The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

An explanation for what is called the parable of rich man and Lazarus is given on the home page. This is an addition to that explanation for those who still have questions about it.

According to the Oxford English Reference Dictionary (revised second edition), a parable is “a narrative of imagined events used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.” An imaginary narrative is not meant to be taken literally. Many people believe the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is meant to be taken literally. Here are some quotations that make it clear that it’s commonly believed by persons of different denominations that it’s a parable.

This is from The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible published by The Westminster Press in 1944. This is a revised edition of a book that had first been published by “The Trustees of the Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work” in 1898. You can find this in that dictionary under “Lazarus.”

“The name of the beggar in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.”

This is from Peloubet’s Bible Dictionary published in 1912 under “Lazarus.”

“The name of a poor man in the well-known parable of Luke 16:19-31.”

This is from The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia published in 1915.

“In the parable in Lk 16 19-31, L. is pictured as in abject poverty in this world, but highly rewarded and honored in the next. It is the only instance of a proper name used in a parable by Jesus.”

This can be found under “Lazarus” in The Concise Dictionary of the Christian Church edited by E. A. Livingstone and published by arrangement with the Oxford University Press in 1988

“The name of the beggar in Christ’s parable of *Dives and Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-31).”

This is found under “Lazarus” in the Encyclopedia of Catholicism published in 1995.

“Lazarus is also the name of the poor beggar in a parable recounted in Luke 16:19-31.”