Victor Raj

Date of Award

7-1-1975

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Sacred Theology (STM)

Department

Exegetical Theology

First Advisor

Martin Scharlemann

Scripture References in this Resource

1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 1:27-28; 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 19:19; 1 Samuel 6:5; 2 Corinthians 6:1; 2 Peter 2:22; Acts 7:33; Amos 7:1-2; Daniel 4:12; Deuteronomy 29:23; Ephesians 2:20-22; Ephesians 4:30; Exodus 3:5; Exodus 8:21; Exodus 9:18-34; Ezekiel 17:23; Genesis 41:5; Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:56; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 2:5; Genesis 22:18; Haggai 2:17; Hosea 14:17; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 53:2; Isaiah 3:26; Isaiah 35:7; Isaiah 40:22; Isaiah 5:6; James 5:7; Jeremiah 5:24; Joel 2:23; Joel 3:13; John 10:6; John 14:26; John 16:25; 29; John 16:7; John 16:8-9; John 4:5; Judges 6:5; Luke 10:2; Luke 12:31; Luke 13:18-19; Luke 13:20-21; Luke 16:17; Luke 17:10; Luke 19:44; Luke 21:34; Luke 23:25; Luke 7:28; Luke 8:5-8; 11-15; Luke 9:48; Mark 13:33; Mark 14:10; Mark 15:1; Mark 2:17a; 19-20; 21; Mark 3:23; Mark 4:1-9; 14-20; Mark 4:26-29; Mark 4:30-32; Mark 4:31; Matthew 24:14; Matthew 11:11; Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43; Matthew 13:31-32; Matthew 13:3-8; 19-23; Matthew 13:8; Matthew 18:3; Matthew 24:14; Matthew 24:36; Nahum 3:15-17; Psalm 104:12; Psalm 32:4; Psalm 107:33; 35; Psalm C574:7; Romans 10:17; Romans 8:21; Romans 8:23; Romans 8:28

Abstract

The purpose of our study is to look at the canonical text of the four parables of growth; namely, the Sower, the Mustard Seed, the Weeds among the Wheat, and the Automatic Action of the Soil. We will do so in order to interpret them for their application for us today. The second chapter is devoted to a textual exposition of these parables. In the third chapter some basic motifs from the parables of growth receive some further discussion with a view to finding the significance of these parables for the growth of the Church.

The point of the fourth chapter we propose to offer a contemporary application of the concepts as presented in Chapters I and II to the church in India. In the first half, some discussion is devoted to explaining the situation of India as a nation: how India is involved in the process of growth from a secular point of view. In the second half, our main interest is to look at the India Evangelical Lutheran Church: how the Lord of the Church has blessed the humble efforts of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod in India from the turn of the century up to the present day.

Before we go on with our discussion of the parables as recorded in the gospels, we must take a brief look at Jesus' use of parables, the setting of these parables in the gospels and the concept of the kingdom of God that is involved in these parables.

Jesus' Use of Parables

We are concerned about this aspect of our study because we want to uphold the truth that the parables of Jesus, as we have them today in the gospel accounts, are actual historical reminiscences of the ministry of Jesus and not the product of some Christian exegetical tradition. The authority of the Word is the strongest criterion for the authenticity of the gospel accounts.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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