The Parables of Jesus

I have thought that if a kernel of the Jesus story was true, then it would be found in the parables. This book is a brief overview of the parables, including those from Thomas, with some explanation of why scholars consider some of them to be more likely the genuine product of a sage. There are any revealing facts in this quick read, unburdened by zealous interpretation--exactly what I wanted. This book does not try to explain the parables--that problem is left to the readers as an exercise.

I have had this real season of consuming Jesus Seminar books. R W Funk is marvelous in his frank easy-going style when going thru the parables of Jesus. This report is one of many, which preceded the masterpiece "The five gospels" and which is wholly dedicated to the parables. The report starts with the organistion and work method of the Jesus Seminar, an overview of the relationship between the gospels and the historic Jesus and his sayings and ends with the beautiful parables coloured according to how close or far they are to the historic Jesus. The more elaborate and theological the parables become, the more further from Jesus they have been written. I found the overview of the gospels very important: it is a very good picture of how far objective non-religious reserach has come. Besdies the four gospels, the gospel of Thomas and Hebrews are included among many others. I do fancy this objective terretrial look at Jesus and his time, far from the majestic superman of the gospels. A Jesus that thru his parables want to give us humans an insight of what a divine conscience is, of how to be human and a good one and of course: to be a full individual, present today, NOW. One of the parables that inspired me most what Thomas' about the woman who carried food on her head in a jar, which breaks. She doesn't know and find out when she's arrived at home. Jesus likens the divine conscience (aka kingdom of god) to this whole situation, the whole process and not only to the overflow of food, drinks etc but to this life.