Parable

A parable is a succinct, didactic story, in prose or verse, that illustrates one or more instructive lessons or principles. It differs from a fable in that fables employ animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature as characters, whereas parables have human characters.^[1] A parable is a type of metaphorical analogy.^[2]

Some scholars of the canonical gospels and the New Testament apply the term "parable" only to the parables of Jesus,^[3]^{[need quotation to verify]}^[4]^{[page needed]} although that is not a common restriction of the term. Parables such as the parable of the Prodigal Son are important to Jesus's teaching method.

^ "Difference Between Fable and Parable". DifferenceBetween.com. Difference Between. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
^ David B. Gowler (2000). What are they saying about the parables. Paulist Press. pp. 99, 137, 63, 132, 133. ISBN 9780809139620.
^ Jülicher, Adolf (1888). Die gleichnisreden Jesu [The parables of Jesus] (in German). Vol. 1. Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr (P. Siebeck). Retrieved 8 November 2019.
^ Meier, John P. (1994). A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus. The Anchor Bible reference library. Vol. 2: A Marginal Jew: Mentor, message, and miracles. Doubleday. ISBN 9780385469920. Retrieved 8 November 2019.

[1] "Difference Between Fable and Parable". DifferenceBetween.com. Difference Between. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2015.

[2] David B. Gowler (2000). What are they saying about the parables. Paulist Press. pp. 99, 137, 63, 132, 133. ISBN 9780809139620.

[3] Jülicher, Adolf (1888). Die gleichnisreden Jesu [The parables of Jesus] (in German). Vol. 1. Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr (P. Siebeck). Retrieved 8 November 2019.

[4] Meier, John P. (1994). A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus. The Anchor Bible reference library. Vol. 2: A Marginal Jew: Mentor, message, and miracles. Doubleday. ISBN 9780385469920. Retrieved 8 November 2019.

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