HAVE YOUR SAY: Parables in different time periods?
My Plan for when Jesus tells a parable in the comic was to place them in different settings for the interest of the reader, to help understanding, a fresh way to see it and as a break from the 1st century. But is it a good idea?...
As parables are just 'stories' to illustrate a point, not memories, I thought it would be fun to change the setting. (Seen below). Here are some pros and cons:
PROs:
◦ Old familiar parables in a new light.
◦ More variety and thus more interesting.
◦ Break away from the 1st century.
◦ Help understanding- sometimes a modern setting helps modern reader understand the point.
◦ A hint that Jesus' examples are not limited to his human experience.
◦ A wider variety of places and ethnic people groups can be used.
CONs:
◦ Too Jarring and Incongruous.
◦ Uneducated people might get confused.
◦ Not the right feel for the "historically accurate" project.
◦ Some people may really hate it/think it's silly.
CONSIDERATIONS:
◦ The parables are clearly differentiated from the story with this pink colour scheme. (see Below)
◦ A foreword in the introduction to the book could be used so people expect it.
◦ The new setting would always support all the points of the original stories.
◦ Though the events are not in the same time period they will themselves be internally historically accurate.
EXAMPLES:
◦ Good Samaritan: Modern day Palestine
◦ Faithful Servant: Victorian (upstairs downstairs)
◦ Sower: Modern day farmer and interpretation
◦ Rob strong man's house: Swashbuckler/pirate(below)
◦ Wicked Tenants: Medieval- noble son has father's heraldry.
◦ Prodigal Son: Heiji Japan (below)
