Jesus Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Jesus Language - Essay Example Jesus parables had elements in them that differentiated from parables used by others during his time. These features made his parables effective and memorable. It drew listeners and audiences because they talked of things familiar to the average man on the street and yet provided unusual endings. There are several theories why Jesus used parables in his teachings, one of which is to conceal his teachings and made him less susceptible to charges of sedition as he had then many enemies ready to seize on his every word and use them to destroy him in the eyes of the public. Although His use of parables as a teaching tool was effective immortalizing these teachings and messages even after His time, the application of parables to contemporary times is not desirable. For one, there are many modern teaching tools available today that can more than substitute the purpose of parables like visual aids. In addition, the condition in Jesus time is not the same as today. The word ‘parable’ is an umbrella term that covers many parts of figurative speech. Parables are used both in the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament’s equivalent for the word is â€Å"Mà £shà £l† which means proverb, similitude or parable and applied broadly to all those in which ideas are presented in imagery. An example of this is Proverbs 10:2 â€Å"Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivereth from death.† In the New Testament, the word parable does not confine itself to Christ’s parables, characterized as lengthened narratives, although they are the most numerous. Two Greek words - parabolà ¨ and paroimia -, correspond to the word parable in the NT. The first word means â€Å"likeness or resemblance.† The second means â€Å"â€Å"adage, dark saying, wayside saying, a proverb, a presentation deviating from the usual means of speaking.† The importance of a