This is a summary on the biblical account of the jonah and the big fish. The message of the book of jonah christian articles. As is the case with all the prophets of god jonah came to nineveh to call the people to worship one god. God sends jonah to the notoriously evil city of nineveh jonah 1. Jonah is one of the most striking examples of a heart in need of expansion. Top 5 commentaries on the book of jonah ligonier ministries. Beautifully balanced, deep and profound jonah s adventure opens a window into the heart of god. One teacher of israel says the story of jonah is more about repentance than it is about the fish. The book of jonah is one of three old testament books especially hated by satan. Bible need to know is a recurring feature that digs into the story behind the bible stories to learn more check out our jonah. In his article, he attacked the book of jonah by stating. This summary of the book of jonah provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of jonah.
The second school of thought and the majority position in modern scholarship is that the story of jonah is a parable, arguing that the didactic nature of the book stresses the narrowness of nationalism, the universalism of god, or other various ideas that might comply well with a parable format bullock, 52. Moreover, some critics argue that the book of jonah depicts the prophet as being swallowed by a great fish jon. Second, it is a short story, comparable to other short stories also found in the bible e. Dec 19, 2015 the book of jonah includes the famous story of the great fish often erroneously thought of as a whale has led many to dismiss this book as merely a biblical fish story. List of books and articles about book of jonah online. Jonah was a real prophet and is mentioned in 2 kings 14. He spoke of a god free from any partners, sons, daughters or co equals and implored the people to stop worshipping idols and engaging. Some look to jesus reference to jonah in matthew 12. 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. We really dont have any idea who wrote it and the book doesnt really offer any clues as to who might have written it. God protected jonah and saved him, not because he was such a good man, but because he wanted to teach him a great lesson. The book of jonah, one of the best known of the biblical tales, is much more than a childrens fable.
The story of the prophet jonah is recorded in the book of jonah, which is part of the bible, and is read in the synagogue every year on the day of atonement. Jonah is a wellknown figure in the old testament, who is responsible for writing the 32nd book most likely between 793 and 758 bc. Others believe jonah is read on yom kippur with the hope that listeners would learn from jonah s mistakes. Stek, the message of the book of jonah, calvin theological journal 4 1969 2350, defending the importance of historical perspective in prophetic narrative. Some explain that jonah is evidence that no one can escape the presence of god, even while trying to run from the almighty. Jonah hated this idea because nineveh was one of israels greatest enemies and jonah wanted nothing to do with preaching to them. It is demons which produce famine, unfruitfulness, corruptions of the air, and pestilences. I was at mass on sunday and the priest said the jonah story was a fable. Renowned islamic scholar, ibn kathir calls it nineveh. The book of jonah is a subversive story about a rebellious prophet who despises his god for loving his enemies.
While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man. Of course, a story like this is the kind of story that likely would have originated with the person its about. Dec 03, 2012 some look to jesus reference to jonah in matthew 12. Identified in verse 1 as the son of amittai, jonah came from a town called gathhepher, near nazareth in the area that later came to be known as galilee 2 kings. Date since jonah prophesied during the reign of jeroboam ii 782753 b. God called to jonah one day and told him to go preach to nineveh because the people were very wicked. It is a story about the messenger, not necessarily the message.
The bible is full of men and women who, despite their best efforts, suffer from a chronic lack of love. This article is part of the christ in all of scripture series. The story of jonah and the whale, one of the oddest accounts in the bible, opens with god speaking to jonah, son of amittai, commanding him to preach repentance to. On the surface, the story of jonah lends itself to a moralistic. At this time another prophet, named jonah, was giving the word of the lord to the israelites. Others believe jonah is read on yom kippur with the hope that listeners would learn from jonahs mistakes. The only times that the name occurs in the bible are in this reference in 2 kings, in the book of jonah itself, and in the new testament references to that 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. The simple, expansive story of jonah thin difference. In my book mystery of the magi i confronted the issue of whether the story of the magi is no more than a parable. Interestingly, the book of jonah consists of only 4 chapters, 48 verses, and just over 1,300 words. This article is part of the christ in all of scripture series delayed obedience. Apr 12, 2016 the book of jonah is a subversive story about a rebellious prophet who despises his god for loving his enemies. God called jonah to preach repentance to the people of ninevah, but jonah didnt want the people to repent, so he ran from god. The bible and medicine the bible was also a source of medical practice. It is an important book to both religious traditions christianity and jewish. Well, not unless you read the story of prophet jonah. Almost everyone has heard the story of the huge sea creature that swallowed. You will also remember how god provided jonah with a living submarine to get him back where he belonged.
