Barlaam and Ioasaph · Chapter
Chapter XIV: The Parable of the King for a Year explained
Ioasaph asks Barlaam for another parable about the vanity of the world.
What happens
Ioasaph asks Barlaam for another parable about the vanity of the world. Barlaam tells the story of a city where a foreigner is made king for a year, then stripped and exiled to a barren island. A wise king learns of this custom in advance and sends his treasure ahead to the island, so that when he is banished he lives in plenty. Barlaam explains that the city is the world, the citizens are demonic powers, and he himself is the wise counselor urging Ioasaph to lay up treasure in heaven. He recounts his own conversion, his realization of the world's instability, and his choice to follow God's commandments.
Themes in this chapter
Renunciation of Worldly Wealth
The parable and Barlaam's commentary emphasize sending treasure ahead to the eternal island, symbolizing the renunciation of earthly riches in favor of heavenly treasure.
Divine Providence and Free Will
The wise king uses his free will to learn the truth and act prudently, while Barlaam describes his own deliberate choice to follow God's commandments after recognizing the world's vanity.
Idolatry vs. True Worship
Barlaam contrasts the deceptive worship of worldly pleasures and powers with the true worship of God, who alone provides eternal security.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“I once heard tell of a great city whose citizens had, from old time, the custom of taking some foreigner and stranger, who knew nothing of their laws and traditions, and of making him their king, to enjoy absolute power, and follow his own will and pleasure without hindrance, until the completion of a year.”
There was a city where the people habitually chose a foreigner as king, giving him total freedom for one year.
Barlaam introduces the parable of the temporary king.
“Understand thou, therefore, that the city is this vain and deceitful world; that the citizens are the principalities and powers of the devils, the rulers of the darkness of this world, who entice us by the soft bait of pleasure.”
The city represents the deceptive world, and the citizens are demonic forces that lure us with pleasure.
Barlaam explains the allegorical meaning of the parable.
“As for that good counsellor, who made known all the truth and taught that sagacious and wise king the way of salvation, understand thou that I, thy poor and humble servant, am he.”
I am that wise counselor who revealed the truth and showed the king the path to salvation.
Barlaam identifies himself as the counselor in the parable.