Biblical Hermeneutics
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PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL HERMENETICS ; M. M. NINAN<br />
PARABLES<br />
Parable, n. [O.Fr. parabole, from Latin parabola, from Gk. parabole from paraballein,to throw<br />
beside, to compare; para, beside, and balleinto throw.]<br />
para =alongside (as in parallel) + bole (throw), which gives "to throw alongside."<br />
It is a simple story with one spiritual parallel concealed in it. The sory and the truth are<br />
being laid side-by-side.<br />
1. a short, simple story from which a moral lesson may be drawn; it usually fall short of an<br />
allegory.<br />
2. an obscure or enigmatic saying.<br />
The procedure for interpreting is<br />
a. Determine whether or not the passage is indeed a parable;<br />
b. A parable is a comparison between the natural and the spiritual realm;<br />
c. Every parable is designed to conceal and reveal one fundamental spiritual truth;<br />
d. Since parables are drawn from the cultural background of their authors, the interpreter<br />
should research the manners, customs, and material culture involved in the parable he is<br />
interpreting.<br />
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