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Re-Imagine the World: An Introduction to the Parables of Jesus
In his parables Jesus re-imagines the world. The re-imagined world, called the kingdom of God, presents his followers with a new option for living, one that contrasts with the default world of the everyday. The new world is both terrifying and liberating. In this book the author sets his interpretation of the key parables of Jesus in the context of other things Jesus said and did. The result is a startling and provocative picture of the historical figure and the challenge he presents to contemporary life.
- GenresTheology
167 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 12, 2019
Faithfulness with Jesus
Scott’s interpretive collection restores the punch of the parables of Jesus, in constant conflict with the way things are, and thus restores their clarion call of hope, regardless of the chance of that hope succeeding. This interpretive strategy rings true to a lived faith journey among the least and last. I enjoyed particularly how Scott’s analysis reveals the gospel editing work to tame the parables, and the recognition of the paucity and power of language. This was not merely another attempt to recover the historical Jesus, but a powerful resonance of the reality of who (and what) his followers (companions on the Way) encounter to this day.
Scott’s interpretive collection restores the punch of the parables of Jesus, in constant conflict with the way things are, and thus restores their clarion call of hope, regardless of the chance of that hope succeeding. This interpretive strategy rings true to a lived faith journey among the least and last. I enjoyed particularly how Scott’s analysis reveals the gospel editing work to tame the parables, and the recognition of the paucity and power of language. This was not merely another attempt to recover the historical Jesus, but a powerful resonance of the reality of who (and what) his followers (companions on the Way) encounter to this day.
August 24, 2018
A really insightful review of the parables. Makes you think through and evaluate things.
April 12, 2011
Scott was a member of the Jesus Seminar, a group who sought to understand and define the historical person of Jesus. Their mission was to uncover the man named Jesus who walked and talked in Galilee and Samaria and Judea. This book is an excellent exploration of the parables of Jesus IN THEIR HISTORICAL CONTEXT. Part of the issue with the way we read parables today is we have lost the cultural and historical understandings that are so critical to interpretation. We define and interpret the parables from a modern perspective. Scott asserts that the first thing (and I agree) that we need to understand is that this was not a capitalist economy that was driven by legalism and governmental systems. It was a redistribution economy in an honor & shame culture and that understanding permeates the parables and they must be heard from that perspective if we want to retain their full meaning for us.
Scott suggests that the parables of the leaven and the mustard seed are two of the parables that are most definitive of Jesus' understanding of the Kingdom of God and are defining from a historical perspective as well. He uses the parable of the leaven as his foundation for the book. We understand this parable today as sweet parable about the kingdom of heaven starting small and growing amazingly large. That is not its context. God was represented in Israel as UN-leavened bread not leavened. The idea of leaven was a contaminant for the people of this time - nothing holy was leavened. Indeed, the woman conceals the leaven, she hides it - secrets it away, and she does so in a very large amount of flour - 3 measures (3 being the number of the messianic feast). Thus we understand the kingdom of God to be a contaminant that comes secretly, quietly, and contaminates the world. The kingdom of Jesus is not a kingdom that comes with violent overthrow, which was the usual way empire was built, but one that comes to subvert the status quo and to contaminate all the ways of the world until the world has been subverted from its ways to the Way of Jesus. From here Scott invites us to re-imagine the world.
Scott suggests that the parables of the leaven and the mustard seed are two of the parables that are most definitive of Jesus' understanding of the Kingdom of God and are defining from a historical perspective as well. He uses the parable of the leaven as his foundation for the book. We understand this parable today as sweet parable about the kingdom of heaven starting small and growing amazingly large. That is not its context. God was represented in Israel as UN-leavened bread not leavened. The idea of leaven was a contaminant for the people of this time - nothing holy was leavened. Indeed, the woman conceals the leaven, she hides it - secrets it away, and she does so in a very large amount of flour - 3 measures (3 being the number of the messianic feast). Thus we understand the kingdom of God to be a contaminant that comes secretly, quietly, and contaminates the world. The kingdom of Jesus is not a kingdom that comes with violent overthrow, which was the usual way empire was built, but one that comes to subvert the status quo and to contaminate all the ways of the world until the world has been subverted from its ways to the Way of Jesus. From here Scott invites us to re-imagine the world.
May 19, 2013
I'm really looking forward to preaching on the Parables this autumn after having read Brandon Scott's book. This is a quick, good read that I recommend to anyone interested in Jesus studies (or church members who want to read up before I preach this series).
The book sets up the topic by discussing what parables are and are not, itself quite helpful and interesting. Then he covers a handful of different parables, drawing out various elements of them, and providing intriguing interpretations. He draws those points together at the conclusion.
He believes that Jesus' parables are developed around three "coordinates:"
* God is unclean
* The community must accept responsibility for its own welfare and not fall back on the narcotic of a divine intervention to set things right.
* A new social order of cooperation
Scott's book resonated with existing beliefs and interpretations of mine, while also asking new questions and pushing me in new directions.
The book sets up the topic by discussing what parables are and are not, itself quite helpful and interesting. Then he covers a handful of different parables, drawing out various elements of them, and providing intriguing interpretations. He draws those points together at the conclusion.
He believes that Jesus' parables are developed around three "coordinates:"
* God is unclean
* The community must accept responsibility for its own welfare and not fall back on the narcotic of a divine intervention to set things right.
* A new social order of cooperation
Scott's book resonated with existing beliefs and interpretations of mine, while also asking new questions and pushing me in new directions.
August 24, 2012
Here's a review of this book: http://lovinggodwithallyourmind.com/2...
I don't agree with every conclusion he draws about each parable, BUT he made me re-think (re-imagine) each with a new set of eyes. He sheds new light on the Prodigal Sons (yes, plural was intended) that changes the way this parable is often told. The summary chapters at the end shine with insight and inspiration. RECOMMENDED!
I don't agree with every conclusion he draws about each parable, BUT he made me re-think (re-imagine) each with a new set of eyes. He sheds new light on the Prodigal Sons (yes, plural was intended) that changes the way this parable is often told. The summary chapters at the end shine with insight and inspiration. RECOMMENDED!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews