the role of the lukan parables in terms of the purpose of luke's gospel

Part I
Introduction
The motivation for this study arises out of the question as to why Luke chose the parables
unique to him that the rest of the synoptic writers did not, and incorporated them within his
Gospel in the way that he did. That is to say, the question explores the motif and purpose of
Luke’s use of these particular parables. I hope that the answer to this question will contribute
greatly to research into the purpose of Luke’s Gospel.
My first task, in this dissertation, is to lay a methodological basis for a study of the
parables, after establishing the research problem, hypothesis and methodology, and value of
the study. For this, I, in chapter 2, will survey a history of research of the Lukan parables,
dividing it into two categories, such as research on the parables as a whole in the Gospel of
Luke, and research on the parables unique to Luke. In addition, it will be argued in chapter 3,
that on the basis of current research, the parables must be interpreted within their gospel
contexts, that the parables contain allegory and point to referents beyond the story, and that
the parables may make more than one point. Furthermore, the narrative characteristic in the
parables makes us consider the literary context of the parables as well as methods for a
narrative analysis of the parables.