Deliberate obfuscation by Jesus?
Claire E. O'Connor claireoc@softdisk.com
Wed, 17 Dec 1997 13:21:14 -0600 (00882408074, 3498262A.749D@softdisk.com)
PATSPEARS wrote:
>
> Thore Bjerklund Karlsen
>
> "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery
> of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these
> things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not
> perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any
> time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."
>
> So we see that Jesus is vague on purpose so that we shouldn't convert and be
> forgiven. How nice.
>
> PATRICK
> Apparently it was a tradition. This phrase is found in Isaiah 6:9-10 as
> well, where it's dark meaning is more clear:
>
> "Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye
> indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their
> ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear
> with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be
> healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be
> wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be
> utterly desolate"
>
> J. C. Meagher comments that, according to the context of this passage, Jesus
> speaks in "parables so that those who are outside may be left in the dark
> and excluded from repentance and forgiveness... Jesus is speaking in
> parables as a strategy of deliberate obfuscation in order to prevent the
> outsiders from seeing, repenting and being forgiven" (qtd. in Wells, "The
> Jesus Legend," p.125).
>
> What a paradox! Why would would Jesus take the time to evangelize at all if
> one's going to speak in unintelligible parables? Sheesh!
>
> Patrick
CLAIRE
I am not familiar with "The Jesus Legend" or any other books by Wells.
But how do you know that his interpretation is more valid? Because it
agrees with your pre-conceived notions?
~Claire O'Connor