Gospels and Parables

Abstract

Lenin and the Gospel parables: Is that not a strange conjunction, especially from one who was often quite dismissive of religion, let alone Christian theology and the Bible? Nonetheless, a careful reading of Lenin’s texts reveals a persistent preference for the parables and sayings that we find in Jesus’s mouth. In order to examine the nature and function of these engagements, I begin with a detailed assessment of What Is to Be Done? (WITBD) (1902p)1 where the key organizing parable is that of the wheat and tares (or weeds) from Matthew 13. Lenin draws upon this parable in order to rethink the organization of the RSDLP, specifically in response to opponents, in terms of the need for discernment, vigorous and open argument, and the dialectic of illegal and legal organization. I unpick the central role of this parable in Lenin’s text, a parable he would cite on a number of occasions after the publication of WITBD in order to indicate the core of his argument.2 Yet, this exploration is only the first step of my argument, for Lenin’s engagement with the parable of the tares and the wheat is not an isolated occurrence. He goes on to draw upon other biblical parables and sayings, especially those of an agricultural nature with a focus on seeds, growing, and harvesting. Furthermore, Lenin creates a large number of his own parables, at times drawn from Russian folklore and literature, at times developed from an opponent’s writing, but mostly of his own creation. Not only does Lenin turn out to be a creative and innovative exegete, appropriating, redirecting, and providing new angles on the biblical texts, but he also deploys the genre of parables throughout his writings. All of this biblical engagement cannot avoid the question as to why he does so, a question I seek to answer in the final section of the chapter.3