The Gospels of Matthew, Luke and Thomas all share in common certain familiar parables. They also share the fact that each one supplements that core of common parables with others (presumably of their own creation, although some may also have been inherited from earlier sources, whether living, oral or written).
It had never occurred to me before to try a simple exercise, namely to compare the unique parables in each of these Gospels with the common core that they share in common, both stylistically and in terms of content, themes and vocabulary. Luke’s unique parables are well known and quite distinctive in focusing on the marginalized (Samaritans, the poor, etc.) and in their story form with a challenging (and often surprising) ending. Matthew’s parables tend to be allegorical, and there are also the stories of the Son of Man on his glorious throne, inspired by the Similitudes of Enoch.
Certainly there are unique elements in Thomas’ special material. But is this material, on the whole, any less like the common core material that the special material in Matthew and Luke?
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