In Luke 12:13-21 we have the Parable of the Rich Fool. Bailey blows it immediately, insisting that the Hebrews did not believe in a distinction between body and soul, and that Paul believed this current fleshly body would be resurrected. This is not at all the Hebrew teaching nor Paul’s, and Heiser hammers that home…
Tag: Kenneth E. Bailey
JTMEE: Chapter 22b
Bailey cites some obscure evidence that the basic story of the Good Samaritan was based on a historical event in Jewish lore. Jesus may have been citing a familiar tale, but I’m not sure how much difference it makes. The rhetorical pattern is ABCDCBA. To be honest, this one stretches things just a bit: A….
JTMEE: Chapter 22a
The Parable of the Good Samaritan is found in Luke 10:25-37. There are two dialogues; the first is the context. The lawyer asks a question; Jesus asks His own. The lawyer answers and then Jesus does. The lawyer asks a follow-up question. Again, Jesus poses His own question in the context of a parable, to…
Another Break
I’m having to do a lot of computer maintenance stuff. The next chapter of Bailey’s book will be featured here Tuesday.
JTMEE: Part Six
The rest of the book is devoted to parables. The subject is introduced with a historical note from the likes of Galen around 140 AD commenting that Christians were capable of holding a high moral standard without using clear and precise logic, instead using parables to great effect. Bailey refers to Jesus as a “metaphorical…
JTMEE: Chapter 20
Our text is Matthew 25:1-13, the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, comes to us in the rhetorical format of ABCDCBA. A. Ten virgins preparing to meet the bridegroom B. Five were unprepared C. All asleep D. Bridegroom arrives C. All rise B. Unprepared ones out of oil A. The others meet the bridegroom…
JTMEE: Chapter 19
The Parable of the Widow and Judge is found in Luke 18:1-8. In this case, Jesus used a traditional image depicting the feudal society of the Ancient Near East. Bailey notes that the apocryphal Wisdom of Ben Sirach (AKA Ecclesiasticus), included in the canon for Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics, features this imagery. When widows…
JTMEE: Chapter 18b
Bailey first lays out the biblical doctrine of sin and forgiveness inherent in the word choices. In both Old and New Testaments, the terms for the concepts of debt and sin overlap a great deal, as does forgiveness of both. There were two kinds of sins: (1) bad stuff that righteous folks shouldn’t do (“trespasses”)…
JTMEE: Chapter 18a
In Luke 7:36-50 we have the woman in Simon the Pharisee’s House. The format is ABCDCBA: A. Intro B. Outpouring of love C. Dialogue with Simon D. A parable C. 2nd dialogue with Simon B. Outpouring of love A. Conclusion In an footnote Bailey mentions that Luke joined Paul’s travels at the point in Acts…