jesus, the Messiach, Son of God!
Not Good.......2007-01-05
I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it. It violates Christ's words: John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. Mr. Young tries, and fails, to put Christ into his proper cultural and historical context. I love learning about the historical context of the Bible, but this work de-glorifies the omniscience of Christ and His Holy relationship with His Father. Being continuously in intimate union with His Father, and being taught by His Father, Christ NEVER relied upon the wisdom of men, to be His reference point in any or all of His teachings. "I have given them Thy Word" was the all sufficient prayer of our Great High Priest.
Save your money for another author.
Outdated scholarship.......2006-11-10
Young seems unaware of what has been going on in the world of New Testament scholarship for the past 50 years. The only valuable part of the book consists of the later Jewish parallels.
Customer Reviews:
Great book on the meaning of the parables.......2007-09-27
This book provides an excellent discussion of the meaning of Jesus' parables. I learned so much about Jesus' teachings that I never knew were true. It is a little "wordy" and scholarly, but the information is eye-opening.
This is a great book.......2007-04-14
I found out about this book from our priest's wife when we used it for a bible study group. We loved it. Boy the discussions it fostered!! That was back when the three books were seperate and I think we paid almost as much for each book as you can now buy the one combined book for. A great deal. I've given all my copies away and now will buy a couple of these new ones (I already know who I'm giving one to).
This guy is a terrific author and theologen. I love his writing style.
GET THIS BOOK!! You won't be sorry.
Good theology!.......2007-03-17
This was given to me by a friend a couple of years ago, and sat on a shelf until a month ago - what a mistake! This is excellent theology - not your average interpretation of the gospel story, yet still well within the realm of "orthodoxy". It's well thought out, well presented, and very readable - can't wait to preach some of this stuff.
Refreshing.......2006-03-16
Mr. Capon's approach to the parables is a wonderful change. His style is quite readable -- a book that anyone in the pews could engage. He is witty and not stuffy about his subject matter. And yet he is reverent -- he understands of whom he speaks! I've made use of this for sermon preparation. It preaches.
"Not Your Father's Oldsmobile".......2003-11-25
There's an old saying: "Familiarity breeds contempt." So it is with the parables of Jesus. Everyone thinks they know what he is teaching. So much so, that the contempt committed is against the very heart of the gospel message. Instead of radical, liberating, and scandalous good news, we end up with warmed over ethics, served up on a bed of moralistic legalism, and covered with a layer of heavy-handed, rule laden religion. But that isn't what you get with Capon! Instead of showing age old contempt for the gospel of grace, Father Capon leads his readers to a new awareness of the eternal truth of God's generosity in Christ. It is like a rich delightful meal, that you savor along the way. Once you've feasted there, you can never go back to the "greasy spoon" theology so popular in the Christian sub-culture today. This is three books in one. Previously published in three separate volumes, Kingdom, Grace and Judgment was released in 2002 as one marvelous book. You will not find anything better on the parables of Jesus. Capon divides the teaching ministry of Jesus into three periods and correlating subjects: kingdom, grace and judgment. Each volume brings Jesus closer to the cross, and as it does, the intensity, drama and passion of his message grows exponentially. This as the advertisement says, is "not your Father's Oldsmobile." You will find yourself laughing out loud at the author's outrageous sense of humor, praising out loud for the divine author's generous heart, and weeping with gratitude for the mercy and grace of the crucified and risen Christ! This is the best introduction to the genius, wit and scholarship of Father Capon's works. Read this book and you will never see the gospels the same again! (For more Capon reviews and grace-based teaching, check out Real Life Ministries at http://www.rl-ministries.org)
Book Description
Kids love to be read to and what better material to read from than the parables taught by Jesus Christ? Parables Jesus Told is a sweet and helpful book filled with stories of the parables as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. The brilliant illustrations are sure to get kids interested. It will bring children back again and again to hear these cherished Bible stories and to see these colorful illustrations!
Customer Reviews:
beautiful & well-told.......2007-07-12
Several parabels are told, each with beautiful illustrations. Each starts out with "One day Jesus told a story. This is what He said..."
