You can find the best commentary on jonah for you using the tools on the right side. Feb 28, 2009 the book of jonah, on the other hand, is a biographical prose narrative focusing almost exclusively on the prophet himself. Jonahs experiences form the main contents and purpose of the book. However, here are many differences between jonah and jesus, and one of the greatest. To the believer it is not only true, but it displays the heart, mercy and power of god. This summary of the book of jonah provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of jonah. Jonah was a prophet in the land of israel about 800750 bc. This opening sermon on a series in the book of jonah is designed to encourage believers to look beyond the. The foundational source for the book was likely jonah s own telling of the story after his return from nineveh. Now he obeys and goes to nineveh, the capital of israels ancient enemy. Classic texts that discuss questions of inconsistency from a critical secular perspective include the tractatus theologicopoliticus by baruch spinoza, the dictionnaire philosophique of voltaire, the encyclopedie of denis diderot and the. Why was jonah angry that the ninevites repented jonah 4.
The bible was written a long time ago, and there wasnt a lot of knowledge back then. The historicity and assyrian background of the book of jonah. Isaac asimov all scripture is given by inspiration of god, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. If we would get good by our troubles, we must notice the hand of god in them. Ham and his team hope that their easytoread book will help christians to refute any alleged bible contradictions. For an explanation of the history of salvation, see the overview of the bible, pp. The commentary clearly expounds the book s message in harmony with the rest of the scriptures. And yet we have jonah, a clear example of god changing his mind and not. One can only place jonah in the category of fables if one starts out with the prejudice that miracles, such as described in this story, are impossible.
David kimchi was an important scholar of hebrew grammar and wrote michlol, an early comprehensive study of it. Jonah 1, new international version niv the bible app. But the bible is replete with contradictions and inconsistencies. The book of jonah recounts real events in the life and ministry of the prophet himself. So, if there are inconsistencies it counts against the bible, and if there were no inconsistencies, it would still count against the bible. David guzik commentary on jonah 1, where jonah receives a call from god, but decides to. Jonah, the book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. The prophetic significance of this book not only lies in the short message in nineveh but also in the entire history of jonah described in his book.
Claims of supposed inconsistencies in the bible, mostly pushed by atheists, have contributed to a rise in the number of young people leaving the faith. The more definite form of the denunciation implies that nineveh has now almost filled up the measure of her guilt. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. The lord jesus explains jonah was a prophetic sign mat.
The entire book of revelation has been scrapped, as god changed his mind. Top 5 commentaries on the book of jonah ligonier ministries. Unpublished class notes in 103 introduction to hebrew exegesis. He went down to joppa and found a ship going to tarshish. Jan 02, 2020 jonah was the son of amittai, who came from gathhepher in zebulun called gittahhepher in joshua 19. Jonah is regarded as a prophet in islam and the biblical narrative of jonah is repeated, with a few notable differences, in the quran. Jonah 3 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible.
Not only did the prophet jonah refuse his gods will, but he pouted and scorned god when he didnt get his way. 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. The internal consistency of the bible concerns the coherence and textual integrity of the bible. 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.
Literary characteristics unlike most other prophetic parts of the ot, this book is a narrative account of a single prophetic mission. He quotes short fragments from various psalms, and adapts them to meet his own case. Throughout the book, jonah is repeatedly referred to in the third person, causing some to search for another author. However, because of the literary style of the book and the amazing adventures that are said to have befallen the prophet jonah, many modern scholars propose. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Date since jonah prophesied during the reign of jeroboam ii 782753. This is because the story is not very favourable towards jonah. Write a short essay discussing the differences and similarities and the. The book makes no direct claim regarding authorship. Overall, if the exiledcommunity would only repent of their mistakes.
The book of jonah the book is unique in that it is more concerned with the prophet himself than with his prophecy. T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. I used to think that god never gave reasons for what he does but now i am convinced that god always makes commentary to jonah rev. Jonah lived during jeroboam iis reign over the northern kingdom of israel 793753 b. The book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. In this ad, a young lady explains her take on scripture. Jonah 3 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Go, enquire of the lord for me, and for them that are left in israel and in judah, concerning the words of the book that is found. Go at once to nineveh, that great city, and proclaim judgment upon it. Jonahs story is told in the short just 48 verses but powerful book of jonah.
Wright sees the immutability of god clearly when compared to the inconsistency. Go to the great city of nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. Jonah brazos theological commentary on the bible kindle. Most striking of all is the application of psalm 16. Commentary on the book of jonah jonah 1 1the word of the lord came to jonah the son of amittai saying, 2arise, go to nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before me. The primary purpose of the book of jonah is to engage readers in theological reflection on the compas. The authors consider each book s historical setting, composition, structure and authorship, as well as important themes and issues. The events recorded in the book probably covered only a few months or years at the most. Jonah the prophet who objected to gods love for all a bible study. No writer in the bible tells such a bad story about himself. The book of jonah is listed among the prophetic books of the bible for that is what jonah was a prophet. After these things jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of tiberias, and in this way he showed himself. A paper presented in 381 bible researchold testament. Unfortunately, many christians thoughtlessly cast aspersions upon this important book in the canon of scripture without realizing that they are playing into the hands of the critics and innocently becoming the dupes of.
