Dives and Lazarus or Lazarus and Dives is a parable^[1] attributed to Jesus that is reported only in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 16:19-16:31). It is also known as "The Rich Man and the Beggar Lazarus." The wealthy man is traditionally called "Dives", after the Latin word for "rich man" (though in the Biblical text he is only referred to as the rich man).^[2] The story has been a favorite for artists and theologians, as it is the most vivid account of an afterlife to be found in the New Testament. Chaucer's Summoner observes that "Dives and Lazarus lived differently, and their rewards were different."^[3] // A parable is a brief, succinct story, in prose or verse, that illustrates a moral or religious lesson. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... The Gospel of Luke is the third of the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament, which tell the story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection. ... Spoiler warning: The afterlife, or life after death, is a generic term referring to a continuation of existence, typically spiritual, experiential, or ghost-like, beyond this world, or after death. ... Chaucer: Illustration from Cassells History of England, circa 1902 Chanticleer the rooster from an outdoor production of Chanticleer and the Fox at Ashby_de_la_Zouch castle Geoffrey Chaucer (ca. ... The Summoners Tale is one of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. ...

The story

The story is as follows:

Lazarus and Dives, illumination from the Codex Aureus of Echternach
Top panel: Lazarus at the rich man's door
Middle panel: Lazarus' soul is carried to Paradise by two angels; Lazarus in Abraham's bosom
Bottom panel: Dives' soul is carried off by two devils to Hell; Dives is tortured in Hell

Early Christianity

Hippolytus of Rome (ca. AD 200) describes Hades with similar details: the bosom of Abraham for the souls of the righteous, fiery torment for the souls of wicked, and a chasm between them^[5]. He equates the fires of Hades with the lake of fire described in the book of Revelation, but specifies that no one will actually be cast into the fire until the end times. In Greek mythology, Hippolytus was a son of Theseus and either Antiope or Hippolyte. ... The soul, according to many religious and philosophical traditions, is the self-aware essence unique to a particular living being. ... In the Book of Revelation, the beast, the false prophet, the Satan, death, hades, and all those whose names arent written in the Book of Life are thrown into the lake of fire[1]. In some interpretations, the servants of iniquity are tortured forever in the lake. ... Visions of John of Patmos, as depicted in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. ...

Medieval tradition

The story was frequently told in an elaborated form in the Medieval period, and Lazarus was venerated as a patron saint of lepers by the Roman Catholic Church.^[6] In the twelfth century, crusaders in the Latin Kingdom founded the Order of Saint Lazarus. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Saint Quentin is the patron saint of locksmiths and is also invoked against coughs and sneezes. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... This article concerns the former religious order. ...

Chaucer's Summoner observes that "Dives and Lazarus lived differently, and their rewards were different."^[7] Chaucer: Illustration from Cassells History of England, circa 1902 Chanticleer the rooster from an outdoor production of Chanticleer and the Fox at Ashby_de_la_Zouch castle Geoffrey Chaucer (ca. ... The Summoners Tale is one of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. ...

In song

Richard Crashaw wrote a metaphysical stanza for his Steps to the Temple in 1646 entitled, "Upon Lazarus His Tears": Richard Crashaw (c. ... The Metaphysical poets were a loose group of British lyric poets of the 17th century, who shared an interest in metaphysical concerns and a common way of investigating them. ...

"Rich Lazarus! richer in those gems, thy tears,

Than Dives in the robes he wears:

He scorns them now, but oh they'll suit full well

With the purple he must wear in hell."

The story appeared as an English folk song (oldest written documentation from 1557^[8]), with the depiction of the afterlife altered to fit Christian tradition. The song was also published as the Child ballad Dives and Lazarus in the 19th century.^[9] North American slaves sang a spiritual about Lazarus and Dives.^[10] In 1939, Vaughan Williams composed an orchestral piece based on this story. The Child Ballads are a collection of 305 ballads from England and Scotland, and their American variants, collected by Francis James Child. ... This article is about a traditional popular ballad about a legend. ... == Historical background on spiritual music Spirituals were often expressions of religious faith, although they may also have served as socio-political protests veiled as assimilation to white, American culture. ... Ralph Vaughan Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams, OM (October 12, 1872 – August 26, 1958) was an influential English composer. ...