The parabels are simplified for children to understand, yet they do not lose the accuracy of scripture. There is also a follow-up for each parabel, saying "What did you learn?" and then summarizing the lesson.
These are simple and short, and easily accomodate a wide range of children.
Parables Simplified.......2007-04-01
This is an excellent book to introduce young children to the parables of Jesus. I have never used better material that keeps children excited and looking forward to what each page reveals.
good, but not the best.......2006-01-30
We own all of the books in this "series". After reading a review about this one being the best, I decided to buy it. I usually give the books in this series for second/third birthday presents for friends, so I decided to try this one out. It is along the same lines, but not as good as the previous volumes. Each of the previous volumes had about five stories a piece and the stories were color coded. The children love to flip to the title page to pick a color of story they want you to read. This particular book does not have that option, all of the type is in black, but it does still have five stories. The stories are good too, but not as entertaining as the more familiar Bible sotries that are in the first four volumes. It is a nice addition to our "series" but I would go for the other four books before purchasing this one.
Nice but not for 9-12 year old reading level as billed..........2003-09-03
A reading Level of 9-12 (years old) is shown for this book but this is misleading. It is a picture book with one sentence every two pages. Best suited for the preschool set (2-4 years old).
It's the favorite!.......2003-05-28
My 2-year old daugther LOVES this book!! Has had it almost a week and wants it read every nap and nigthtime! "Tell me the Jesus stories" is what she says! Only 5 parables but she doesn't mind the repeating! Now we're looking for a Volume Two...
Book Description
Good news for the needy. Bad news for the power brokers. Jesus came into the world announcing a new order where Satan is overthrown and broken relationships are restored. Jesus' most vivid portraits of this new kingdom are found in the parables.David Wenham explores the splendor and subtleties of Jesus' world-changing message, offering a nontechnical but comprehensive look at dozens of Jesus' stories. Bringing them to life by explaining their first-century religious and social setting, Wenham never fails to illumine their significance for today.
Customer Reviews:
If you can only purchase one commentary on the parables..........2006-04-24
...this is it!
I have read most of the commentaries currently available as I've written two books about the parables from a Biblically-faithful and creative perspective(Parablelife: Living the stories Jesus told in real time published by FaithWalk and available on amazon.com). Wenham's volume was far and away the most useful. He used the metaphor of revolution throughout this well-written, readable volume to help explain Jesus' use of the words "the Kingdom of Heaven". The book is organized in a creative way - the parables are grouped and discussed as they pertain to the metaphor of revolution.
Wenham's strength is in application, demonstrating both how and why these stories of Jesus can shape our lives. He is an able scholar, and his love of God's Word shows in his careful discussion of each parable. There is a short discussion about various historical and contemporary methods of interpretation at the back of the volume, along with several indexes that make the book even more user-friendly.
Excellent Resource for Bible Study.......2005-09-14
I am using this book as the text for a group bible study on the Parables of Jesus. This book is an excellent resource for teachers and students of the Bible. It provides a through basis for exegesis of each of the parables, grouping them logically and explaining them accurately. Wenham lets the historical and literary context drive his interpretations, avoiding the twin pitfalls of assuming the parables are either allegory or single point. Overall, a must-have for anyone who plans to seriously study the parables.
Insightful. Scriptural. Readable. Enlightening........2005-06-05
I prepared a series of Bible studies on the parables of Jesus and wanted supplemental material to add to my understanding and class lectures. Specifically, I was interested in Jewish traditions and cultural insights that would add color and clarity to the stories.
I purchased three books, including David Wenham's "The Parable of Jesus." I am not a Bible scholar and not particularly interested in theological debates over allegorical loose ends and old disputes over linguisitc fine points that other books were consumed with.
This book provided me exactly what I needed - clear, concise insights into the culture, traditions and context of the times. For example, in the Prodigal Son, Wenham pointed out that by asking his father for his inheritance while the father was still living, in the meaning of the legal traditions, the prodigal was actually implying that he wished his father dead.
