Prophets, Parables, and Theologians

This article addresses three questions concerning parables: Why did Jesus teach in parables? What classification of parables should be used? And how should theology be done from the parables? Parables were used effectively by the OT prophets, and Jesus used parables because he came as a prophet with a prophet's agenda. Søren Kierkegaard's discussion of indirect communication provides a basis for a more effective classification system than Adolf Jülicher's fourfold system. The prophetic use of parables and the classification system provide a basis for thinking about how theology is done from the parables.