Jonah and the whale is a favorite story among children. Professor settle listed several alleged inaccuracies contained in the book. The book of jonah, containing the wellknown story of jonah in the stomach of a fish for three days, is a narrative about a reluctant prophet. In this article, you will learn more about jonah and how his story is. 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. Jonah archives childrens bible activities sunday school.
The book of jonah is not just a story about a runaway prophet and a huge fish. On the surface, the story of jonah lends itself to a moralistic interpretation. It is a mistake to assume that events and actions of the book are not historical in nature. The book of jonah stands unique in the prophetical canon, in that it does not contain any predictions, but simply relates the story of its hero, beginning for that reason with waye. Pastor tullian enlivens a short book in the bible with strength and context which delivers meaning for us today. Jack zavada is a writer who covers the bible, theology, and other christianity topics. Sep 02, 2017 watch other amazing bible stories like birth of jesus, cain ad abel, noahs ark, joseph, moses and many more this is a summary on the biblical account of the jonah and the. The book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. List of books and articles about book of jonah online research. The book of jonah includes the famous story of the great fish often erroneously thought of as a whale has led many to dismiss this book as merely a biblical fish story. The book of jonah is the fifth book in the christian canons and the jewish tanakh. But, as every bible student knows, his plans were soon thwarted. His tale is often referred to as jonah and the whale, but many people are unaware of the background of the popular sunday school tale.
T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. The book of jonah, containing the wellknown story of jonah in the stomach of a fish for three days, is a narrative about as the story is related in the book of jonah, the prophet jonah is called by god to go to nineveh a great assyrian city and prophesy disaster because of the citys. What you need to know about the book of jonah digitalcommons. This fifth book of the twelve minor prophets contains no oracles and is thus unique among prophetic books. The book is named after its principal character, whose name means dove. I think the argument can be made that if jonah was written as historical fiction, where it was meant to teach godly lessons, jesus conversation would still make sense since he was a jew talking to a group of jews. 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. Origen c 185c 254 ce, one of the early church fathers, advises that. The book of jonah is more than just a delightful story for children. First, jonah is a narrativea story, comparable to other narrative sections of the bible such as those found in genesis or judges. Identified in verse 1 as the son of amittai, jonah came from a town called gath hepher, near nazareth in the area that later came to be known as galilee 2 kings. Watch other amazing bible stories like birth of jesus, cain ad abel, noahs ark, joseph, moses and many more this is a summary on.
The book of jonah is written as though it is real history. A story that, when understood, gives us hope that there will be more to our story than there was to jonahs. Jan 18, 2016 this is a summary on the biblical account of the jonah and the big fish. Jonah is first and foremost about a gracious god in relentless pursuit of those he loves. Jonah is identified as a prophet and servant of god during the reign of king jeroboam ii of israel 2 kings 14. It tells the story of a prophet called by god to preach repentance to the city of nineveh. This article provides a brief discussion on these issues and where. 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. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of jonah in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. That doesnt necessarily mean that jonah wrote the book. It is incredible that one could be alive for three days in a fishs belly.
The story of jonah as allegory, parable or history. According to the second book of kings, jonah lived during the reign c. As with any good narrative, the story of jonah has a setting, characters, a plot, and. Well, its complicated, and it raises a very interesting question about how we read the bible. Some, however, dispute the credibility of this story.
It is quite interesting in this regard to compare the case of jonah with another of the prophets, obadiah. Notice all through this story that, although jonah was gods servant, he was always thinking about himself. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. Now he obeys and goes to nineveh, the capital of israels ancient enemy. Context makes a difference in conversation, but also when we read the bible. Introduction jonah is one of the most ridiculed books by liberal scholars. 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. The book of jonah cannot be accepted as history settle, b4.
Jonah was a reluctant prophet, but this dramatic story shows how god can accomplish his will in our lives even when we refuse to obey. There is only one jonah in the bible, and he is an historical person. You can read more indepth bible verses from the scripture below and use the articles and videos to understand the meaning behind this teachable event in the bible. Ive heard people tell a story from the time that such an event actually occurred about a hundred years ago. Jonahs own telling of the story after his return from nineveh. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. As he points out, the story of jonah is the only one in which the story is about the prophet. Jesus christ laid his credibility on the line when he said, for as jonas was three days and three nights in the whales belly. 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. Article pdf available december 2016 with 597 reads. And, as any schoolboy knows, a whale is a mammal, not a fish. This article is brought to you for free and open access by the willmington.