Interpretations

The parable illustrates a theme common to several of Jesus's parables: the treatment of the least of society is the true measure of piety. The rich man's claims to external virtue and legal satisfaction could not compensate for his neglect of the poor man. Jesus taught, repeatedly, that the Kingdom of God is within the soul and not in the law, in contrast to the Pharisean understanding of the Messiah. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Kingdom of God or Reign of... In Judaism, the Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ Standard Hebrew Arabic: , المسيح), Tiberian Hebrew , Aramaic ) initially meant any person who was anointed to a certain position among the ancient Israelites, at first that of High priest, later that of King and also that of a prophet. ...

What makes this parable even more poignant is that the author of the Gospel is apparently also the author of the Acts of the Apostles, which relates the events after the Resurrection (or at very least, is aware of the resurrection). The readers are aware that not only do they have the words of Moses and the Prophets but that someone returned from death, too. Further, for early Christians, the parable answers the question of why, after the resurrection, Jesus did not preach and give new warnings to the living. The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. ... Look up Resurrection in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up Pentateuch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Neviim [נביאים] (Heb: Prophets) is the second of the three major sections in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), following the Torah and preceding Ketuvim (writings). ...

The parable is unique in that, unlike others where Jesus referred to the characters as "a certain man", "a sower", etc., one of the characters was referred to by name. There is a minority view which holds that, because of this, the story isn't a parable, but a reference to a real beggar named Lazarus and a real wealthy individual.

Afterlife doctrine

Christians debate what the story says about the afterlife. Most Christians believe in particular judgment and see the story as consistent with it. Eastern Orthodox Christians see the story as consistent with their belief in Hades, where the righteous and unrighteous alike await the resurrection of the dead. (The word translated as Hell in the story is Hades.) Western Christians usually interpret Lazarus as being in Heaven or Limbo and the rich man in Hell. Spoiler warning: The afterlife, or life after death, is a generic term referring to a continuation of existence, typically spiritual, experiential, or ghost-like, beyond this world, or after death. ... In Christian eschatology, particular judgment is the doctrine that immediately after death the eternal destiny of each separated soul is decided by the just judgment of God. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... In some Christian traditions, hades is the abode of the dead where the righteous and unrighteous alike await resurrection and judgment. ... // Main article: Jewish eschatology Orthodox Judaism holds that belief in the Resurrection of the Dead is one of the cardinal principles of the Jewish faith. ... Medieval illustration of Hell in the Hortus deliciarum manuscript of Herrad of Landsberg (about 1180) Hell, according to many religious beliefs, is an afterlife of suffering where the wicked or unrighteous dead are punished. ... Hades, Greek god of the underworld, enthroned, with his bird-headed staff, on a red-figure Apulian vase made in the 4th century BC. For other uses, see Hades (disambiguation). ... This article is about the theological concept. ...

Instead of particular judgment, some Christians believe in soul sleep and general judgment only. Proponents of general judgment, for example Seventh-day Adventists and Christian Universalists, argue that this is a parable referring to Jewish and Gentile views of the Messiah. Other advocates of general judgment simply say that it is a parable that is devoted to morality, not the afterlife. Soul sleep is a belief held by some Christians claiming that between death and the resurrection of the dead, the body and soul rest together in unconsciousness. ... General judgment is the Christian theological concept of a judgment of the souls of the dead by nation and as a whole. ... The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated Adventist) Church is a Christian denomination with a worldwide membership of over 14 million and an active presence in most countries of the world. ... In comparative religion, a universalist religion is one that holds itself true for all people; it thus allows all to join, regardless of ethnicity. ...

In the secular view, the story represents the 1st-century Jewish belief in Sheol ("Hades" in Greek, as in this passage). Sheol was said to be where all (or almost all) the dead went. In Sheol, some would rest in peace and others would suffer while waiting for Judgment Day. in this story, Lazarus and the rich man both go to Sheol, where the dead are divided according to their virtue. Lazarus goes to the place of comfort with Abraham while Dives is tortured in fire. Captain Andrew Drake (1684-1743) sandstone tombstone from the Stelton Baptist Church Cemetery in Edison, New Jersey Jarvis Andrew Lattin (1853-1941) granite tombstone from Powell Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York A headstone, tombstone or gravestone is a permanent marker, normally carved from stone, placed over or next to the...

