While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man. For further discussion of the theological significance of the day of yahweh as a theological theme in the book of the twelve, see also paul r. The name jonah is derived from the hebrew word yonah meaning dove. Basically, the book of jonah is a unified narrative. Book of jonah, the fifth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, embraced in a single book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. Jonah, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of biblical. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. This quote from authors william lasor, david hubbard and frederic bush is important in our understanding of the book of jonah. Certainly, god desired jonah to proclaim a message to nineveh in the hopes that they would turn from their wicked ways.
Modern scholars are divided as to whether jonah composed the prayer during his time in the fish or recorded it later the text does not make it clear, and its not important to make a distinction. Authorship and date the international standard bible encyclopedia, revised. Cary thinks that the gourd represents the royal davidic line. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point 1. He ignores a series of questions seeking to ascertain his nationality 1. Theology is a practical, not a merely theoretical discipline. The series was designed to develop the theological significance of the old testament and to emphasize the relevance of each book for the life of the church. In recent years, jonah has seen an explosion of critical and favorable attention. The book of jonah is unique among the prophets in that it relates episodes from the life of jonah instead of being a collection of oracles. During the opening session, david allen, dean of the school of theology at southwestern, stressed the importance of preaching the book of jonah because it reveals the missionary heart of god.
Jonah 2 is packed almost completely with a prayer connected to jonahs experiences while waiting in the belly of the great fish that had swallowed him. Jonah is a book that probes the perplexing question of why gods mercy is sometimes dispensed to people who do not seem to deserve it. The chapter divisions mark the natural divisions of the book. Jonah by phillip cary meet your next favorite book. I welcome your feedback and insights into these important books of the bible. It is true his conviction seemed profound, his conversion genuine, his obedience new and generousbut love, which fulfils all. Nov 21, 2012 although the book of jonah is not about world missions, the theme of gods mission to the world is definitely present in the book. It is not, indeed, likely that we shall find a full system of.
The book of jonah is a missionary book, teaching that the love of. In phillip carys 2008 commentary on jonah, he shows that those who have the courage and humility to let jonahs story confront them will be challenged to deepen their understanding of gods mercy and wrestle once again with the meaning of the proclamation in exodus. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. Jonah, the book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. The book of jonah is a missionary book, teaching that the love of god embraces the whole human race, allen said. Overview jonah, book of the international standard bible encyclopedia, revised introduction the new american commentary. What is the meaning of the biblical story of jonah in. One is clearly reflected on the surface, and in the depths, of the story. The book of jonah is the fifth book in the christian canons and the. Sep 21, 2015 this post continues some of my work sharing the significance and application of specific books of the bible. Set in the reign of jeroboam ii 786746 bc, it was probably written in the postexilic period, some time between the late 5th to early 4th century bc. Now he obeys and goes to nineveh, the capital of israels ancient enemy. Page seek to bring the message of these prophets alive and applicable to 21st century readers while also studying the context of the message to its first hearers. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man.
Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. If you said boaz, youd be in good company since many have linked the messianic significance of ruth to boaz, the goel, as a typological foreshadowing of jesus the christ, our redeemer. In congruence with other volumes in the new american commentary series, this volume brings to light the theological significance. The date of the book a critical and exegetical commentary on jonah. In this essay, to further treat its tripartite theme, we will analyze and consider the book of jonahs historical context, literary milieu, and theological purpose and significance. You will also find options for commentaries on jonah that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the bible, commentaries that approach the scripture versebyverse, classic christian commentaries, and much more. The book of jonah, therefore, is a statement made through the wonderful medium of the story of jonah of gods compassion even of a pagan people like the ninevites who were enemies of the jews. This little roll of four short chapters has given rise to almost as much discussion and difference of opinion as the first four chapters of genesis. It differs from them in that while they for the most part contain prophetic discourses, with a minimum of narrative material, the book of jonah is mainly occupied with a narrative, and the prophetic message in it is almost incidental. Regardless of our views and opinoins of jonah, there is much to be learned regarding from this famous prophet and his journey in the belly of a whale. Date and purpose the books of joel, obadiah, jonah, and micah. One of the most intriguing facets of studying the book of jonah is locating its historical setting.
Here we learn by the highest example, that of god himself, how mild and gentle we ought to be if we would be like him, even to those who carry themselves toward us in. Jonah brazos theological commentary on the bible kindle. The book of jonah appears to have served less purpose in the qumran community than other texts, as the writings make no. Stek, the message of the book of jonah, calvin theological journal 4 1969 2350, defending the importance of historical perspective in prophetic narrative. It is true the man who said, i will not, afterward repented and went. The book is replete with irony, wherein much of its humor lies. It would be presumptuous to think that one could, in a brief article, speak the final word on the questions in debate. You will also remember how god provided jonah with a living submarine to get him back where he belonged. The primary purpose of the book of jonah is to engage readers in theological reflection on the compas sionate character of god, and in selfreflection on the.
Jonah, gods objectionable mercy, and the way of wisdom. Jonah, theology of dictionary definition, verses and bible references on the topic. A call to personal responsibility, tradition 30, no. Introduction to jonah a critical and exegetical commentary on jonah. Each section begins with the same command given by the lord to jonah and each ends with a statement about the lords. It concerns a disobedient prophet who rejected his divine commission, was cast overboard in a storm and swallowed by a great fish, rescued in a marvelous manner, and returned to his starting point. Jonahs reluctance to bring that message mirrors the israelites equally stubborn disinterest in the relation of the assyrians to god. Determining date and authorship of jonah remains problematic, as explicit references do not exist within the narrative. Pdf a biblical theology of jonah herald gandi academia. Whether or not one agrees with cary, this is an interesting and provocative move, and bathes the book of jonah in a different light. The book of jonah is the fifth book in the christian canons and the jewish tanakh. T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. Jonah ben amittai prophesied the victories which made possible israels golden age in the reign of jeroboam ii c.
