Interpreting the Parables (Second Edition)

1. Introduction
1.1 The Previous Scholarly Consensus
1.2 The Sizable Minority Report
1.3 Newest Developments
1.4 The Scope and Outline of This Book
Part One: Methods & Controversies in Interpreting the Parables
2. Parable & Allegory
2.1 The Current Debate: Two Main Approaches
2.1.1 Parable vs. Allegory
2.1.2 Parable as Allegory
2.2 Evaluating the Debate
2.2.1 Contemporary Literary Criticism
2.2.2 The Rabbinic Parables
2.3 Conclusions
3. Form Criticism & the Parables
3.1 Classical Form Criticism
3.1.1 The Method
3.1.2 Critique
3.2 Hypotheses of the "Guarded Tradition"
3.2.1 Memorizing Jesus' Teachings
3.2.2 New Insights into Oral Folklore and Social Memory
3.3 Conclusions
4. Redaction Criticism of the Parables
4.1 Positive Contributions
4.1.1 The Illustration of Distinctive Themes
4.1.2 The Significance of the Larger Contexts
4.2 Invalid Allegations
4.2.1 Misleading Parallels
4.2.2 Dictional Analysis
4.2.3 The Theology-History Dichotomy
4.2.4 Prophecy After the Event
4.2.5 Characterizing the Parables in Different Synoptic Sources
4.2.6 Mistaking Stylistic for Theological Redaction
4.2.7 Misrepresenting the Theology of an Evangelist
4.3 Conclusions
5. New Literary & Hermeneutical Methods
5.1 The New Hermeneutic
5.1.1 The New View of Metaphor
5.1.2 A Critique of the New View of Metaphor
5.2 Structuralism
5.2.1 The Ideology
5.2.2 The Method
5.2.3 Surface Structures
5.3 Poststructuralism/Postmodernism
5.3.1 Deconstruction
5.3.2 Reader-Response Criticism
5.4 Other Literary Approaches
5.5 Conclusions
Conclusions to Part One
Part Two: The Meaning & Significance of Individual Parables
6. Simple Three-Point Parables
6.1 The Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32)
6.2 The Lost Sheep and Lost Coin (Lk 15:4-10; cf. Mt 18:12-14)
6.3 The Two Debtors (Lk 7:41-43)
6.4 The Two Sons (Mt 21:28-32)
6.5 Faithful and Unfaithful Servants (Lk 12:42-48; Mt 24:45-51)
6.6 The Ten Virgins (Mt 25:1-13; cf. Lk 13:24-30)
6.7 The Wheat and the Tares (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43)
6.8 The Dragnet (Mt 13:47-50)
6.9 The Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31)
6.10 The Children in the Marketplace (Mt 11:16-19; Lk 7:31-35)
6.11 Conclusions
7. Complex Three-Point Parables
7.1 The Talents (Mt 25:14-30; cf. Lk 19:12-27)
7.2 The Laborers in the Vineyard (Mt 20:1-16)
7.3 The Sower (Mk 4:3-9, 13-20 pars.)
7.4 The Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37)
7.5 The Great Supper (Lk 14:15-24; cf. Mt 22:1-14)
7.6 The Unforgiving Servant (Mt 18:23-35)
7.7 The Unjust Steward (Lk 16:1-13)
7.8 The Wicked Tenants (Mk 12:1-12 pars.)
7.9 Conclusions
8. Two-Point & One-Point Parables
8.1 Two-Point Parables
8.1.1 The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18:9-14)
8.1.2 The Two Builders (Mt 7:24-27; Lk 6:47-49)
8.1.3 The Unprofitable Servant (Lk 17:7-10)
8.1.4 The Seed Growing Secretly (Mk 4:26-29)
8.1.5 The Rich Fool (Lk 12:16-21)
8.1.6 The Barren Fig Tree (Lk 13:6-9)
8.1.7 The Unjust Judge (Lk 18:1-8)
8.1.8 The Friend at Midnight (Lk 11:5-8)
8.1.9 The Householder and the Thief (Mt 24:43-44; Lk 12:39-40)
8.2 One-Point Parables
8.2.1 The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price (Mt 13:44-46)
8.2.2 The Tower Builder and the Warring King (Lk 14:28-33)
8.2.3 The Mustard Seed and the Leaven (Lk 13:18-21 pars.)
8.3 Other Passages
8.3.1 The Sheep and the Goats (Mt 25:31-46)
8.3.2 Shorter Metaphors
8.4 Conclusions
9. The Theology of the Parables: The Kingdom & the Christ
9.1 Classification
9.2 Kingdom Theology
9.2.1 Present vs. Future
9.2.2 Reign vs. Realm
9.2.3 Personal Transformation vs. Social Reform
9.2.4 The Kingdom and Israel
9.3 Christology
9.3.1 Explicit Christology?
9.3.2 Implicit Christology Indirectly Expressed?
9.3.3 Implicit Christology Directly Expressed
9.4 Conclusions
Conclusions to Part Two
Name Index
Scripture Index