January 1, 2025ΣΧΟΛΗ Ancient Philosophy and the Classical Tradition0 citationsOpen Access

Implicit Narrative Meaning of the Gospel Parables

Key Points

Implicit meanings in parables enrich the narrative experience, allowing for deeper engagement with the text.
Parables often lack explicit interpretations, especially in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, thus inviting varied audience responses.
The study highlights the importance of narrative devices in conveying broader meanings within gospel parables.
Emotional identification with characters enhances audience understanding and reception of the moral lessons in parables.

Abstract

Many of Jesus’ parables function not only as metaphors but also as narratives. As stories, these parables carry implicit meanings. This paper aims to explore how the author conveys these implied meanings within the story and how the audience interprets them. First, I examine those parables in the Gospels that include a moral lesson. Second, I analyze the reception of parables that lack explicit interpretations in the Gospels, particularly within the Eastern Orthodox liturgical tradition. In both cases, I identify two key devices that communicate the implicit meaning. The first device involves generalizing the specific characters and details to convey a broader, even universal significance. The second device is the audience’s ability to identify with the emotions or choices of the characters during the climax of the narrative.

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