Season 2: Episode 51
Parables: Jesus’s Shocking Short Stories
Date Aired: 1/29/2024
In the New Testament, Jesus often teaches through parables—short stories rich in symbolism and ethical dilemmas. “The Good Samaritan.” “The Prodigal Son.” We’ve heard these stories so many times it’s easy to overlook how challenging and even shocking they would have sounded to first-century ears. In this episode, scholar Amy-Jill Levine joins Helen and Dave to explain the Jewish roots of parables and how Jesus wielded parables to shake up his audience. Parables were incredibly effective teaching tools in the ancient world and they’re just as powerful today, especially when we understand their deeper historical background.
Listen to the episode on the Biblical Time Machine website or wherever you get your podcasts.
Disclaimer: The Society of Biblical Literature is not responsible for the content of this podcast. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Biblical Literature, its members, or its staff.
