Rereading the Parable of the Good Samaritan through Theological Literacy: A Hermeneutics of Image

Abstract This study, “Rereading the Parable of the Good Samaritan through Theological Literacy: A Hermeneutics of Image,” explores how theological literacy is essential for interpreting the biblical text faithfully. Beyond literary sensitivity, historical context, and theological insight, theological literacy enables readers to discern the author’s true intent and to avoid misrepresentations of the divine message. Using the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) as a case study, the paper demonstrates how images, literary foreshadowing, and even hapax legomena serve as hermeneutical keys for understanding the text as part of the redemptive narrative. The discussion highlights that the Bible should not be read merely through personal or devotional impressions but through careful engagement with its literary and theological structures. Publication InformationThis article was originally published in Journal of Christian Philosophy, Vol. 43 (2025), pp. 315–348.DOI: https://doi.org/10.23291/jcp.2025..43.315 (pending activation). An open-access English version is archived in Zenodo for broader accessibility. Keywords: theological literacy, Good Samaritan, hermeneutics, image, hapax legomena, Image-based Reading, Go and Do Likewise.