The book of Jonah is arguably just as jarring for us as it was for the ancients. Ninevah's repentance, Jonah's estrangement from God and the book's bracing moral conclusion all pose unsettling questions for today's readers. For biblical theologians, Jonah also raises tough questions regarding mission and religious conversion. Here, Daniel Timmer embarks on a new reading of Jonah in order to secure its ongoing relevance for biblical theology. After an examination of the book's historical backgrounds (in both Israel and Assyria), Timmer discusses the biblical text in detail, paying special attention to redemptive history and its Christocentric orientation. Timmer then explores the relationship between Israel and the nations--including the question of mission--and the nature of religious conversion and spirituality in the Old Testament. The study concludes with an injuction for scholars and lay readers to approach Jonah as a book written to facilitate spiritual change in the reader.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A. Morgan
Format:Paperback
Daniel Timmer's contribution to the New Studies In biblical Theology is a worthy addition. His exploration of Jonah is as thorough as one will find. While this is NOT a commentary on Jonah (i.e. verse by verse) it out does most of the commentaries out there. This is a wonderful example of Biblical Theology, with Timmer exploring topics such as mission, spirituality, conversion and of course the place of Christ in Jonah. Timmer skillfully ties this book into the wider corpus of sin, judgment, the day of the Lord and the gospel. Oh how narrow and shallow is our sunday school treatment of Jonah!
Highly Recommended.
Highly Recommended.
4 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I can still picture the flannel-graph; a paper whale swallowing a paper man against the light blue background. The story of Jonah and the whale seems to be a favorite among children's Sunday school Bible stories. My Children's Story Bible also told the story in a cartoon fashion. They both had the same moral: obey God or a fish will eat you. I think has contributed to more my apprehension of deep waters more than learning to fear the Lord.
As I've grown, I've found the book of Jonah more intriguing. I've learned that this story is less about a fish and obeying God and more about God's concern for the nations and the prejudice of Jonah. But, what does Jonah have to do with Christ? How should Christians read this tale of this Jewish prophet?
InterVarsity Press has just recently published its latest volume in the series, New Studies in Biblical Theology. I have enjoyed this series for a long time (Stephen Dempster's Dominion and Dynasty has proved my favorite so far) and I was very excited to read this latest addition. A Gracious and Compassionate God: Mission, Salvation and Spirituality in the book of Jonah by Daniel C. Timmer seeks to explore the book of Jonah in a fresh way.
Given my background in flannel-fish-tales I was very interested in this new title. Dr. Timmer sees this book as an exploration of God's grace. "Jonah centres on the grand theme of the Bible: the manifestation of God's unmerited grace to those who have sinned against him" (17). This plays out in each character and the narrative as it develops. "The author develop this in all of the main characters as God's grace affects the lives of the sailors, of Jonah and of the Ninevites, but the clearest description of God's character in the book appears in the application to Nineveh of Exodus 34:6-7, where God's great mercy toward rebellious Israel first comes gloriously into view" (17). He explores this book chapter by chapter using the rubric of mission, salvation and spirituality. Additionally, he explores issues concerning the promise to Abraham and its fulfillment in Christ.
As I have matured in my understanding of Scripture I find canonical expositions helpful. It is important to understand an book of Bible in its final, "canonical" form. What is this book's role in the larger canon? What does this book contribute to the overall canon and what themes does it emphasis? Timmer seeks to answer these types of questions and I found that helpful in my understanding of Jonah.
For the most part I found this a helpful study in the book of Jonah. However, I felt that this work was more focused on the subjects of mission, salvation and spirituality than a study of Jonah. When I first picked up the book and read the introduction and conclusion I felt as though I were reading a different book not at all concerned with a study of Jonah. Perhaps, I have not read closely enough; it is entirely possible that I misunderstood the books purpose.
I would not recommend this book for beginners in Old Testament studies or Biblical Theology. It is not an extremely technical book, but I did find it very helpful to be familiar with themes of the Old and New Testaments. Overall, this is a helpful contribution to Old Testament studies and I envision returning to this work many times in the future.
NOTE: To comply with regulations of the Federal Trade Commission I would like to state that I have received a complementary copy of the aforementioned text as compensation for my review.
As I've grown, I've found the book of Jonah more intriguing. I've learned that this story is less about a fish and obeying God and more about God's concern for the nations and the prejudice of Jonah. But, what does Jonah have to do with Christ? How should Christians read this tale of this Jewish prophet?
InterVarsity Press has just recently published its latest volume in the series, New Studies in Biblical Theology. I have enjoyed this series for a long time (Stephen Dempster's Dominion and Dynasty has proved my favorite so far) and I was very excited to read this latest addition. A Gracious and Compassionate God: Mission, Salvation and Spirituality in the book of Jonah by Daniel C. Timmer seeks to explore the book of Jonah in a fresh way.
Given my background in flannel-fish-tales I was very interested in this new title. Dr. Timmer sees this book as an exploration of God's grace. "Jonah centres on the grand theme of the Bible: the manifestation of God's unmerited grace to those who have sinned against him" (17). This plays out in each character and the narrative as it develops. "The author develop this in all of the main characters as God's grace affects the lives of the sailors, of Jonah and of the Ninevites, but the clearest description of God's character in the book appears in the application to Nineveh of Exodus 34:6-7, where God's great mercy toward rebellious Israel first comes gloriously into view" (17). He explores this book chapter by chapter using the rubric of mission, salvation and spirituality. Additionally, he explores issues concerning the promise to Abraham and its fulfillment in Christ.
As I have matured in my understanding of Scripture I find canonical expositions helpful. It is important to understand an book of Bible in its final, "canonical" form. What is this book's role in the larger canon? What does this book contribute to the overall canon and what themes does it emphasis? Timmer seeks to answer these types of questions and I found that helpful in my understanding of Jonah.
For the most part I found this a helpful study in the book of Jonah. However, I felt that this work was more focused on the subjects of mission, salvation and spirituality than a study of Jonah. When I first picked up the book and read the introduction and conclusion I felt as though I were reading a different book not at all concerned with a study of Jonah. Perhaps, I have not read closely enough; it is entirely possible that I misunderstood the books purpose.
I would not recommend this book for beginners in Old Testament studies or Biblical Theology. It is not an extremely technical book, but I did find it very helpful to be familiar with themes of the Old and New Testaments. Overall, this is a helpful contribution to Old Testament studies and I envision returning to this work many times in the future.
NOTE: To comply with regulations of the Federal Trade Commission I would like to state that I have received a complementary copy of the aforementioned text as compensation for my review.
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