Puzzling the Jesus of the Parables: A response to Ruben Zimmermann

Abstract

This article responds to Ruben Zimmermann’s latest book, Puzzling the Parables of Jesus (2015). In particular, one aspect of his proposed method is challenged, namely, his conscious attempt to do away with considerations of the pre-Easter context when interpreting the parables. The article finishes by proposing a variant methodology of parable interpretation, featuring the parable of the Good Samaritan as a working example.

The Good Samaritan Parable Revisited: A Survey During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Nevertheless, the limitations of this interpretation were also addressed in that, in short, it applies contemporary psychological perspectives to the explication of a particular historical pericope. A similar elucidation was also done by Lu ( 2017b ) who proposed a novel application of the false memory theory on the exegesis of Peter's denials of Jesus, but Howes ( 2017 ) criticized such attempts due to the conscious removal of the pre-Easter context when explicating the parables.…”