Page 132 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy

Aphorisms work in their deceptive simplicity. Like parables, aphorisms employ mundane

everyday life imagery, however, it conveys heavy truth. Its literary devices entail hyperbole, 117

the rabbinic technique of arguing from lesser to greater, 118 and implied use of story. 119 Again,

Jesus employed the popular literary forms of his time. He added, however, “the pungent force”

in his aphoristic sayings, sometimes by stating “the obvious” fitting to the context, and other

times by uttering “the unexpected” for them to be jolted by what they were told. 120

The Use of Dialogue

Some of the most important and interesting teachings of Jesus were done in the form of

dialogue. 121 The utilization of dialogue by Jesus underscores his love for people as individuals

while serving as a technique of “letting His listeners set the agenda for his preaching and

encouraging His audience to interact with Him.” 122 Jesus appears to have two types of dialogue

that vary according to the content and the audience. Bultmann defines the two groups:

“controversy dialogue,” and “scholastic dialogues.”

117
Matthew 5:29.
118 Matthew 7:11. This is “how much more” aspect of argument.

119 Paul Ricoeur, “Biblical Hermeneutics,” Semeia 4 (1975): 113, he says, “Without
being a narrative, the proverb implies a story.”

120
Zuck, Teaching As Jesus, 209-12. He stocks sixty lists of the Jesus’ aphorisms of each
grouping.

121 Hinsdale, Jesus as a Teacher, 139. He names this form as “the didactic dialogue.”
Lewis, Learning to Preach, 28. For example, the Gospel in a nutshell appears in the dialogue
with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) and the cost of discipleship in the dialogue with the Rich Young
(Mark 10:17-22).

122
Lewis, Learning to Preach, 28.