In popular culture

Dives is also called Diversus in some versions, such as that performed by Steeleye Span on their album "They Called Her Babylon". Steeleye Span are a British folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. ... They Called Her Babylon is an album by the folk rock band Steeleye Span. ...

The Christian metal band Whitecross performed a song called "No Second Chances" telling the story of Lazarus the beggar. Whitecross circa 1988. ...

Views of historicity

There are a wide arrays of views on the historicity and origin of the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus.^[11] The story is unique to Luke and does not appear to come from the putative Q document, and therefore there have been questions about sources. The Q document or Q (from the German Quelle, source) is a postulated lost textual source for the Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of Luke. ...

As a literal, historical event

Some Christians view the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man as an actual event which was related by Jesus to his followers.^[12] According to this view, this story is not a parable but literal biography. Supporters of this view point to the amount of detail in the story. For example, in no other parable does Jesus give a character's name.

As a parable created by Jesus

Most Christians consider that this is a parable created by Jesus and told to his followers.^[13] Proponents of this view argue that the story of Lazarus and the rich man has much in common with other stories which are agreed upon parables, both in language and content (e.g. the reversal of fortunes, the use of antithesis, and concern for the poor).

As a mixture of Jesus and early Christian material

A third view says that the bulk of the parable was told by Jesus but was supplemented with later additions of material composed by others after Jesus's crucifixion. In this view, the early part of the story (Luke 16:19-26) is a parable told by Jesus, while the concluding verses (27-31) represent material added to the story by early Christians. In these verses, the rich man requests Lazarus be raised from the dead so as to serve as warning to the rich man's living brothers. For proponents of interpolation, this is an allegorical reference to the rejection of early Christianity by mainstream Judaism.^{[citation needed]}

As originated by Luke

A fourth view holds that the story was not told by Jesus. Proponents of this view suggest that it is significant that only the Gospel of Luke mentions Jesus telling the story (see Synoptic Gospels). The story fits well with Luke's emphasis on care for the poor and therefore they suggest that it may be an authorial insertion.^{[citation needed]} The Synoptic Gospels is a term used by modern New Testament scholars for the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke of the New Testament in the Bible. ...

See also

• Lazaretto

A lazaretto or lazaret is a quarantine station for maritime travellers. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Lazarus and Dives

• An In-Depth Look at the Rich Man and Lazarus from a Universalist Perspective

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

References

1. ^ Whether this account is a parable or biography is a matter of contention among Christians.
2. ^ Luke, chapter 16 verse 19. The Bible - Latin Vulgate. Vatican. Retrieved on 2006-06-30. - "homo quidam erat dives et induebatur purpura et bysso et epulabatur cotidie splendide"
3. ^ The Summoners's Prologue and Tale , line 1877 - "Lazar and Dives lyveden diversly, And divers gerdon hadden they therby."
4. ^ Greek: Hades
5. ^ Against Plato, On the Cause of the Universe
6. ^ Lazarus on the Catholic Community Forum.
7. ^ The Summoners's Prologue and Tale , line 1877 - "Lazar and Dives lyveden diversly, And divers gerdon hadden they therby."
8. ^ Francis James Child, The English and Scottish popular Ballads, Part IV, 1886; referring to (inter alia) Arber, Registers of the Company of Stationers
9. ^ anonymous; from Child ballad 56 A, from Sylvester: a Garland of Christmas Carols, from an old Birmingham broadside. Dives and Lazarus. The Oxford Book of Ballads, 1910. Bartleby.com. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.
10. ^ Poor man Lazarus. Repertoire. crescendoalpesto.ch. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.
11. ^ Multiple sources summarized at Jesus Database
12. ^ e.g. Webpage which argues that Lazarus and the rich man is literally true.
13. ^ eg The IVP Bible Background Commentary, Tom Wright's Luke for Everyone and Joachim Jeremias's The Parables of Jesus all refers to it as a "Parable"