The Book of Jonah

[evangelist6589]

I am diving into my study in preparation for my lesson sometime in August, and also one that won't be divisive. This is a unique study for me and most on this board, since about all people ever debate around here is Theology. Few seem to dive into textual criticism, and Biblical studies. I am using a commentary on the book by Henry Morris whom takes a verse by verse approach, rather than a theological approach that some have taken in other books. When I do my outline for the class I'd like to cover the facts of the book and one major fact being that no historical nor archeological evidence has been found to support the book, and the fact that there are many scholars that believe the book to be an allegory. However the Lord Jesus himself declared the book true and put to rest all the books written by liberal scholars.

How would you do an introduction to Jonah?

 

[Scarlett O.]

I've taught the book of Jonah to womens' groups and to 6th graders.

I would open it up by challenging them to think of this book as more than just a story about a man in a whale's belly and more than just a town repenting.

Jesus, Himself, used the story as revelation to the Pharisees of the "bigger picture" of it all. He said that the men of Nineveh would rise up at the great judgment in condemnation of the generation who rejected Jesus while He was on earth.

It's about God's will that none should perish.

And, to me, it's about Christians getting their collective acts together and getting on board with God's plans.

We can be in no better place than the center of God's will. And ANY place else we choose to be that is not in God's will is center of the whale's belly. And when Christians get accustomed to be spiritually lazy, vain, and stupid ...

...we can't even tell the "whale" had swallowed us whole.

We will either be in God's will or in the "whale's" belly.

There is no middle and comfortable ground.

 

[Jkdbuck76]

What??? Archaeologists have dug up Nineveh. It is a large, 3 sub-city area. It is vast. How many days did it take for Jonah to preach to the entire city?

 

[Deacon]

"won't be divisive" and your using a book by Henry Morris, a hydraulic engineer???

Good luck!


Recommend: The Minor Prophets by Charles L. Feinberg (devotional commentary) [LINK]

Rob

 

[evangelist6589]

"won't be divisive" and your using a book by Henry Morris, a hydraulic engineer???

Good luck!


Recommend: The Minor Prophets by Charles L. Feinberg (devotional commentary) [LINK]

Rob

He has been endorsed heavily by Answers in Genesis but I do realize he is not a Bible scholar, just a creation apologist. This may be like having Ray Comfort or Paul Washer write a commentary. Sure they could pen one up, but the quality may not be there. But none the less I look forward to your book, thank you.

One thing I also want to hit on is the nature of the Assyrians and the Ninevites and what they did to people. Based on another source I see that they chopped of hands, heads, feet, and plucked out eyes of their victims. They loved bloodshed and loved to murder people, but not only that torture their victims for pleasure. Jonah hated them not because he was afraid to die, but because he was afraid they would replace Israel if they repented. Still reading...

Calvinists can learn allot from Arminian as since they are the ones whom have written the majority of biblical studies books.

 

[evangelist6589]

What??? Archaeologists have dug up Nineveh. It is a large, 3 sub-city area. It is vast. How many days did it take for Jonah to preach to the entire city?

This must have been post 2003

 

[Jkdbuck76]

No. Take a look at the archaeological supplement in the Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Even J Vernon McGee was talking about the archaeology of Nineveh years ago.
It is across the river from Mosul. It says that Henry Austin Layard visited it in 1845 and surveyed it and even found Sennacherib's palace. In 1853, Harmuzd Rassam (an Irish guy with a name like that) uncovered the palace of King Ashurbanipal. George Smith was sent there to discover the completed Chaldean account of The Flood....in 1876, he published it in a book called "Chaldean Account of Genesis." So, yes Virginia....there IS an archaeological record of Nineveh.

 

[evangelist6589]

No. Take a look at the archaeological supplement in the Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Even J Vernon McGee was talking about the archaeology of Nineveh years ago.
It is across the river from Mosul. It says that Henry Austin Layard visited it in 1845 and surveyed it and even found Sennacherib's palace. In 1853, Harmuzd Rassam (an Irish guy with a name like that) uncovered the palace of King Ashurbanipal. George Smith was sent there to discover the completed Chaldean account of The Flood....in 1876, he published it in a book called "Chaldean Account of Genesis." So, yes Virginia....there IS an archaeological record of Nineveh.

Okay Morris was wrong. Bye the way I do not have that study Bible. Whats it about? Does to have pictures?

 

[Rippon]

Calvinists can learn a lot from Arminians since they are the ones whom have written the majority of biblical studies books.