The book of jonah is more than just a delightful story for children. Here are 10 valuable lessons gleaned from jonah s encounter with the great fish and the people of nineveh. Aug 10, 2010 yonah is a strange prophet, and sefer yonah the book of jonah a strange book. Using human logic many so called scholars, have questioned the authenticity of the book of jonah, because they find it hard to believe a fish could shallow and man and the man live. Interestingly though, the book itself contains no specific prophecies. The theme of repentance nominates it for being read on yom kippur, but it has less to say about repentance than it. There is probably no other book of the bible that has suffered such disbelief. Before you attempt to answer the questions below you should read these chapters in the bible and answer the questions at the end of each chapter found at the website answer the questions below and then click ok to send your answers. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the lord by sailing to tarshish. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh.
Now the lord had prepared a great fish to swallow jonah. The lord had prepared a great fish to swallow jonah. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a. Bible contradictions explained come reason ministries. Jonah, however, started out to flee to tarshish from the lords service. Jan 02, 2020 book of jonah bible survey what are the major prophets and minor prophets. This book of jonah, though it be placed here in the midst of the prophetical books of scripture, is yet rather a history than a prophecy. During this time, an important event happened to israel. In this short book of the bible, we can find answers to the most important questions that people ask. Following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah. Choose from 500 different sets of jonah books bible flashcards on quizlet. Jonah or jonas, in the hebrew bible tanakhold testament, is a prophet of the northern. Scholars debate the date and authorship of the book of jonah because there are so few. Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society.
Write a short essay discussing the differences and similarities and the application of their. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading jonah brazos theological commentary on the bible. The texts of these minor but important prophets receive a fresh and penetrating analysis in this introduction and commentary. The change in the form which the ninevites would hear from jonah on anxious inquiry into his history, would alarm them the more, as implying the increasing nearness and certainty of their doom. Some question if this could happen as the bible says it did. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The condition of his soul, and gods loving discipline of him, instruct and humble the reader. Without a doubt, i believe that the reason behind all of these attacks and castigations is just simply because the book of jonah is one of the strongest presentations of the. The book is named after its principal character, whose name means dove. Philosophically it is a contradiction, but with god it is not. But the book of jonah is not the only old testament book in which he is mentioned.
The audience of the book of jonah was the people of israel and all future readers of the bible and, typically, prophets issued warnings or gave instructions to the people of israel. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. 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. The book of jonah is the fifth book in the christian canons and the jewish tanakh.
The bible tells us that god prepared a great fish which swallowed jonah. He went down to the port of joppa, where he found a ship leaving for tarshish. There are allusions, in his prayer, to the great messianic psalms 22, 69 and 16. Jonah reflects on the earnestness of his prayer, and gods readiness to hear and answer. The book is anonymous, and there are no indicators elsewhere in scripture to identify the author.
The book is about a prophet, some sailors and the inhabitants of the city of nineveh who are about to be destroyed because of their sin. And jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. He quotes his father in his commentary to the book of jonah. Jonah therefore is the only prophet of the ot revealing the grace of god towards the heathen. Their wickedness, as that of nineveh, is a bold and open affront to god.
Jonah is the book of the bible which perhaps has been criticized more than any other. Commentary on the book of jonah relevant bible teaching. One could describe kimchis commentary as psychological. The book does not identify its author, however it is safe to ascribe the authorship to the prophet himself.
Spurgeons bible commentaries commentary on the song of solomon spurgeon commentary series holman old testament commentary hosea, joel, amos, obadiah, jonah, micah spurgeons sermon notes. The title of the book is the name of the main character, jonah. He examines jonah s inner process, telling us what jonah must have. 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. Learn jonah books bible with free interactive flashcards. Jonah flees from the lord the word of the lord came to jonah son of amittai. Aug 12, 2010 a christian talk radio show in america frequently broadcasts an advertisement for a product.
Jonah brazos theological commentary on the bible kindle edition by cary, phillip. The predominantly narrative style of the book has more in common with the historical narratives about elijah and elisha than it does with the other prophetic books. Properly read, the bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived. It would be presumptuous to think that one could, in a brief article, speak the final word on the questions in debate.
Commentary on jonah spurgeon commentary series spurgeons commentary on the bible. Individualstudy students should complete all of this section. He was the earliest of the prophets and close behind elisha in his place in the old testament. In herman melvilles mobydick 1851, father mapple delivers a sermon on the book of jonah. 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. The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god.
Now nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days journey. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man. The proverbial gourd used by god to concretize the contradictions within. He had wickedly fled from the presence of the lord, who might justly take his holy spirit from him, never to visit him more. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. Why did jonah try to go to tarshish instead of nineveh. Simon peter, thomas called the twin, nathanael of cana in galilee, the sons of zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. In the new testament, jesus calls himself greater than jonah and promises the pharisees the. Over 250 sermons including notes, commentary and illustrations. Ironically, jonah the israelite begrudges gods abundant grace, while gentiles are converted to saving faith through the power of the preached word.
The question remains if miracles in the physical sense of the word occur. He is cast into the sea, and miraculously preserved. Full text in english of the book of jonah my jewish learning. 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.
Creation museum founder pens book to defend bible consistency. In this final study of the book of jonah, you will learn what the book of jonah is all about. Introduction from the niv study bible go to jonah title the book is named after its principal character, whose name means dove. Listen to chuck swindoll s overview of jonah in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. A prophet with a bad attitude a bible commentary on the book of jonah. Apr 26, 2010 so, if there are inconsistencies it counts against the bible, and if there were no inconsistencies, it would still count against the bible. The book of jonah is one of the most analyzed biblical texts in history. Disputes regarding biblical consistency have a long history. Home resources bible introduction to the old testament.