Could the events in the Book of Jonah really happen? Could Jonah have really been swallowed by a great fish and live to tell about it? Would God really send a tempest storm in order to discipline one wayward prophet? Could an entire city known for its evil come to repentance as the result of a prophet that would really prefer it to fall into God’s judgement? Would God really cause a vine to grow large enough to provide Jonah shade in one day?
There have always been those who doubt the story of Jonah, the Bible, or even God, to those these accounts are claimed to myth. That is to be expected. But what is more concerning are those who consider themselves Christian and don't believe the accounts recorded in the book of Jonah. Throughout the ages Jewish and Christian scholars have always interpreted Jonah as a historical narrative, but critical scholars have suggested that Jonah should be interpreted as a parable or as an allegory. In this session we will look briefly at these three-forms of interpretation.
01 Parabolic Interpretation
The word ‘parable’ in the Greek, parabole, literally means, ‘putting things side by side.’ A parable is usually a short story that utilizes metaphors or similes for the purpose of comparison to create a new or deeper understanding of a truth.
The parabolic method of biblical interpretation assumes the story as moralistically teaching readers not to be like Jonah. The primary problems with this interpretation is that the narrative of Jonah is not simple, but rather complex, it teaches many lessons, and presents itself as historical (see #3).
02 Allegorical Interpretation
The word allegory is taken from two Greek words, alla, meaning other and agoreuo, meaning, to proclaim. Allegory is often defined as an extended metaphor.
The allegorical method of biblical interpretation assumes that the biblical account of Jonah should be interpreted by seeking the ‘spiritual’ meaning to which the literal sense of the story points towards. According to the allegorical method, Jonah is a symbol of Israel in its refusal to carry out Gods mission to the nations. Some have also suggested that the belly of the fish represents the children of Israel’s exile in Babylon.
The primary problems with interpreting Jonah allegorically is that Jonah is clearly presented as a historical character (See #3) and the miracles are presented as a matter-of-fact without sensationalism of allegorical literature.
When interpreting the Bible, we must aways remain attentive to the text as it was originally written, without projecting our modern culture upon it. For example the Song of Songs was weighed down with interpretations that juxtaposed the church as the young woman and Christ as Solomon. Why? Because it was thought ungodly that the Bible would contain such graphic imagery of passionate love-making. In the same way, Jonah is being weighed down with meanings outside the intention of the author because our so-called sophisticated minds can’t conceive such miracles of being literal.
03 Historical Interpretation
Many modern readers may question how to read the book of Jonah because of its number of extraordinary events. Answering how to read the book should start not with its improbabilities, but rather with the author’s intent. How does the author present theses accounts? Then clues should be gathered from the surrounding material (other biblical books), tradition and then how God might factor in these accounts.
1. The author of Jonah presents this book with historical details.
Nineveh is presented as a historical city (1:1-3; 3:2-20; 4:11).
He identified Jonah three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish as a sign for his three days and three nights in a tomb impending his resurrection (Matthew 12:40).
2. The introductory phrase, "The word of the Lord came to Jonah" (1:1; 3:1) is historic language.
This phrase is the same as in the prophetic narratives of Elijah (1Kings 17:2, 8), as well as the introductory verse of other minor prophets (Joel, Micah, Zephaniah, and Malachi).3. Jonah is recorded historically as a prophet (2Kings 14:25).
4. Jesus presented Jonah as a historical person, and based future events upon its historicity (Matthew 12:39-41).
He also foretold that the men of Nineveh, who were saved, will rise up at the judgement and condemn his generation for their refusal to repent (Matthew 12:41).
5. The first century historian Flavius Josephus incorporates Jonah into his history of the Jewish People (Antiquities 9.206-214).
After one has clearly seen that the author of Jonah, as well as other authors of the Bible, Jesus and Josephus all viewed Jonah as a person and the accounts of the book as historical, there is only one question the reader is left to ponder,
What is God the creator of heaven, earth and sea capable of?
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