Keith Essex
Jonah

Keith Essex's correlating video lecture(s) from The Master's Seminary:

• Lecture 17: Jonah; and
• Lecture 18: Preaching Jonah.

5. Jonah [MSB, 1264-5; ESVSB, 1683-6; HSB, 1513-6; MKP, 402-3]
   1. Major Themes [see NIDOTTE, 4:798-802]
      1. The Sovereignty of God (Jon 1:4, 17; 2:10; 4:6, 7, 8)
      2. The Compassion of God (Jon 1:6, 15-16; 2:2; 3:10; 4:2, 6, 10-11)
      3. The Disobedience of Jonah (Jon 1:3; 4:1, 9)
   2. Purpose: While Israel was an ineffective servant, the sovereign Yahweh brought salvation to repentant Gentiles.
   3. The Literary Structure (see outline)
      Jonah

      Jonah's First Commission

      Jonah's Second Commission

      A Yahweh Commissions Jonah (Jon 1:1-2)

      A' Yahweh Commissions Jonah (Jon 3:1-2)

      B Jonah Rejects His Commission (Jon 1:3)

      B' Jonah Accepts His Commission (Jon 3:3)

      C The Sovereign Yahweh Reveals His Power (Jon 1:4)

      C' The Sovereign Yahweh Reveals His Plan (Jon 3:4)

      D The Sailors Submit to Yahweh and Avert Disaster (Jon 1:5-16)

      D' The Ninevites Submit to Yahweh and Avert Disaster (Jon 3:5-10)

      E Yahweh Uses a Fish to Retrieve Jonah (Jon 1:17)

      F' Jonah Prays, Complaining that Yahweh Has Saved Ninevah (Jon 4:1-4)

      F Jonah Prays, Thanking Yahweh for Saving his Life (Jon 2:1-9)

      E' Yahweh Uses a Plant and Worm to Teach Jonah a Lesson (Jon 4:4-11)

      G The Fish Disgorges Jonah (Jon 2:10)
   4. Bibliography
      1. Exegetical:
         • Allen, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah (NICOT).
      2. English Interpretation:
         • Baker, Alexander & Waltke, Obadiah, Jonah, & Micah (TOTC).
      3. Expositional:
         • Bruckner, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (NAC).
   5. Selected Interpretive Problems
      1. The Genre of the Book [MSB, 1265; ESVSB, 1684; HSB, 1514-5]
         1. Historical Narrative [FMP; MMP; EBC1 (?); BKC]
         2. Didactic History [TOTC; EBC2]
         3. Allegory or Parable [Allen]
      2. The Purpose of the Book
         1. The Need for Repentance
         2. The Justification of the Non-fulfillment of Divine Prophecy [EBC2 (?) "a repentant response to stimulate divine compassion that postpones announced judgment"]
         3. The Correction / Instruction of Jewish Attitudes toward the Gentiles [Allen; FMP; BKC]
         4. A Theodicy dealing with Divine Justice and Mercy [TOTC; EBC1 "a revelation of God's character and action toward His creation"]
      3. The Character of Jonah
         1. An Unfaithful Prophet of Yahweh [FMP; MMP; BKC]
         2. A False Prophet of Jeroboam II
         3. A Nationalistic Prophet [Allen]
   6. Preaching Jonah

Used with permission by Dr. Keith Essex. Redistribution without express permission from Dr. Keith Essex is prohibited.