The Three Typologies of Man Reflected in the Parable of the Merciful Samaritan
The Three Typologies of Man Reflected in the Parable of the Merciful Samaritan

Summary/Abstract: The Parable of the Merciful Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) stands among the most influential narratives of the New Testament, offering a profound theological and anthropological reflection on neighbourly love, human responsibility, and compassion. This study examines the Lucan parable through a tripartite anthropological framework that identifies three fundamental forms of human relationality: man against man, man beside man, and man for man. These typologies are embodied respectively by the robbers, the priest and the Levite, and the Samaritan. Methodologically, the article combines literary and exegetical analysis of the biblical text with patristic interpretation and contemporary theological scholarship. Particular attention is given to the ethical and anthropological implications of the narrative, highlighting how the parable reveals the tension between violence and mercy, indifference and solidarity, exclusion and compassionate engagement. The study argues that the originality of the Lucan narrative lies in its redefinition of neighbourliness. Rather than answering the question, “Who is my neighbour?”, Jesus redirects attention toward the responsibility of becoming a neighbour to those in need. In this perspective, neighbourly love is no longer understood as an abstract moral principle or a social obligation limited by ethnic or religious boundaries, but as a concrete vocation expressed through acts of mercy. The article contributes to contemporary discussions in biblical anthropology and Lucan studies by demonstrating that the three anthropological typologies provide a coherent interpretative framework for understanding the human condition as portrayed in the parable. Ultimately, the Samaritan emerges not merely as a moral exemplar but as a paradigm of authentic humanity, revealing that genuine human fulfilment is realized through self-giving love and responsible solidarity with the suffering other.

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