In the parable of the Good Samritan, he observes that the road from "Jericho to Jerusalem" drops 2,500 feet along a treacherous and winding path; ideal for robbers and thieves to hang out. Further, he points out that "two denari" was enough money to pay for twenty-four nights at the inn.
These details helped me to put meat on the bones of the story and bring to life these precious parables. These are not earth-shattering biblical truths, but they were very helpful to me in making the topic interesting and relevant. Just like Wenham's book.
Great commentary on the parables.......2001-10-18
This book offers a straight forward discussion of the major parables of Christ. It never strays off from the main theme and launches into irrelevant and long-winded 'sermons'. If it's precise, on-the-dot infomation you are seeking, look no further - this book fits the bill!
All the parables are discussed individually, so there's no need to read the book in sequential order. Just dip straight into the parable that interest you!
A great reference book for those who has a basic acquaintance with the Gospels. Beginners can benefit from it also.
The Kingdom did Come! Jesus was right!.......2001-08-11
An earlier reviewer made the following comment:
"Wenham argues clearly, cogently, and concisely that, according to Jesus, _something_ was supposed to happen very soon. The fact that it _didn't_ happen shows that Christianity is founded upon a tremendous mistake."
How does that reviewer know nothing happened? He just assumes nothing happened. What is more, he states his opinion as if it were a self-evident fact. He has actually stated his anti-Christian opinion (rejecting what Wenham established to be the teaching of Jesus) as dogma. His faith in anti-Christianity, his mere belief that Jesus is wrong, is stated as if it were fact.
The truth is that something did happen, just as Jesus said. The Kingdom of God came, sins were propitiated, atonement was made possible. The Kingdom of God, because of Jesus' ministry (as Wenham shows) has invaded. It's just sad that the earlier reviewer decided to resist and deny the reality of that Kingdom and call Jesus a liar.
Book Description
The classic works of C. H. Dodd and Joachim Jeremias set the direction for nearly all further parable studies in this century. Embodied in both scholar's approaches are at least two assumptions that, for the most part, have gone unchallenged: (1) Parables make one and only one main point. (2) They are not allegories. But can these assumptions be supported by the evidence?In this introductory text, Craig Blomberg surveys and evaluates contemporary critical approaches to the parables, challenging the prevailing consensus and making his own important new contribution to parable studies. Within proper definitions and limits, he argues, the parables are in fact best seen as allegories.In support of his thesis, he not only sets forth theoretical considerations but devotes attention to all the major parables, providing brief interpretations that highlight the insights to be gained from his distinctive method. A concluding chapter examines the implications of the parables for Christology and our understanding of the kingdom of God.This groundbreaking book will be of value not only to students but to pastors and other serious readers of Scripture.
Customer Reviews:
a useful tool, but overwelling at times........2007-07-25
Blomberg saw the need for contemporary scholarship to provide tools for pastors, scholars, and students to deal with parables. Interpreting the Parables was a thesis to challenge what he saw as misguided approaches to the interpretation of parables in the twentieth century. In chapter one, Blomberg provides a good overview of what to expect in the rest of the book.
Blomberg states that the church has interpreted parables in many different ways throughout history, with the most common interpretation being allegorical - that the narrative is in the heavenly realm where the physical characteristics have spiritual meanings. Many modern scholars have rejected the allegorical approach in favor of the view that each parable only makes one point. Others do not interpret every aspect of parables as allegorical, but see allegorical elements in every parable. Yet another group uses form and reduction criticism to interpret parables, believing that the early church modified parables and that the text does not accurately record the words of Jesus.
Some scholars believe that parables revolve around one main point of comparing a story's activity to Jesus' understanding of the kingdom. In contrast, Blomberg defines an allegory as a complex story told in a parable with numerous details to be decoded. This complex approach was popular among Christian scholars in the nineteenth century. Chrysostom, Aquinas, Calvin, and others had challenged this idea earlier, but even they used some allegory in their exegesis. The scholar Adolf Julicher, at the beginning of the twentieth century, attempted to demolish the allegorical interpretation of the parables. His main argument was that words such as "like" and "as" point to a straightforward comparison in the parables. Most commentators after Julicher would not agree with him on everything, but would hold to his view that each parable has a single proposition. The majority of recent scholarship has viewed the literary form of the parables as allegory. They do not believe the problem lies in an allegorical approach to interpreting parables, but rather in an overzealousness of some in the use of allegory.