What did I tell you about your use of whom evan? You need to go on a low-whom diet.

In contrast to what you said above --Calvinists have writtem much more in the realm of Bible studies and commentaries. An Arminian preacher --who called himself an Arminian with no prompting from me acknowleged that in his srmon preparations most of his study materials were of Calvinistic origin.

James Montgomery Boice, in his treatment of the minor prophets is excellent.

 

[evangelist6589]

What did I tell you about your use of whom evan? You need to go on a low-whom diet.

In contrast to what you said above --Calvinists have writtem much more in the realm of Bible studies and commentaries. An Arminian preacher --who called himself an Arminian with no prompting from me acknowleged that in his srmon preparations most of his study materials were of Calvinistic origin.

James Montgomery Boice, in his treatment of the minor prophets is excellent.

Spelling error in bold. Yes I saw that commentary on amazon and its from a Reformed perspective. However since I will only be teaching one class and already got a commentary and a brother is sending me another commentary I will have to go with that. Also remember that I have the CrossWay ESV Study Bible which is an excellent resource.

 

[Scarlett O.]

....Jonah hated them not because he was afraid to die, but because he was afraid they would replace Israel if they repented. Still reading...

I don't see as much fear in Jonah as I do rebelliousness, hatred, and anger.

Fear of Nineveh replacing Israel? Jonah was full of hatred for these people and did NOT want to see them saved.

Even after Nineveh did repent, Jonah told God, "SEE!!! I KNEW this would happen. This is why I ran in the first place. I KNEW you would be merciful to them."

And he has a temper tantrum and pouts like a 3-year-old and says, "Just let me die!!"

I don't believe Jonah is frightened of his nation being replaced.

He is ticked off and doesn't mind telling God so that God would save his enemies.

 

[evangelist6589]

I don't see as much fear in Jonah as I do rebelliousness, hatred, and anger.

Fear of Nineveh replacing Israel? Jonah was full of hatred for these people and did NOT want to see them saved.

Even after Nineveh did repent, Jonah told God, "SEE!!! I KNEW this would happen. This is why I ran in the first place. I KNEW you would be merciful to them."

And he has a temper tantrum and pouts like a 3-year-old and says, "Just let me die!!"

I don't believe Jonah is frightened of his nation being replaced.

He is ticked off and doesn't mind telling God so that God would save his enemies.

I think you are exaggerating. I disagree with your second point. Did you know what was on Jonah's mind? I guess its all speculation on both our parts. But the Assyrians were known for skinning dead their enemies and I am sure some prophets got skinned as well. Jonah had a reason to hate his enemies, but it was not a Godly reason. How can this be applied today? How many of you hate Iraq? Hate Islamic terrorists? How many of you have compassion on them?

What if God had you to pack your bags and go live in Iraq or some other Muslim country and start doing open air preaching and passing out tracts on the streets? How long would you last? This would be the same as what Jonah was called to do and he did lots of open air preaching, but he did not know he would not be killed so it took great faith on his part to open air in the public streets like what he did.

 

[JonC]

I don't see as much fear in Jonah as I do rebelliousness, hatred, and anger.

Fear of Nineveh replacing Israel? Jonah was full of hatred for these people and did NOT want to see them saved.

Even after Nineveh did repent, Jonah told God, "SEE!!! I KNEW this would happen. This is why I ran in the first place. I KNEW you would be merciful to them."

And he has a temper tantrum and pouts like a 3-year-old and says, "Just let me die!!"

I don't believe Jonah is frightened of his nation being replaced.

He is ticked off and doesn't mind telling God so that God would save his enemies.

:thumbs::thumbs:

 

[JonC]

I think you are exaggerating. I disagree with your second point. Did you know what was on Jonah's mind? I guess its all speculation on both our parts. But the Assyrians were known for skinning dead their enemies and I am sure some prophets got skinned as well. Jonah had a reason to hate his enemies, but it was not a Godly reason. How can this be applied today? How many of you hate Iraq? Hate Islamic terrorists? How many of you have compassion on them?

What if God had you to pack your bags and go live in Iraq or some other Muslim country and start doing open air preaching and passing out tracts on the streets? How long would you last? This would be the same as what Jonah was called to do and he did lots of open air preaching, but he did not know he would not be killed so it took great faith on his part to open air in the public streets like what he did.

I think that you may be overreaching in your application and diminishing the lesson of Jonah. (And Scripture tells us what was on Jonah’s mind in Jonah 4:1-2...we don't have to speculate).

