Life Of Jesus Research Paper
UNDERSTANDING PARABLES AS ONE OF JESUS’ TEACHING METHODS
By
Gcinekile Sharon Mogokgwane
A Project
Submitted to Reverend Lebetwa
Assembly Bible College
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements For
BIB1032/3
The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels, Third Edition
Assembly Bible College
July 2013
Table of Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................... 3
Definition of Parable................................................................................................................ 3
An explanation of why Jesus used Parables...............................................................................3 …show more content…
A study of Christ’s parables is both interesting and enlightening; hence it is also vital for one’s spiritual understanding. This is true because Christ established doctrines in His teaching that He often illustrated by a parable. Nearly one third of all Jesus’ recorded words involved this method of teaching, we must understand His parables if we are to grasp clearly what He taught. Understanding parables and how to interpret them will increase our knowledge of some of the main themes of Christ’s teachings.
Definition of Parable
Intellectuals of the Bible note that the word parable comes from a Greek word which means “to put things side by side” (Comparison and analogy are two English words that give a similar meaning.) A parable is a system of teaching in which the teacher uses familiar concepts or ideas to illustrate unfamiliar concepts in terms the learner understands. In the bible context, the unfamiliar concepts are spiritual truths.
Jesus’ approach in using this method was uncomplicated and distinctive. He used known examples from everyday life and nature and used them to teach spiritual truth. It has thus been concluded that a parable can be defined as “an earthly story with a heavenly …show more content…
Social problems come and go. The way it is becomes the way it was. Old sermons addressing old social problems are out of touch with today. Parables deal with basic principles, whereas telling it like it is deals with how those principles apply to specific situations. If the situation changes, “telling it like it was” becomes irrelevant, but the parable lives on. Jesus’ parables are still relevant to everyday life even after 2,000 years and technological, social, and political changes beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. The Lord’s parables live on. Parables allow you to make statements that would otherwise get you in trouble. Many of Jesus’ parables made the Pharisees angry, because they taught things that weren’t to their liking, but stated them indirectly. The only teaching Jesus got in trouble for was His plain teaching that He is the Son of
By
Gcinekile Sharon Mogokgwane
A Project
Submitted to Reverend Lebetwa
Assembly Bible College
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements For
BIB1032/3
The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels, Third Edition
Assembly Bible College
July 2013
Table of Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................... 3
Definition of Parable................................................................................................................ 3
An explanation of why Jesus used Parables...............................................................................3 …show more content…
A study of Christ’s parables is both interesting and enlightening; hence it is also vital for one’s spiritual understanding. This is true because Christ established doctrines in His teaching that He often illustrated by a parable. Nearly one third of all Jesus’ recorded words involved this method of teaching, we must understand His parables if we are to grasp clearly what He taught. Understanding parables and how to interpret them will increase our knowledge of some of the main themes of Christ’s teachings.
Definition of Parable
Intellectuals of the Bible note that the word parable comes from a Greek word which means “to put things side by side” (Comparison and analogy are two English words that give a similar meaning.) A parable is a system of teaching in which the teacher uses familiar concepts or ideas to illustrate unfamiliar concepts in terms the learner understands. In the bible context, the unfamiliar concepts are spiritual truths.
Jesus’ approach in using this method was uncomplicated and distinctive. He used known examples from everyday life and nature and used them to teach spiritual truth. It has thus been concluded that a parable can be defined as “an earthly story with a heavenly …show more content…
Social problems come and go. The way it is becomes the way it was. Old sermons addressing old social problems are out of touch with today. Parables deal with basic principles, whereas telling it like it is deals with how those principles apply to specific situations. If the situation changes, “telling it like it was” becomes irrelevant, but the parable lives on. Jesus’ parables are still relevant to everyday life even after 2,000 years and technological, social, and political changes beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. The Lord’s parables live on. Parables allow you to make statements that would otherwise get you in trouble. Many of Jesus’ parables made the Pharisees angry, because they taught things that weren’t to their liking, but stated them indirectly. The only teaching Jesus got in trouble for was His plain teaching that He is the Son of