The reader may be overwhelmed by the information from the interpretive debate as presented in this book. It would have been helpful if Blomberg had presented the information in the form of an outline and summarized his data.
According to Blomberg, there are two extremes in the study of the differences between the synoptic gospels. The first extreme is to ignore the differences and to combine all of the information from the synoptic gospels into one unified narrative. The other extreme is to claim that the gospel writers fabricated unhistorical material with no foundation from the life of Jesus. Blomberg believes the balanced approach is to realize that differences are due to distinct themes of individual writers. Another reason Blomberg offers for the differences is the significance of the larger context of each gospel. Blomberg offers good examples to support his position for the differences in the synoptic gospels by referring to the biblical context and a variety of word studies.
In chapter six, Blomberg interprets simple three-point parables. He does this by pointing out the three main characters and who they represent. He points out how the parables fit into the particular emphasis of the individual gospel writer compared to the other two gospel writers. Blomberg discusses when allegory is necessary and the dangers of over allegorizing. He provides examples of interpretational errors, as well as practical lessons to be learned in each of the parables he deals with.
In chapters six and seven Blomberg seems obligated to mention those who reject the authenticity of the complete biblical text. This doesn't seem necessary after his extensive treatment of higher criticism in chapters three and four. Blomberg is so rigid in his three-point format for interpretation that details not directly tied to those points are merely preface to the plot of the narrative. This leads him to criticize other commentators who place value on these points. For example, Blomberg believes that James Montgomery Boice erroneously emphasizes that the word "today" implies a sense of urgency in the parable of the two sons. Furthermore, Blomberg's interpretation of the parable of the faithful and unfaithful servants does not allow him to deal with the knowledge of God's will because it does not fit into his three-point model.
Blomberg follows a similar format in chapter seven, with greater detail in dealing with complex three-point parables. He mentions several commentators who reduce those parables to one main point. At times Blomberg does refer to the Greek to aid in his interpretation in this chapter, but not nearly as much as one would expect at this level of work. He incorporates historical data when it clarifies a parable (such as the king's offer of dress in the "Great Supper") and the Qumran texts reinforcing the view that "unrighteous mammon" was a common idiom for money in Jesus' day. By the same token, Blomberg points out that some historical information may not always be relevant when interpreting the parables (e.g., it probably was not self-evident to Jesus' original audience that the unjust steward merely removed his surcharge when collecting the master's money.)
In chapter nine, Blomberg classifies several different parables by topic. He explains the necessity of understanding the multiple themes of the parables to be able to categorize them under central themes (e.g., the kingdom of God). Blomberg communicates the need to correctly understand the present and future aspects of the kingdom of God to correctly interpret the parables. Blomberg cites several examples of how pre-critical exegeses saw Christ as the key character of the parables. By contrast, Blomberg sees the parables as pointing primarily to God, God's people, and God's enemies. Blomberg does mention the indirect Christology expressed in the parables, including Jesus' claiming to be the unique bearer of the kingdom, and claiming divine authority and the ability to forgive sin.
Helpful analysis of parables; also includes history of interpretation.......2006-06-27
Craig Blomberg is a professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary and has authored other books on the Gospels including "The Historical Reliability of the Gospels" and "Preaching the Parables." This book, "Interpreting the Parables" is an attempt to a) first trace the history of parable interpretation through the centuries and b) then provide an analysis of several New Testament parables. The book closes with a chapter examining the theology of the parables. Like a sandwich, the meat of this book is in the middle; the best part (by far) is the parable analysis while the less appetizing parts are the interpretive history and the chapter on the parables' theology.
