Bible study the book of jonah

Not to mention i did an old testament survey on him as well. 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. The condition of his soul, and gods loving discipline of him, instruct and humble the reader. Jonahs own telling of the story after his return from nineveh. Jonah studies questions for four sessions 4 dramatised text of the book of jonah narrator the word of yahweh was addressed to jonah son of amittai.

Navigating a life interrupted bible study book by priscilla shirer. She is the author of wrong way, jonah and favorite bible heroes. Unfortunately, many christians thoughtlessly cast aspersions upon this. Jonahs anger at the lords compassion but to jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. Jonah slept in a place where he hoped no one would see him or disturb him. Apr 19, 2014 our lesson today is one i know you have heard before. Jonah also teaches gods love for his servants, even those who are hesitant to do his will.

Go to nineveh, the great city, and proclaim to them that their wickedness has forced itself upon me. Bibles easytoread, niv, niv study bible, rsv, new living bible, neb, good news. It is found in the old testament, towards the back, in the book called jonah. T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. This bible study book is designed to be paired with teaching videos from priscilla shirer. Study guide for jonah 3 by david guzik blue letter bible.

But he could not understand how god could love even foreign nations who did bad things. Jonah was a prophet of the lord and he was called to deliver a message of repentance to the city of nineveh which was the capital of the assyrian empire. A practical commentary on holy scripture, bishop frederick justus knecht, tan books and publishers, inc. The book of jonah the story of jonah has great theological import. For it begins with a commission to jonah and with jonah s refusal to heed it, in other words, the book of jonah begins with a formal expression of gods sovereign will and with a mans determined opposition. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. In this 7session bible study, priscilla redefines interruption and shows that.

Jonah is one of the most striking examples of a heart in need of expansion. Scene 1 account of jonah s call and his reaction 1. Many critics however want to lower the book of jonah to an allegory, a parable or a legend because of the miracles described in it especially the appearing of the great fish devouring jonah. Jonah 1 new international version niv jonah flees from the lord. He prayed to the lord, isnt this what i said, lord, when i was still at home. Sandra richter takes us on a journey through jonah s life that leads us all to the place where we realize that our god is way bigger than we thought. These past few months i have been doing the jonah bible study from priscilla shirer with my good friend ana. Bibliography for the study of the book of jonah jonah study list. Prophet jonah runs away, jonah in the belly of the fish, prays, obeys god, nineveh, bottlegourd, mercy. Precept provides teaching and training through study books, tv and radio programs, the internet, and conferences in over 180 countries and 70 languages. Following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah. The book of jonah the book of jonah the book is unique in that it is more concerned with the prophet himself than with his prophecy.

She has written educational curriculum for children, teens and adults. Narrator jonah set about running away from yahweh, and going to tarshish. When we left jonah at the end of chapter one it is fair to say he was in a slightly sticky situation. Apocalypse explained ae 538 11 particulars in the book of jonah are historical, and yet prophetical, involving and representing such arcana, as do all the other historicals of the word. The latter prophets follow psalms and the wisdom books in the greek septuagint, as well as our christian old testament of the bible. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate god, slow to anger and abounding in love, a god who relents from sending calamity. Through satire and compelling storytelling, the book of jonah reveals to readers why god is compassionate to evildoers in the past and present age today. Ac 1188 2 but then we find a startling, thoughtprovoking passage in the work called spiritual.

Study guide for jonah 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. The book makes no direct claim regarding authorship. Questions for discussion jonah the living word library. Apr 12, 2016 the book of jonah is a subversive story about a rebellious prophet who despises his god for loving his enemies. There are six significant subjects which are suggested and developed in the book of jonah which make it very relevant for us today. Dive into an intriguing tale of mercy in the book of jonah.

The lord had prepared a great fish to swallow jonah. For the purposes of this study, we will divide jonah into seven scenes. Like the gospel of mark, the book of jonah ends in the middle of the story. The book begins with god telling jonah to go to the great city of nineveh. Jonah studies questions for four sessions 3 session 4 jonah and the new testament 1. The book of jonah is unique among the books of the prophets. Summary of the book of jonah the story of the bible. The book of jonah reveals gods sovereign rule over man and all creation. He went down to joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. 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 skeptics. It is only 4 chapters long, but tells us a lot about jonah and teaches us to do what god wants and not what we want. What parallels can you discern between the actions and attitudes of the characters in the book of jonah including god, and the actions and attitudes of the characters in jesus parable of the. I have learned 5 keys from the life of jonah that i want to share with you. Now the word of the lord came to jonah the son of amittai.

Despite being grouped among the twelve minor prophets, jonah stands out as being very different. Jonah jonah 4 jonah s real problem episode 317 the bible study podcast chris christensen provides a weekly bible study podcast audio show looking at scripture from a christian point of view. Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. Early christian tradition compared the resurrection of jesus christ on the third day in the tomb to jonah s three days in the belly of the whale matthew 12. Introduction jonah is one of the most ridiculed books by liberal scholars. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonah s character is anything but dovelike. The main theme of the book of jonah is gods sovereignty over all people and his divine plan to extend his gift of mercy and salvation beyond israel to include the gentile nations. The writer is indebted to an old orthodox jew for the information why this story is read on their great day of fasting and prayer.

