Can a Bible Story Matter If It Never Happened?

What parables, history and myth reveal about the different ways a story can be true

The Good Samaritan by Vincent van Gogh (after Eugène Delacroix), 1890. Jesus’ parable may never have happened as a historical event, yet its story has shaped how generations understand compassion, neighbourliness and mercy. Image via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

One of the most influential stories in the Bible probably never happened.

A man was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers, stripped, beaten and left beside the road. A priest came past and ignored him. Then a Levite did the same. Finally, a Samaritan stopped, treated his wounds, placed him on his own animal and paid for his care.

Most of us know the story.

The phrase “Good Samaritan” has entered everyday language. Hospitals, charities and organisations have been named after it. Laws have borrowed the phrase. Countless sermons have been preached about it, and generations of people have been challenged by its extraordinary vision of compassion crossing boundaries of race, religion and hostility.

Yet there is no reason to think Jesus was reporting an incident that had actually happened. So there was probably no wounded traveller, identifiable priest or innkeeper waiting to be interviewed.

Jesus was telling a story, and almost nobody considers that a problem.

That raises a fascinating question, because Christians sometimes become extremely nervous…