Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke (Combined edition)

Having grown up with his missionary parents in the Near East, among the very cultures that spawned the Judaeo-Christian Scriptures, Dr. Kenneth Bailey is uniquely qualified to translate their cultural nuances into such idioms as modern Western minds can grasp. Note that I did not say "readily grasp": as is the case with his other books, 'Poet and Peasant' and 'Through Peasant Eyes' (actually two books in one volume) is a VERY heavy and scholarly treatment of the subject matter. As the titles suggest, the author takes the positions that both Jesus and His first-century audience were peasants and that the Biblical writers were both poets and peasants. Hence, the key to understanding the Christian Parables--a form of poetry themselves--is to be found in the cultures and bodies of literature of the region.As is the case with 'Jacob and the Prodigal' (which I have also reviewed here), 'Poet and Peasant' and 'Through Peasant Eyes' will be best appreciated by serious Bible scholars interested in exegetical study. If this category excludes you, pass on this one; there are lots of other decent commentaries out there that won't confuse or bore you to death.

This book has two great strengths. First, Bailey is thoroughly familiar with the culture of Jesus' day. In his parables Jesus drew on facets of everyday life-- shepherds, farmers, kings, peasants, etc. Bailey draws deeply on his knowledge of that culture to deepen our understanding of the words Jesus spoke and the dynamic they would have had for his listeners. Second, Bailey shows how Jesus was a master story teller, using a rhetorical device called parallelism. Jesus would set out a series of statements and then in reverse order work his way back through those statements and arrive at such powerful conclusions-- sometimes wonderful and sometimes devastating. The main drawback to the book is that Bailey sometimes becomes somewhat technical. Fortunately, the reader who is not conversant in those areas can simply bypass Bailey's treatment of those issues and stay with this most worthwhile book.

What a wonderful book and so worth a slow and methodical reading. I thought I knew most of the settings and backgrounds of the parables covered in this book, but Bailey truly transported me to the days of Jesus and opened the parables to me as nevertheless before. My only issues were with the amount of time spent at the beginning, laying out the chiastic structure, spend too much time with what so many other scholars said, and the inconsistent layout in the Kindle edition.

Puts the Gospel of Luke in a totally different and pastorally useful position. Best preparation for preaching the Gospel I have found in 30 years of ordained ministry. Every preacher should have this text in his or her library.

I am very happy with my purchase

Incredible read. The most in-depth study of the parables I have come across. Bailey does a tremendous job combining cultural and literary context while staying focused on modern day applications. Highly recommend.

Bailey's unique contribution is that he sat down with a number of trusted Palestinian nomads and listened carefully to their take on the cultural issues behind various parables. He contends, with some justice, that this group of people have something in contact with the original culture that these parables arose in, and thus can help us understand the unstated assumptions and cultural implications of the texts. He invested many years in this and did it with care and precision. On top of that, he has explored the early translations of the New Testament into Syrac and related languages. The result is nothing short of stunning. His analysis of the puzzling parable of the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13) is worth the price of admission alone, and even on the well-trod parable of the Good Samaritan, he has much valuable insight to share.Bailey has also written other works including "Finding the Lost: Cultural Keys to Luke 15" that focus on the lost sheep, lost coin, lost son, parables of that chapter. All of his works I especially recommended.

As always, the late Kenneth Bailey's superb accounts of biblical life in the Middle Eastern times of Christ are a must for all theologians - both professional and armchair. He plumbs the depths of the core elements of the scriptures in ways in which only those who have lived and breathed ME customs can achieve. Masterful writing for a wonderfully gifted theologian.

It opens your eyes about the time where Jesus lived

Kenneth Bailey explains the 1st Century Jewish Community and the spiritual messages of the Parables in a very understandable way. This is a great book for both the lay person and the Minister. Personally, I have permission from my Minister to perform bible study classes and this book will be the focus of the parables.

Full of very helpful insights into the parables - by someone who lives in the middle east and has studied the background

If you had thought that you already knew the meaning of the parables that Jesus told, then this's the first choice to read. It will present you the same story through the eyes of a first century people. The black word on white paper may become colourful words of God!

Great book. Arrived quickly. Can't say more than that.