The first half of "Interpreting the Parables" examines how others have interpreted the parables; it examines the various competing hermeneutical approaches to these highly debated sections of Scripture. Beginning with the Church Fathers' allegorization attempts (where every little detail has some theological significance), Blomberg examines Form Criticism (which looks for oral sources behind the text as we have it), Redaction Criticism (which assumes that an editor wove together various independent works and seeks to determine how he did it), and other lesser, still-emerging hermeneutical methods. For each, Blomberg gives a brief history of the interpretive method and points out some of its strengths and weaknesses. This reader didn't find this first part of the book very helpful. While it does point out contribution each interpretive method has made to New Testament scholarship as well as fallacies associated with each method, these discussion did not increase my overall understanding of the parables. Nor did this section help my overall understanding of hermeneutics as Blomberg's treatment of each hermeneutical method focuses not on the method itself, but rather on the writings proponents of this method have produced and their take on the concept of allegory in parables. During this course of this part of the book, Blomberg comes to three conclusions: 1) each school of thought has made positive contributions toward the study of parables, but no school of thought is flawless, 2) a balance must be struck between allegorizing parables and refusing to see allegory where it clearly exists, and 3) parables often make multiple, inter-related points.
The second half of "Interpreting the Parables"--the actual analysis of the Gospels' various parables--makes this book worth purchasing and keeping on your bookshelf. Blomberg examines several parables (divided into clusters based on their structure) pointing out helpful aspects of Palestinian/Roman culture, discussing the narrative context in which the parable is told, and analyzing the various characters in each parable. During this analysis, he interacts with other scholars' take on the particular parable and defends the authenticity of each. The result is a thorough, helpful summary of the parables and their main teachings. While I did find myself in disagreement with Blomberg about some of the main points Jesus was trying to convey, I walk away from this point with a great deal of respect for his positions. He has greatly increased my understanding of the parables, challenged my assumptions, and has provided a great resource for preaching and teaching these beloved stories.
The book ends with a chapter on the theology of the parables. In this chapter, Blomberg tries to synthesize the parables and draw out Jesus' main teachings. Through this, Blomberg argues that Jesus believed in a pre-millenialist eschatology (although he wasn't a dispensationalist); that Jesus' inaugurated God's Kingdom on earth which is to be characterized by obedience in the areas of stewardship and social justice; and that Jesus believed he had a special relationship with God, but never spoke of the nature of that relationship. In this chapter, Blomberg's methodology is questionable as one must examine the whole of Scripture to come to doctrinal conclusions (Blomberg himself disagrees with this methodology in his treatment of the Rich Man and Lazarus), his conclusions themselves border the heterodox (e.g. his sharp distinction between the Father and the Son), and the nature of this chapter (the theology of the parables) and its conclusions should be presented in a much more complete and better developed manner than in a short chapter that sums up a book.
In sum, this book will remain on my bookshelf because of its excellent material in the middle. Its writing style is fluid, main points are italiziced (which is really nice) and each chapter is divided in a very reader-friendly manner. Recommended for its middle section.
Useful look at Parables.......2006-06-12
The title of this book would suggest that the focus was a direct study of the parables. That is true for the last 155 of 327 pages (a little less than half.) The first half of the book discusses hermeneutics.
Considering the implication of the title, I will begin with Blomberg's direct study of the parables of Christ. Dr. Blomberg discusses 40 parables directly in his discussion. Of these, he splits them into 4 categories: Simple 3-Point Parables, Complex 3-Point Parables, Two-Point Parables and One-Point Parables, with the last two being discussed together in one chapter. His view is different from most modern conservative theologians who teach the parable is a metaphorical story intended to teach one precept. He argues that even the most conservative scholars cannot avoid some amount of allegorizing of the parables, and study should include a very limited amount of allegory. His discussion of each parable is interesting, and not allegorical to the point of eisegesis. He does not adhere strictly to the rule that allegorical meaning must be implied in the text from other Scripture, but he does not go overboard in his figurative interpretations. Some of his categorical evidence for multiple-point parables is simply a restating of a previously mentioned precept. Each section describing the parable has an italicized section that summarizes his interpreted teaching points that are to be gleaned from the Scriptural passage.
