Jesus' parables were told some 2000 years ago. Remarkably, they are just as relevant today as they were then. However, many of the situations Jesus used in his parables are not very familiar to us today, and some of the vocabulary is not what we are used to. To make the teachings of Jesus accessible and easy to understand for readers today, Joseph Faulkner has rewritten 23 of Jesus' parables. To help in communicating these teachings, and to make the book more fun and entertaining to read, each teaching is illustrated by artist Rose Ann Hoover. The way the book is formatted is clear and easy to follow. First, the parable as we have long read it in the Bible is presented. Following the original reading of the parable, a contemporary version is presented along with an illustration.
From the book...
Based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37): In Jesus' Parables in Today's Language we have a contemporary version of the story of the Good Samaritan. Instead of being on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho as in the Bible, in Jesus' Parables in Today's Language a Wal-Mart employee is traveling in his car from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. The man is on his way to visit his brother when his car has mechanical trouble and breaks down. Another car stops -- to help him? No! The Wal-Mart employee is mugged, beaten up, and left on the side of the road. If you are familiar with this story in the Bible, you know that a Good Samaritan finally comes by and helps the injured man, however, in this version of Jesus' Parables, the good "Samaritan" is not who you know him to be in the Bible. Here we see the good Samaritan as an immigrant Muslim to this country.
Our responses to these stories are as important today as in Jesus' time. Herman Hendrickx aptly sums up our exposure to the parables: when we confront the parables we must make a decision which will affect the future of our lives.
More brief excerpts from the book, Jesus' Parables in Today's Language, will be posted on the Web in time, however a full copy is available to you, your family, your students, your study group, and your Church right now in both print paperback and ebook editions.
Purchase and Review the Book Jesus' Parables in Today's Language is now available in both paperback and ebook editions.
Paperback Edition
To order a paperback edition please send a check for $9.95, includes S & H, to Dr. Joseph Faulkner, 1268 Avebury Circle, State College, PA 16803. Be sure to print your name and address on a sheet of paper.
eBook Editions
Chose your ereader or mobile device and download, purchase or review Jesus' Parables in Today's Language at these ebook sellers
Share, Follow, Discuss...
Visit the social media channels to connect with Joe Faulkner and Jesus' Parables in Today's Language, stay in touch, receive updates, or join the conversation
Go ahead, use any of your favorite social media channels to share this site, Joe's great video, and the book, Jesus' Parables in Today's Language with your friends, family, students ...everyone!
Joseph E. Faulkner, Author
Joe is a retired university professor and ordained United Methodist minister. A graduate of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, he received his doctorate in sociology at Penn State University, where he taught for 33 years. He retired from Penn State as Director of the Program in Religious Studies. He is the author or co-author of 4 books plus numerous articles and book reviews in professional sociological journals. He lives with his wife in State College, Pa.
Rose Ann Hoover, Illustrator
Rose Ann graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. After 16 years working in the offset printing/graphic design field, she now enjoys working as a freelance graphic designer. In addition to computer graphics, she has experience with illustration and wood carving. Rose Ann happily lives in Halfmoon Township with her husband, John. She is a proud mom of three kids, and a loving owner of three horses.
Jesus' parables were told some 2000 years ago. Remarkably, they are just as relevant today as they were then. However, many of the situations Jesus used in his parables are not very familiar to us today, and some of the vocabulary is not what we are used to. To make the teachings of Jesus accessible and easy to understand for readers today, Joseph Faulkner has rewritten 23 of Jesus' parables. To help in communicating these teachings, and to make the book more fun and entertaining to read, each teaching is illustrated by artist Rose Ann Hoover. The way the book is formatted is clear and easy to follow. First, the parable as we have long read it in the Bible is presented. Following the original reading of the parable, a contemporary version is presented along with an illustration.
From the book...
Based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37): In Jesus' Parables in Today's Language we have a contemporary version of the story of the Good Samaritan. Instead of being on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho as in the Bible, in Jesus' Parables in Today's Language a Wal-Mart employee is traveling in his car from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. The man is on his way to visit his brother when his car has mechanical trouble and breaks down. Another car stops -- to help him? No! The Wal-Mart employee is mugged, beaten up, and left on the side of the road. If you are familiar with this story in the Bible, you know that a Good Samaritan finally comes by and helps the injured man, however, in this version of Jesus' Parables, the good "Samaritan" is not who you know him to be in the Bible. Here we see the good Samaritan as an immigrant Muslim to this country.