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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.
  • 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
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