Parables of the Bible Dataset

by Michael Aubrey

Overview

Parables represent a difficult genre to classify. Broadly speaking, it is possible to talk about two basic types of parables: proverbial parables and narrative parables. The former of these constitute aphorisms and similies—figurative statements with some sort of insight or clever witticism. The Greek word that is translated as “parable” is often used for these. However, since proverbial parables are usually better described simply as proverbs, the focus on this dataset is the latter type: narrative parables. These are effectively stories that are purposefully presented by their speaker to teach, promise, rebuke, or even warn their intended audience. This is a narrower use of the term parable, but it also fits better with the more conventional understanding of term.

Parables distinguish themselves from other narratives and stories in that they always have an ulterior motive in their telling. They are not merely told for simple entertainment. Instead, parables have a performative or rhetorical function that goes beyond the story itself to communicate something about the relationship between the speaker and the audience. In the case of teaching, the speaker sees a gap in the knowledge or understanding of the audience that needs to be field. Othertimes the speaker might have a negative view of the audience and use story as a means of passing judgment, either as a rebuke or as a warning. Whatever the situation, the function of the parable takes the audience beyond the story itself and functions as a commentary by the speaker about or for the benefit of the audience.

Key Features

• Includes tagged information about the speaker and audience of each parable
• Classifies all the parables according to an established typology, including instructions, warnings, promises, and rebukes
• Provides users with a variety of ways to use the dataset, including through the search window, the content menu, the information pane, and the Bible Browser

Product Details

• Title: Parables of the Bible Dataset
• Author: Michael Aubrey
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2016
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Resource ID: DB:SD-PARABLES
• Resource Type: Supplemental Data
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-06-23T23:21:33Z

About Michael Aubrey

Michael Aubrey is a professional linguist with Wycliffe Bible Translators who has done graduate work in linguistics at the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics in Dallas, TX as well as at the Canada Institute of Linguistics at Trinity Western University in British Columbia, Canada. Michael has contributed a chapter to The Greek Verb Revisited: A Fresh Approach for Biblical Exegesis on aspect and imperatives in Greek and has worked on a wide collection of datasets for Logos Bible Software. He is a contributing editor for the The Lexham English Septuagint.