What is the origin of the parable?

Answer 1

The word parable is from Greek parabolē, meaning "comparison, illustration, analogy. The genre of Parable did not originate with Jesus they already appeared in the Greco-Roman world. It was already an established methodology of teaching among the Rabbis and prophets of the Old Testament and other teachers throughout the Mediterranean.

Example of a parable found in the Old Testament:

The parable of the poor man who had raised a single lamb which a wealthy neighbor took to set before a guest (II Sam. xii. 1-4); intended to illustrate the sin which David had committed with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife.

Answer 2

The origin of the parable can be traced back to ancient times, with examples found in different cultures and religious texts. Parables are typically short stories that convey a moral or spiritual lesson through allegory or analogy. Some of the most well-known parables come from religious texts like The Bible, the teachings of Buddha, and the stories of Aesop.