How to understand the parables of Jesus: a paradigm shift in parable exegesis
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Date
2009
Authors
Zimmermann, R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State
Abstract
English: For many years, the exegesis of the parables of Jesus was determined by assumptions that were largely purported by Adolf Jülicher and subsequently underwent only insignificant modification. The Kompendium der Gleichnisse Jesu (ed. R. Zimmermann, Gütersloh 2007), whose methodology and hermeneutics are explained in this article, takes a new route, as can be illustrated in four steps. From a historical perspective, parable exegesis is released from its close relationship to the search for the Historical Jesus and is given new distinction by a paradigm of Jesus “remembered”. The customary religioushistorical standardization of the parables (particularly with reference to rabbinical parables) is critically investigated from a traditiohistorical perspective in order to again be able to highly value the extraordinary position of Jesus’ parables. From the perspective of the literary form of the parables, all internal differentiation must be made invalid by the New Testament text record itself. Instead, the discussion of a comprehensive genre of “parable” utilises the genre consciousness of the early Christian authors; a genre that can be precisely defined by means of a literarycritical description in terms of the criteria of narrativity, fictionality, relation to reality, metaphor, appeal structure and co/contextuality. From a hermeneutic perspective, this new approach consists of a conscious affirmation of a plurality of interpretations that is established by the texts themselves and that also guarantees the timeliness and liveliness of the interpretations in a variety of reading situations.
Description
Keywords
New Testament: Exegesis, Parables of Jesus, Adolf Jülicher, Interpretation
Citation
Zimmermann, R. (2009). How to understand the parables of Jesus: a paradigm shift in parable exegesis. Acta Theologica, 29(1), 157-182.