Are Parables in the Bible True Stories? 
Many people ask – “Are parables in the bible true stories?” This question raises several issues. For one, we have a vastly different context than the original audience. Not only are we far removed chronologically, but also socially, politically, and religiously.
Allegories
In the Bible, there are many instances of allegory used to explain spiritual truths and foreshadow events. The best examples are the parables of Jesus, in which the characters represent truths about life and the Kingdom of God. For example, a seed is used to illustrate the Word of God and the different types of soil are used to illustrate different responses to that Word.
The Bible also includes many examples of allegories, which are stories told in the form of illustrations and are not strictly true stories. In Ezekiel 16, for instance, an allegory compares the Nation of Israel to an infant left in the field, a wife who is unfaithful, and a prostitute. These stories do not use proper names or reference to actual times.
The Bible includes many allegories, primarily because biblical authors were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The purpose of an allegory is to engage the imagination of the reader and make the story more understandable. The parables of Jesus and other biblical characters are meant to stir the minds of the readers and spark their desire to discover deeper meaning.
Allegory can also be a means of teaching spiritual values, including the importance of loving your neighbor. The apostle Paul referred to the story of Abraham and his two sons as an allegory. In the story, one son was born to a slave, while the other was born to a free woman. Some people believed the two sons represented two covenants with God. The slave woman’s son represented the old covenant, while the free son represented the new covenant.
In the Middle Ages, allegories often draw on two archetypal story lines. For instance, Homer’s Iliad paralleled the struggle of the children of Israel. In the Middle Ages, Aeneas was regarded as a type of hidden Christianity. The fourth Eclogue of Virgil was also seen as a prophecy for Christ.
Allegories in the Bible are true stories and sometimes not. For example, Adam and Eve were real people, but their story was an allegory. However, Isaac and Ishmael were literal sons of Abraham. As long as we understand the meaning of an allegory, we should not be discouraged from believing it.
Allegory is a literary device in which the characters or settings are used to represent spiritual ideas or truths. It has been used throughout history for many purposes, from rebuking those in power to expressing controversial ideas. Today, allegory is a popular literary tool in popular Christian literature.