Page 126 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy

Use of Literary Forms and Devices

One of the characteristics of Jesus’ preaching is ample use of literary forms and

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devices. The two representative literary forms Jesus employed in his preaching are parables
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and aphorisms. In addition, it is evident in the Gospels that Jesus also utilized various other

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rhetorical techniques for maximum effect. Jesus made the most of his contemporary
communicative devices such as dialogic, parabolic, and aphoristic techniques that were common

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to “the homiletic of Judaism.” Though he utilized those literary forms, however, Jesus still
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artfully forged his own way in his preaching. This section will selectively explore Jesus’ use of

literary forms and rhetorical devices.

82 At the risk of broadness, literary forms in this section include the literary units of
parable, aphorism, and other figures of speech such as simile, metaphor, and so on. The term of
device denotes rhetorical techniques such as dialogue, rhetorical question, repetition, a fortiori,
comparison and contrast, etc.

83 Witherington, Jesus the Sage, 155.

84 Zuck, Teaching as Jesus, 203-234.

85 For homiletic of Judaism, see Osborn, Folly of God, 145-180. For example of Jesus use
of parable, see Brad H. Young, Jesus the Jewish Theologian (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson
Publishers, Inc., 1995), 163. He reiterates the importance of Jewish literary heritage to
understanding the Parables of Jesus, stating, “the core meaning of Jesus’ parables is discovered
in the rich heritage of Jewish agada, that is, telling an illustration to drive home a higher
theological truth.” See also Geza Vermes, Jesus the Jew, 27. He insists that parable was “a form
of homiletic teaching commonly used by rabbinic preachers.” James L. Blevins, “First-Century
Rabbis,” Biblical Illustrator 9 (Winter 1993), 22. According to him, Rabbi Hillel, who died
around A.D.10, taught by means of parables, picturesque language, and brief, memorable sayings.

86 Gilbert D. Lain, “An Inquiry into the Relationship between First-Century Literature and
Select New Testament Preaching with Particular Reference to Substance and Style,” Ph.D. diss.,
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1982, 132-136. In his comparative study between
first century literature and Jesus’ preaching, he concludes that there are correlation and conflicts.
According to him, Jesus’ distinctive style is simple, concrete, and authoritative.