Parable
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Parable
A short story with emotive or moral significance which initiates a comparison. Based on the literary device simile (like, as) or metaphor.
Parables have a sense of fable or allegory about them.
Since the 19th Century, three types of parables have been classified: the parable proper, the similitude, the example story.
The parable proper
There are 16 proper parables in the gospels.
Parables include:
The similitude
There are 12 similitudes in the gospel.
Similitudes include:
The example story
There are 4 example stories in the Gospels.
Example stories include:
A short story with emotive or moral significance which initiates a comparison. Based on the literary device simile (like, as) or metaphor.
Parables have a sense of fable or allegory about them.
Since the 19th Century, three types of parables have been classified: the parable proper, the similitude, the example story.
The parable proper
There are 16 proper parables in the gospels.
- They typically begin 'There was rich man...' 'A certain debtor...'. In Matthew’s gospel they generally begin by stating the explicit comparison. 'The kingdom of heaven is like...' (Mt 13)
- They are one-off stories; longer; detailed
- They tell not of an actual event but one that is still plausible
- They are ‘Once upon a time stories’, told in the past tense
Parables include:
- ‘There was rich man…’ Lk 16:1
- ‘A certain debtor had…’Lk 7:41
- ‘A sower went out to sow…’ Lk 8:5 (Mk 4:3, Mt 13:3)
- In a certain city Lk 18:1-8, (Mt 21:28-30)
The similitude
There are 12 similitudes in the gospel.
- They typically begin ‘Which of you….’
- They are regular, everyday stories; typical experience
- They are recognised as true
- They are in the present tense
- They are concise
Similitudes include:
- ‘Which of you…’ Lk 15:5; 14:28, 31
- ‘What woman…’Lk 15:8
- ‘What King…’ Lk14:31
The example story
There are 4 example stories in the Gospels.
- They compare an event with a moral or religious ethic
- They give one example to illustrate a general principal
Example stories include:
- The Good Samaritan Lk 10:29-37
- The Rich Fool Lk 12:16-21
- The rich man and Lazarus Lk 16:19-31
- The Pharisee and Tax Collector Lk 18:9-14