Over half of the book is a discussion of hermeneutics (study of the methods of interpreting Scripture.) His method is not liberal, but is less conservative than most modern evangelicals are. He begins with a discussion over the debate between two competing ways of interpreting parables in: Parable vs. Allegory and Parable as Allegory. He is somewhat convincing that parables are not allegorical at all, but does not make a delineation between metaphorically figurative statements and outright allegory, which are two distinct genres. If he had looked at metaphorically figurative language in this way, much of his writing trying to convince that allegories were not "evil," would have been moot. He then discusses Form criticism and redaction criticism and their relations to the parables. He writes very briefly about Gospel authorship theories, but only discusses one of three major theories found in modern conservative scholarship. He then discusses the "New Hermeneutic." He concludes at the end that each parable has a central teaching point for each main character, which is how he arrives at the different belief that parables have more than one point.
Blomberg's discussion of the parables is a useful and detailed look at the parables. He does not delve into discussions of Greek or Aramaic, so knowledge of these biblical languages is not necessary. He does a superb job of pointing the reader to the important matter of his writing by putting conclusions in italics. While at first his book seems to flaunt previously held ideas of parable exegesis, he makes a good case for multiple teaching points within some of the parables. As is the problem with many theological ideas, we try to simplify things into rules that can be easily followed when studying Scripture, but this is not always the best method.
Overall, this is a useful study of the parables, although not the only study on the parables that one should have in a library. Moreover, if one is interested in hermeneutics, the first half of this book does not delve into all conservative evangelical ideals regarding the subject, so augment with other hermeneutical writings.
Obsolete .......2006-04-28
I read the first two chapters, poked through the third and fourth, and read the commentaries on a few parables. I found this book very frustrating and nearly useless. Blomberg spends the first couple chapters tediously presenting sides to an argument that is largely irrelevant to any one other than long dead german theologians. If you are concerned with whether parables are parables or actually allegories or metaphors and whether they must contain one point or more, than you might be interested in this book. Reading this book after familiarizing oneself with the studies of Ken Bailey and Tom Wright is sort of like reading an alchemy book after digesting the discoveries of Newton and Einstein.
Valuable study.......2005-11-10
I borrowed this book. It is thoughtful, makes the material interesting. Seems meant for undergraduate or even graduate level study. First half of study could be skipped if you are not into the theoretical. Go straight to the second half if you want to focus on the parable commentary.
I am buying my own copy because this is a valuable study resource.
Book Description
The groundbreaking book Believing Christ by Stephen Robinson has become a standard in understanding what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ and to be justified by faith in Him through the gospel covenant. Now, in Following Christ: The Parable of the Divers and More Good News, Brother Robinson explains what happens after we have entered the gospel covenant. He writes, "Where Believing Christ dealt with entering the covenant, this book will focus on staying in the covenant. If being truly converted is to accept Christ as Lord and to make Him the Lord of our lives, then this must somehow be reflected in our lives -- but how? How does being born again translate into behavior after our conversion?"
In the same clear, readable style of his first book, Brother Robinson explains what is means to be a member of Christ's kingdom, the relationship between faith and works, what it means to endure to the end (it does not mean "being perfect"), the nature of mortality, hazards we may encounter as we seek to endure in the Lord's service, and, finally, the importance of serving others in love.
Books:
- Letter to a Christian Nation
- Makers of Modern Strategy from Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age
- More Work for Mother: The Ironies of Household Technology from the Open Hearth to the Microwave
- Mrs. Pollifax Unveiled (Mrs. Pollifax Mysteries)
- Nature Girl
- NIV Compact Concordance
- Practices of Looking: An Introduction to Visual Culture
- Radical Eye for the Infidel Guy: Inside the Strange World of Militant Islam
- Sickness unto Death: A Christian Psychological Exposition of Edification & Awakening by Anti-Cli (Penguin Classics)
- Simpleology: The Simple Science of Getting What You Want
Books Index
Books Home
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- History: Fiction or Science
- Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Racism & Sexism in Corporate America : The Myths, the Realities and
- Creating Your Future: Personal Strategic Planning for Professionals
- Business Romanian Dictionary: Romanian-English/English-Romanian
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