'Jesus' parables are like diamonds, writes Lohfink, held within settings that both preserve and protect. The Forty Parables of Jesus presents the content of Jesus' unique sayings mindful of the traditions that preserved, preached, and interpreted those parables. But Lohfink also provides the larger context in which parables, as provocative short stories with a twist, were heard, read, and understood. Lohfink has deftly written a well-exegeted and researched book that is at the same time eminently readable. The Forty Parables of Jesus witnesses to the 'unbelievable nearness of God,' and invites us to embrace the implicit Christology of Jesus' parables.
Laurie Brink, OP, PhD, Professor of New Testament Studies at Catholic Theological Union
Drawing from his magisterial career and vast publications on Scripture, Father Lohfink invigorates the discussion on parables for scholars and students alike. With perceptive analysis, he marshals a broad range of examples to expand our knowledge of how these stories ultimately remind us of what was so compelling about Jesus's parables. This book is more than a commentary, but a text much like the parables themselves: an invitation to ponder the Good News, rethink the genius of story and enlarge the stunning horizon of the proclamation of the Reign of God.
Guerric DeBona, OSB, Professor of Homiletics, St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology
Drawing on his genius for biblical interpretation that is both intelligent and pastoral, profound and accessible, Gerhard Lohfink turns to an exposition of Jesus' parables, forty in all. He begins by noting through a selection of parables from a variety of sources, how context and structure add meaning to parables, including those of Jesus. His goal is not to pit the possible original meaning of Jesus' parables against the layers of meaning derived from their use in the early church and in the Gospels, but to illustrate the rich and varied layers of meaning these characteristic stories of Jesus hold for us as Christians.
Donald Senior, CP, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago
Gerhard Lohfink has a wonderful knack for bringing astute analysis of Scripture into thoughtful and pastorally rich engagement with Christian experience. This is a refreshing and revealing portrait of the parables and of Jesus himself.
The Bible Today
The Forty Parables of Jesus is an insightful and well-organized exposition of the parables that integrates exegetical acuity with pastoral sensitivity.
Karl Schultz
This is an important book by a distinguished Scripture scholar. While particularly useful for homilists it will also be helpful for those who pray Lectio Divina. It is an inspiring gift for a community in need of hearing the Good News of the reign of God.
Catholic Books Review
The author is such a lucid writer and competent exegete with a grasp of real world applications that anything he writes is pleasant to digest. Highly recommended.
The Catholic Media Association
Concerned with the oldest forms of Jesus' parables and what they originally said, this book seeks to unlock these bold and often surprising texts for the reader.
New Testament Abstracts
Gerhard reminds us that our goal should be to faithfully listen to the parables, their contexts, and the Spirit speaking through them.
Pneuma
