The authenticity of book jonah

Jonahs story has a surprise ending that is often missed. He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth. New book added the authenticity of the book of jonah. Since the dawn of biblical criticism in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it has been a common practice to question the authenticity of the book of jonah. Jonah was a real prophet who is mentioned also in ii kings 14. Set in the reign of jeroboam ii 786746 bc, it was probably written in the postexilic period, some time between the late 5th to early 4th century bc. The men of nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of jonas. Nevertheless, i tend to reject the proposed concept that the book of jonah is a work of satire in toto. Buy the authenticity of the book of jonah by bill cooper isbn. The authenticity of the book of jonah by bill cooper goodreads. The authenticity of the book of genesis by bill cooper. Its historical places, events and personages can be verified from archaeology and written records of assyria. Pdf the literary genre of the book of jonah researchgate. Although the author of jonah is never identified in the book itself, jonah himself has traditionally been identified as the author.

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. Cooper is a brilliant book in any sense of the word. The creature not a whale that swallowed jonah greek. Did a fish, whale, or something else swallow the prophet jonah. According to the word of the lord god of israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant jonah, the son of amittai the prophet, which was of gathhepher. But who then wrote the book and where do those intimate details of the story come from. This book presents powerful archaeological and documentary evidence for the historicity and authenticity of the book of jonah, one of the most derided books of the bible. Written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. The book of jasher contains an absorbing account of the sins of the people of sodom, and why god became furious with them, and the account of their divine judgment. Reflections on the authenticity of the book of jonah. The book of jonah stands firmly in the old testament tradition, but the genre and aim of its author are not easy to discern.

The consensus of mainstream biblical scholars holds that the contents of the book of jonah are entirely ahistorical. The professed people of god did not have a desire to share truth with heathen nations. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. As is the case with all the prophets of god jonah came to nineveh to call the people to worship one god. Salters stresses the authenticity of jonahs message to the ninevites, along with their need for repentance, and yahwehs mercy. The historicity of the book of jonah, and why it still matters kindle. If there is no logical reason to doubt the historicity of the book of jonah, then its testimony. When it initially came under the microscope of modern theologians, jonah was criticized for its unbelievable tale of a great fish swallowing a prophet and then spitting him up onto the. The book of jonah has been attacked by the destructive critics. The experiences related in this book were unique to its writer, jonah the son of amittai. Although the book is written in the third person, the traditional view is that jonah is the author of the book, and there is no persuasive reason to theorize about an unknown author.

The word of the lord came to jonah and jonah refused. To conclude that someone else wrote the book is difficult since the information about jobs experience in the fishs stomach and in chapter 4 requires firsthand knowledge. It tells of a hebrew prophet named jonah son of amittai who is sent by god to prophesy the destruction of nineveh but tries to escape the divine mission. Renowned islamic scholar, ibn kathir calls it nineveh. No later storyteller could be aware of the fine details found in this contemporary. He spoke of a god free from any partners, sons, daughters or co equals and implored the people to stop worshipping idols and engaging. Its historical places, events and personages can be verified from archaeology and written. The author of the book is the prophet jonah who wrote his own autobiography. Official page for the authenticity series by dr bill. In this single volume dr bill cooper takes on the challenge of the globally accepted medias opinion of the scriptures we call the bible. In this masterful refutation of the nonbelieving critics of the book of jonah, dr. The only book in the hebrew scriptures dealing exclusively with the commission of a prophet of jehovah to proclaim in and for a nonisraelite city a message of doom, and which proclamation resulted in that citys repentance. I will borrow my following summary liberally from the back cover.

These are not commentaries on these particular books of the bible, but each is an investigation into their historical accuracy, integrity, and authenticity. Cooper writes about point after point that cumulatively provide ample evidence that jonah existed, was swallowed by a large sea creature, and existed during the mid 700 b. Picking up the story, the book of jasher also records the miraculous birth of isaac when abraham was 100 years of age. The book of jonah was likely written between 793 and 758 b. This did not mean, however, that jonah remained the same. Best commentaries and books on jonah logos bible software. We read nowhere in the book that jonah confessed his sin and received a new heart.

The historicity of the book of jonah, and why it still matters kindle edition by steven anderson. The book of jonah reveals to us the depths of gods grace, both to outsiders and to insiders. The authenticity of the book of jonah describes a firstcentury painting from a roman catacomb showing jonah being thrown to a sea monster. The authenticity of jonah article ii having in the preceding article considered the words and phrases which the critics have adduced as linguistic peculiarities indicating a postexilic date for the book of jonah, we propose to examine in the present article. Numerous artifacts show a similar animal, including tile. The historical background which the book of jonah presents is seen to be utterly authentic, and even the creature not a whale that swallowed jonah is known from the. Most importantly, the lord jesus christ accepted the account as true. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man. The authenticity of the book of genesis by william r. Go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store.

Our lords references to jonah were quite incompatible with any doubt as to the reliability and authenticity of the book. Pdf although nearly everyone knows the story of the prophet jonah and the fish, most people would not believe that the event ever occurred. Cooper followed was simply the thencommon greek word the lord jesus used in matthew 12. This book presents powerful archaeological and documentary evidence for the historicity and authenticity of the book of jonah, one of the most derided books of. Book of jonah the god of the second chance sermon by. The authenticity of the book of jonah calvary chapel.

Historian bill cooper recently helped answer this question in his 2012 book the authenticity of the book of jonah. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man. It shows us gods compassion for the lost and his patience with his wayward people. The essentials here are jehovah and jonahgod and manthat is what the book is all about. The book of jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan. The book of jonah is one of those pieces of biblical literature accustomed to taking a beating from skeptics conditioned to not only dismiss it but to regularly mock those willing to uphold the idea of its historicity and authenticity.

How could jonah survive three days in the belly of a. The authenticity of the book of jonah by dr bill cooper the biblical book of jonah is written from a historical standpoint. Book of jonah, the fifth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, embraced in a single book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. The biblical book of jonah is written from a historical standpoint. The historical authenticity is also backed up by the following points from the same site. None of the ancient jews or early christians ever doubted the authenticity and historicity of the book of jonah and its story. He spoke of jonahs stay in the belly of the fish and contrasted the repentant ninevites with the unbelieving. The psalm prayer, for one, is a strong argument against the. Conservative scholars place the writing of the book of jonah before 745. The authenticity of the book of jonah by bill cooper.

Historian bill cooper recently helped answer this question in his 2012 book. As for jonahs aquatic experience which is the crux of the story, while there is no conclusive historical proof that jonah was ever swallowed by a fish and lived to tell about it, there is some provocative corroboratory evidence. Indeed, it is a common phenomenon for students to find within the classrooms of even supposedly. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. Concern for the salvation of all people, including ones enemies, is the proper attitude for people of god. The incidentals in the book of jonah are the fish, the gourd, the east wind, the boat, and even the city of nineveh. If we reject the book of jonah as literal, we reject the authenticity of christs statement. Use this guide to uncover the wonderful message of jonah, and to come face to face with the greatest evangelist of allthe lord our god himself. The book of jonah is certainly written as though it were actual history.