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The Forty Parables of Jesus
2022 Catholic Media Association first place award in academic studies
In this book, which covers all of Jesus’ parables, award-winning author Gerhard Lohfink takes a closer look at the origins of each one—its shape, its realistic details, but most of all its original message and the situation into which it was once spoken. Jesus’ parables speak in bold images of the kingdom of God, making it present to us as they reveal something of the mystery of his own person. Lohfink also offers a review of some of the scholarship in this area—as this topic has sustained research on Jesus since the first telling of these stories—but not for the purposes of debate. His reflections interpret the forty parables and show how they speak of the coming of the reign of God, lead us to Jesus, and reveal the mystery of Jesus himself.
In this book, which covers all of Jesus’ parables, award-winning author Gerhard Lohfink takes a closer look at the origins of each one—its shape, its realistic details, but most of all its original message and the situation into which it was once spoken. Jesus’ parables speak in bold images of the kingdom of God, making it present to us as they reveal something of the mystery of his own person. Lohfink also offers a review of some of the scholarship in this area—as this topic has sustained research on Jesus since the first telling of these stories—but not for the purposes of debate. His reflections interpret the forty parables and show how they speak of the coming of the reign of God, lead us to Jesus, and reveal the mystery of Jesus himself.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published July 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 16, 2022
Lohfink has a heart for the parables. When he sticks to interpreting them, he has valuable insights and pleasant turns of phrase. He even spun some of them in directions I had not anticipated, particularly with the talents (the master is unscrupulous, as in Luke 16). He has a great feel for the “kingdom of God” idea and pushed me to think more deeply about the real point of some of the parables that stall out at the level of moralizing.
My major beef with the book was Lohfink’s insistence on the “real” or “original” parable. There are some unwritten ground rules here: he believes Jesus never spoke any parable more than once or in more than one context (which is, of course, preposterous) and the gospel writers, confused or threatened, added their own wrinkles and interpretations. These are unprovable, skeptical assumptions. He does not seem to realize that repeatedly suggesting that the parables are unreliable in their current form robs them of their power.
My major beef with the book was Lohfink’s insistence on the “real” or “original” parable. There are some unwritten ground rules here: he believes Jesus never spoke any parable more than once or in more than one context (which is, of course, preposterous) and the gospel writers, confused or threatened, added their own wrinkles and interpretations. These are unprovable, skeptical assumptions. He does not seem to realize that repeatedly suggesting that the parables are unreliable in their current form robs them of their power.
September 20, 2021
Always inciteful, Lohfink takes on the Parables of Jesus. While I have nothing to compare his scholarship with, his explanations of the stories ring with truth. These stories go very deep into what it means to seek the reign of God. Lohfink gives much to contemplate.
July 17, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is informative, inspiritual and very interesting. It brings bibical scholarship with familiar parables to increase knowledge in the scriptures.
April 20, 2024
Great insight into the parables and the backstory.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews