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<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"><title>Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the difference between a parable and an allegory</title><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.75.2"><meta name="keywords" content="Bible, Study, HowTo"><link rel="home" href="index.html" title="The Biblestudy HowTo"><link rel="up" href="h2-rules.html" title="Chapter�3.�Rules of Bible Interpretation (Hermeneutics)"><link rel="prev" href="h2-rules-normal.html" title="Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in language"></head><body bgcolor="white" text="black" link="#0000FF" vlink="#840084" alink="#0000FF"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the difference between a parable and an allegory</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="h2-rules-normal.html">Prev</a>�</td><th width="60%" align="center">Chapter�3.�Rules of Bible Interpretation (Hermeneutics)</th><td width="20%" align="right">�</td></tr></table><hr></div><div class="section" title="Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the difference between a parable and an allegory"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="h2-rules-parables"></a>Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the difference between a parable and an allegory</h2></div></div></div><p>An allegory is: <span class="emphasis"><em>A story where each element has a meaning.</em></span></p><p>Every parable is an allegory, true or false?</p><p>Some parables are allegories, for instance, the parable of the sower is an allegory: the seed is the word of
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God, the thorns are worries and greed, etc. But most parables are not allegories but simply stories to illustrate one
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point. It's dangerous to get our doctrine from parables; they can be twisted to say all sorts of things. We need to get
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our doctrine from clear scriptures that lay it out; then if a parable illustrates that, fine.</p><div class="section" title="Example 5A"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="h2-rules-parables-ex5a"></a>Example 5A</h3></div></div></div><p>The parable of the widow with the unrighteous judge in Lk.18:1-8. This story illustrates one
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lesson: boldness in prayer. If we draw it into an allegory, what do we have?</p><p>All sorts of violence happens to the meanings: God is reluctant to protect the rights of widows, prayer
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"bothers" Him, etc.</p></div><div class="section" title="Example 5B"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="h2-rules-parables-ex5b"></a>Example 5B</h3></div></div></div><p>The parable of the unrighteous steward in Lk.16:1-9. What is the point of the parable? Is it
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an allegory? </p><p>The steward is commended for only one thing, his shrewdness in using what he had to prepare for a
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time when he wouldn't have it. But he is not commended for his unethical behavior in cheating his master. </p></div></div><div class="navfooter"><hr><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="h2-rules-normal.html">Prev</a>�</td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="h2-rules.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right">�</td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in language�</td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top">�</td></tr></table></div></body></html>
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<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"><title>Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the difference between a parable and an allegory</title><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.76.1"><meta name="keywords" content="Bible, Study, HowTo"><link rel="home" href="index.html" title="The Biblestudy HowTo"><link rel="up" href="h2-rules.html" title="Chapter�3.�Rules of Bible Interpretation (Hermeneutics)"><link rel="prev" href="h2-rules-normal.html" title="Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in language"></head><body bgcolor="white" text="black" link="#0000FF" vlink="#840084" alink="#0000FF"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the
2
difference between a parable and an allegory</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="h2-rules-normal.html">Prev</a>�</td><th width="60%" align="center">Chapter�3.�Rules of Bible Interpretation (Hermeneutics)</th><td width="20%" align="right">�</td></tr></table><hr></div><div class="section" title="Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the difference between a parable and an allegory"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="h2-rules-parables"></a>Rule 5 - Understand the purpose of parables and the
3
difference between a parable and an allegory</h2></div></div></div><p>An allegory is:
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<span class="emphasis"><em>A story where each element has a
5
meaning.</em></span></p><p>Every parable is an allegory, true or false?</p><p>Some parables are allegories, for instance, the parable of
6
the sower is an allegory: the seed is the word of God, the thorns
7
are worries and greed, etc. But most parables are not allegories
8
but simply stories to illustrate one point. It's dangerous to get
9
our doctrine from parables; they can be twisted to say all sorts of
10
things. We need to get our doctrine from clear scriptures that lay
11
it out; then if a parable illustrates that, fine.</p><div class="section" title="Example 5A"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="h2-rules-parables-ex5a"></a>Example 5A</h3></div></div></div><p>The parable of the widow with the unrighteous judge in
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Lk.18:1-8. This story illustrates one lesson: boldness in prayer.
13
If we draw it into an allegory, what do we have?</p><p>All sorts of violence happens to the meanings: God is
14
reluctant to protect the rights of widows, prayer "bothers" Him,
15
etc.</p></div><div class="section" title="Example 5B"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h3 class="title"><a name="h2-rules-parables-ex5b"></a>Example 5B</h3></div></div></div><p>The parable of the unrighteous steward in Lk.16:1-9. What
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is the point of the parable? Is it an allegory?</p><p>The steward is commended for only one thing, his shrewdness
17
in using what he had to prepare for a time when he wouldn't have
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it. But he is not commended for his unethical behavior in
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cheating his master.</p></div></div><div class="navfooter"><hr><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="h2-rules-normal.html">Prev</a>�</td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="h2-rules.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right">�</td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">Rule 4 - Interpret according to the normal usage of words in
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language�</td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top">�</td></tr></table></div></body></html>
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