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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Do parables alone prove doctrine? | Luke 12:47 | winstonchurchill | 81696 | ||
While there are many fine Christians who believe in the concept of 'once saved, always saved', 'eternal security' or 'perserverance of the saints' (as Calvin initially phrased it), whether one accepts that view has more to do with whether one accepts the deterministic world view that Augustine and Calvin brought to the Scriptures rather than the Scriptures themselves. From your passing comments, I suspect that you and I would disagree on whether the Scriptures really teach a deterministic world view, but I think that issue misses the very interesting question you raise on the use and interpretation of parables. Prior to the last century, there was a strong tendency among Christian writers and thinkers to 'spiritualize' parables and assign detailed 'meanings' to every detail of a parable. Wonderful sermons were given in this manner, with the preacher supplying detailed explanations of the 'deeper meaning' of each detail of a parable. However, I believe that most Bible teachers and expositors addressing hermeneutics (i.e. the study of the methodological principles of interpretation) now agree that parables were intended by Christ to have a single point or, at most, a single thrust for each participant in the parable (although this latter view has somewhat less support). So, the better question is not whether a parable can teach a 'doctrine', but whether the asserted teaching of the parable (however categorized) is the central thrust of the parable or some spiritualization of a detail of the parable. The latter is an unreliable use of Scripture whether directed at a 'doctrine' or some other category of teaching. I think yours was a wonderful question because so many people tend to 'digitize' Scripture and ignore both the literary and historical context. By asking the question you raise that issue. |
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2 | Do parables alone prove doctrine? | Luke 12:47 | BradK | 81701 | ||
Dear winstonchurchill, Welcome to the Forum! You do have an interesting screen name:-) I want to offer my acknowledgement of your wise and well spoken comments. I do concur with respect to interpreting Parables. Interestingly, I was recently studying the Parable of the Prodigal Son and came across an article on the same by the late D. Martin Lloyd-Jones. I thought a couple of his observations were worth repeating and would echo your comments. He makes two initial points: 1. "we must always beware of interpreting any portion of Scripture in a way that conflicts with the general teaching of Scripture elsewhere." 2. "we should always avoid the danger of drawing any negative conclusions from the teaching of a parable. This applies not only to this particular parable (Lk.15:24), but to all parables. A parable is never meant to be a full outline of truth. Its business is to convey one great lesson, to present one big aspect of positive truth." Speaking The Truth In Love, BradK |
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