Interpretation of Selected Parables in the Synoptic Gospels (SG): A Comparative Study of Ellen G. White’s Interpretation of Selected Synoptic Gospels’ Parables and Some Biblical Scholars

Abstract

Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Biblical Scholars (BS) and Theologians assert that EGW
accepts and applies principles of biblical interpretation when she interprets the Scripture.
However, there seems to be lack of academic research to prove such presupposition.
One area that seems to be lacking is the comparison between EGW‟s interpretation of gospel
parables with that of modern biblical scholars. Their interpretations of selected SG parables
will be compared and contrasted with that of EGW. The purpose of this study is to prove that
EGW‟s interpretation of gospel parables are in harmony with sound principles of interpreting
biblical parables.
This study compares and contrasts EGW and selected modern BS‟s interpretations of selected
synoptic gospel parables. After comparing EGW and selected BS‟s interpretation of selected
parables in the SG, evaluation will follow.
This paper concludes that EGW interprets the selected parables of the SG appropriately. The
comparative study shows that she is not out of context in her interpretation of the parables.
This means that she applies sound principles of biblical interpretation. It also shows that she
agrees with the interpretation of some non-SDA BS. However, she has additional insights
which were not found in BS.