 

[evangelist6589]

I think that you may be overreaching in your application and diminishing the lesson of Jonah. (And Scripture tells us what was on Jonah’s mind in Jonah 4:1-2...we don't have to speculate).

Okay so Jonah did not open air preach? The lesson of Jonah is God's sovereignty not only over nature but also in salvation. God also has compassion and why he commands people today to go hit the streets and wherever to evangelize the lost for one day many will be cast into hell.

 

[JonC]

Okay so Jonah did not open air preach?

Yes, Jonah proclaimed God's message. He also got swallowed up by a big fish.

I think that you are superficially dealing with those 4 chapters to advocate or support a ministry that is dear to your heart. In doing so, I think that you are missing much in that Scripture (I don't think it a good way to teach the book). Scarlett O made some good observations, which you dismissed right away - but Scripture validates her assessment.

Jonah hated them not because he was afraid to die, but because he was afraid they would replace Israel if they repented.

If this is true, BTW, then you have more to discuss than Jonah’s fear. You need to reconstruct Israel’s understanding of their covenantal relationship with God and God’s own faithfulness to that covenant. But more to the point, the text does not mention anything close to what you propose.

Scarlett answers:

I don't see as much fear in Jonah as I do rebelliousness, hatred, and anger.
Fear of Nineveh replacing Israel? Jonah was full of hatred for these people and did NOT want to see them saved.
Even after Nineveh did repent, Jonah told God, "SEE!!! I KNEW this would happen. This is why I ran in the first place. I KNEW you would be merciful to them."
And he has a temper tantrum and pouts like a 3-year-old and says, "Just let me die!!"
I don't believe Jonah is frightened of his nation being replaced.
He is ticked off and doesn't mind telling God so that God would save his enemies.

Your reply?

I think you are exaggerating. I disagree with your second point. Did you know what was on Jonah's mind? I guess its all speculation on both our parts.

I think that you will change your interpretation and application when you get to the 4th chapter of Jonah (God’s compassion displeasing Jonah and him becoming angry….Jonah telling why he decided to oppose God and flee to Tarshish…etc.). It is in no way up to speculation.

I know that you are working hard in the ministry and striving to serve God. You have a wonderful heart for evangelism and teaching your fellow believers. Brother….please re-read those four chapters before teaching the material.

 

[evangelist6589]

Yes, Jonah proclaimed God's message. He also got swallowed up by a big fish.

I think that you are superficially dealing with those 4 chapters to advocate or support a ministry that is dear to your heart. In doing so, I think that you are missing much in that Scripture (I don't think it a good way to teach the book). Scarlett O made some good observations, which you dismissed right away - but Scripture validates her assessment.



If this is true, BTW, then you have more to discuss than Jonah’s fear. You need to reconstruct Israel’s understanding of their covenantal relationship with God and God’s own faithfulness to that covenant. But more to the point, the text does not mention anything close to what you propose.

Scarlett answers:



Your reply?



I think that you will change your interpretation and application when you get to the 4th chapter of Jonah (God’s compassion displeasing Jonah and him becoming angry….Jonah telling why he decided to oppose God and flee to Tarshish…etc.). It is in no way up to speculation.

I know that you are working hard in the ministry and striving to serve God. You have a wonderful heart for evangelism and teaching your fellow believers. Brother….please re-read those four chapters before teaching the material.

Oh I will plenty of times and also read a commentary a brother is sending. It's possible creation apologist Morris is wrong as he gave me this idea you say is wrong. It is possible apologists should not wire commentaries but just stick to their field. This would be like asking Ken Ham, Ravi Zacharias, or James white to write a commentary. Bad idea...

 

[Jkdbuck76]

Okay Morris was wrong. Bye the way I do not have that study Bible. Whats it about? Does to have pictures?

It has a picture of Sennacherib's column at the Chicago Museum. Written on the column is his conquest records.

 

[Van]

I do not want to get into the weeds, but plan your presentation based on what you will present from Chapter 4. Otherwise, you may go off the rails as many who have presented chapters 1, 2, and 3, then had nothing to say of chapter 4.

Do not spend time on what you see as poor behavior, try to see how Jonah's story glorifies God.

 

[JonC]

I don’t think that the idea is wrong (overcoming fear in evangelism), only that I do not think that your presentation of Jonah is accurate to Scripture. I have heard sermons focused mainly on that last chapter, and reading Chapter 4 I get a distinct impression that Jonah was not a positive example to follow.