Theology of the book of jonah 381 but there yet remains the saddest feature of the sin of jonah. Praise for previous volumes in the brazos theological commentary on the bible the significance of these commentaries and the series they inaugurate is manifold, because they promise not only to serve as a means for sifting the wheat and chaff of much recently accumulated hermeneutical theory but also to offer the commentary a place at the theological table it has had difficulty attaining. Oct 15, 2008 cary approaches jonah with both literary and theological sensitivity, pointing out relevant storytelling and rhetorical features, bringing the rest of the christian canon into conversation with the text, and reflecting on how the book of jonah might have challenged those who first encountered it. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. This is a volume on three of the minor prophet books of the old testament. In the historical account of jonah, the lord brings glory to himself by using elements. The problem of repentance and relapse as a unifying theme in. The central purpose of the book of jonah is to reveal the attributes of god. The book of jonah, while being a complete book in itself, does not stand on its own. Yet block argues, if any character in the book functions typologically as the messiah it should be obed ruth 4.
The new american commentary is for those who have been seeking a commentary that honors the scriptures, represents the finest in contemporary evangelical scholarship. It tells of a hebrew prophet named jonah son of amittai who is sent by god to prophesy the destruction of nineveh but tries to escape the divine mission. The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. It is an important book to both religious traditions christianity and jewish. That the book of jonah has a theology cannot be doubted. In his book, dr jione havea analyses the book of jonah through the lens of climate change, using this present situation to reconsider the significance of jonah for contemporary struggles and contexts, and tapping into traditional practices of commentary to draw out the meaning of the biblical text. The book of jonah is short, but its brevity does nothing to reduce the significance of the theological questions it raises. Finally, the book of jonah reminds us that theological understanding is. The book of jonah preface those of you who are familiar with the story of jonah and the whale know that jonah hopped a ship heading in the opposite direction when god commanded him to go preach to the ninevites. In phillip carys 2008 commentary on jonah, he shows that those who have the courage and humility to let jonahs story confront them will be challenged to deepen their understanding of gods mercy and wrestle once again with the meaning of the proclamation in exodus 34.
The significance and application of the book of jonah. He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth. A firm principle in biblical study is that, even in a clearly historical passage, the theological message is more important than historical details. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of jonah in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Atla religion database with atlaserials, ebscohost accessed. The significance of wisdom in relation to biblical study can be conceived in at least two. When these three perspectivesthe historical, theological, and literary significance of textsare applied to the book of jonah, various themes are centralized, such as the mercy of god and his desire to have his people serve as mediators of his grace. God does not desire that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance 1 tim 2. Preaching workshop unpacks book of jonah southwestern. If jonah is not the author, then the book slanders the character of the 8thcent.
The story of jonah has numerous theological implications, and this has long been recognized. Finally, the book of jonah reminds us that theological understanding is exemplified in a persons attitudes and actions. Unfortunate or not, the book of jonah, which may best be understood as a parable, is included in the section known as neviim in the hebrew bible tanach and the prophetic books, the twelve, in english versions of the bible. The book of jonah is not a story about jew and gentile but about how god. The international theological commentary is designed as a commentary for christian educators and pastors, setting a standard as a theological commentary with excellent scholarship and a high view of scripture. It is one of trei asar the twelve prophets in the tanakh, and in christian tradition as oi dodeka prophetai or ton dodekapropheton, greek for the twelve prophets. Substantive work, while differing through the centuries, has been dedicated to the book of jonah. In congruence with other volumes in the new american commentary series, this volume brings to light the theological significance of these seemingly insignificant minor prophets. Fifth in the canonical order of the minor prophets. The fluidity of christian theological understanding of the book of jonah has created wide gaps, even among likeminded theologians. The theology of the book of jonah chicago journals. What a mild reproof was this from god, for such a passionate behaviour as jonah manifested. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. Jonah, gods objectionable mercy, and the way of wisdom the.
Apr 04, 2020 in this essay, to further treat its tripartite theme, we will analyze and consider the book of jonahs historical context, literary milieu, and theological purpose and significance. Here the prophet experienced that jehovah was a gracious god, merciful, and slow to anger. Jonah, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of. Jonah is the central character in the book of jonah, in which god commands him to go to the city of nineveh to prophesy against it for their great wickedness is come up before me, but jonah instead attempts to flee from the presence of the lord by going to jaffa and sailing to tarshish. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonahs character is anything but dovelike.
The problem of repentance and relapse as a unifying theme. The book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name the prophet as the author of his own account, but we have no reason to doubt either the inspiration or the historical veracity of the book. Most modern scholars, other than conservative ones, reject the traditional belief that jonah wrote the book. So based on the date and message of the book of jonah, the view of this commentary is that jonah is the originator of the story, but it was passed down orally for several hundred years, being modified and changed over time, until it was eventually recorded by a later author who lived in judea during the postexilic time period, and was using the. Our theological enterprises must therefore be judged at least in part by their fruit. Best jonah commentaries updated for 2020 best bible.