Ep. 104 Luke 16: Literal or Parable?

Ep. 104 Luke 16: Literal or Parable?

From Crossroads of Culture and Christianity by Jacob Jellison and Dr. Aaron Hough

September 29, 2025 · 38 min

About this episode

The episode explores whether the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16 is a parable or a literal account, discussing its implications on judgment and eternity.

Text Us! Was Jesus telling a parable—or giving us a glimpse into eternity? In Luke 16, the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus has stirred debate among scholars for quite some time. Some see it as a vivid illustration of hell’s reality, others as a true account of a man crying out from the flames. In this episode, we dig into the context, propose the view that seems to make the most sense to us, and draw out the timeless truths Jesus wanted us to see: the finality of judgment, the urgency of r...

People in this episode

Hosts: Jacob Jellison, Dr. Aaron Hough

Topics covered

  • parable vs literal
  • eternity
  • judgment
  • hell
  • biblical interpretation
  • Christian teachings

Keywords

  • Luke 16
  • Rich Man
  • Lazarus
  • parable
  • eternity
  • judgment
  • Christianity
  • hell
  • biblical context

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Luke 16

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