JONAH IN THE SYNOPTIC TRADITION

This book is the fruit of a dissertation which seeks to get beyond the impasse in the modern interpretation of the "Sign-Jonah" Traditions by building upon the achieved results of previous studies (both diachronic and synchronic) examining some Jewish Writings from Second Temple Judaism (the historical ambience of the Synoptic tradition), engaging recently refined concepts and methods of literary-narrative analyses such as the use of synkrisis and utilizing the revised understanding of typology in examining the specific role of Jonah in Luke's Christology. Applying the redactional-critical approach, typological exegesis, and literary (narrative) analysis, it examines three specific questions: (1) what the appropriate "image" of Jonah in Second Temple Judaism (historical) is, (2) what the specific form of the "Sign-Jonah" saying in the gospel narratives (literary) is, and (3) how Jonah's figure contribute to Lucan Christology (theological). The entire study concludes with some revealing elements which shed light on the questions which underpin the dissertation: (1) Jonah's figure was replete and frequently invoked in Second Temple Judaism (his fish ordeal, preaching in Nineveh, death experience, considered as sign, commonplace recourse in crisis situation); and (2) "Sign-Jonah" and "Solomon-Queen" traditions (pieced together with the Beelzebul controversy) are interwoven in narration to make a syncretic-typological correlation between Jesus and Jonah (prophetic character in person and activity) and bring a clear definition to the enigmatic logion to semeion Iona; 3). Jonah's figure, in the context of Luke's Christology, serves as an element of both continuity (consistency with OT tradition) and discontinuity (redefinition--Jesus is the fulfillment and plenitude of OT tradition).