Jonah bible study outlinecontents by chapter and verse. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. Agape bible study, in depth catholic scripture study of both the old and new testaments. Please read our guideline on how to lead a bible study before starting. Sleeping christians like to hide out among the church jonah slept in a place where he could not help with the work that needed to be done. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. Outline for the purposes of this study, we will divide jonah into seven scenes.

Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. 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. The story of a fish swallowing a man and the man living sounds impossible, and since most liberal scholars deny the possibility of the supernatural, they reject the book of jonah as anything but a fairy tale. Home bible studies jonah studies jonah 2 these small group studies of jonah extensive crossreferences, bible study discussion questions, lessons to learn, and applications. Introduction from the niv study bible go to jonah title the book is named after its principal character, whose name means dove. Interestingly enough, this is the point at which the book starts. He chose to flee away from god rather than obey him. Jesus employed the repentance of the ninevites to rebuke the pharisees, thereby illustrating the hardness of the pharisees hearts and their unwillingness. This old testament book describes at least part of the ministry of a prophet called jonah, the only prophet who attempted to run away from. The bible is full of men and women who, despite their best efforts, suffer from a chronic lack of love. Home bible studies the book of jonah questions for discussion jonah. The book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name the prophet as the author of his. A history of israel, john bright, westminster john knox press, 2000.

Now he obeys and goes to nineveh, the capital of israels ancient enemy. Another view is that the three days does not refer to the length of the journey, but to the size of the project e. The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Not only will we learn everything we ever wanted to know about the brutal assyrians of nineveh, ancient seafaring ships, and large aquatic creatures, but we will. Some question if this could happen as the bible says it did. Have you ever found yourself wanting to turn and run away rather. The nwt study bible is complete with cross references, maps, and an accurate bible dictionary. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point 1. Jonah free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. In the new testament, no other old testament prophet is named by jesus more than the prophet jonah.

The bible study book includes leader helps, personal study resources to be completed between small group meetings, and exercises to equip you post study. Navigating a life interrupted bible study book by priscilla shirer provides a personal study experience five days a week, leader helps, and viewer guides for the group video sessions of this indepth womens bible study. God sent jonah to preach to nineveh, the capital city of israels prime enemy, assyria. Study guide for jonah 2 by david guzik blue letter bible. But, as every bible student knows, his plans were soon thwarted. The book of jonah recounts real events in the life and ministry of the prophet himself. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. Agape bible study the book of jonah the book of jonah is unique among the books of the prophets. Since jonah prophesied during the reign of jeroboam ii 782753 b. We sin against the spirit of the book jonah in trying to take it as real history. Literary characteristics unlike most other prophetic parts of the ot, this book is a narrative account of a single prophetic mission. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible.

The book is replete with irony, wherein much of its humor lies. Sleeping christians stay away from the work of the lord jonah slept while there was a prayer meeting up on the deck. Nov 20, 2012 this series is not ment to be an exhaustive, indepth study of the bible, but an overview of why each of the sixtysix books were written, and to see the unfolding plan of god, from the creation of. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man. Instead of being a collection of oracles from a prophet, it is a story about a prophet, even though jonah is never called a prophet in the book. The lord had given a specific great fish a new task swallow jonah.

Pfeiffer, states, it is fictiona short story with a moral like the book of ruthor the stories about daniel jonah is a perfectly good short storywith a beginning, a middle, and an endthe author of jonah. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. In the jewish synagogical ritual the book of jonah is read on the day of atonement. The man jonah was the main character of the book, he was the son of amittai jonah 1. 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. By paralleling here the books opening remarks, almost word for word, the author skillfully conveys the idea that jonah is being offered a new.

This is the one book of the old testament which sets forth the resurrection of jesus christ. Identified in verse 1 as the son of amittai, jonah came from a town called gathhepher, near nazareth in the. The book of jonah is listed among the prophetic books of the bible for that is what jonah was a prophet. The disobedience of the prophet jonahs missionary call. There are areas in which it is not a problem, of course. Jonah chapter 2 bible study and verses study and obey. Jonah is identified as a prophet and servant of god during the reign of king jeroboam ii of israel 2 kings 14. Verses 12 this book is a story about god and jonah.

That is what i tried to forestall by fleeing to tarshish. Sovereignty is a problem for some christians in certain areas. When a great storm arose, and the inmates of the vessel. The book of jonah introduction to the book of jonah in the bible. But dont let that make you think it isnt prophetic. Jonah was an unwilling prophet given an assignment which he found displeasing.

Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. Book of jonah read, study bible verses online bible study tools. Interestingly though, the book itself contains no specific prophecies. For example, most of us do not have problems with gods rule in the area of natural law. A free bible commentary on the book of jonah in simple english. Though jonah did everything he could to resist the first call of god, after jonah repented god called him again though god was under no obligation to do it. The book is anonymous, and there are no indicators elsewhere in scripture to identify the author. Navigating a life interrupted dvd leader kit by priscilla shirer.

Mar 16, 2019 written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Jonah is the book of the bible which perhaps has been criticized more than any other. Throughout the book, jonah is repeatedly referred to in the third person, causing some to search for. The book of jonah may be studied for many reasons, but a chief reason is for what it teaches about gods sovereignty. The book of jonah teaches that salvation is not by works, but by. The lords question, shall i not spare nineveh, that great city. It is a well known story for obvious reasons, not least of which are a disobedient prophet, an obedient fish and a wicked nation that starts out bad, yet ends up good. Bible story summary of the book of jonah t he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord.