3. Sign of Jonah

Question 1

1. Context

Answer 1

• Jonah is an OT prophet who was sent by God to warn sinful people of Nineveh that they were doing to be destroyed.
- Ninevites take this to heart and change their sinful ways, God spares them

• Queen of the South: is in the OT and is a mysterious figure who visited King Solomon to test his wisdom
• Jesus uses these two example to criticize his audience
• This was also in Matthew but it refers to Crucifixion and Resurrection

Question 2

2. Meaning

Answer 2

• Sign of Jonah: is an apocalyptic warning of God’s Kingdom arriving soon
• The men of Nineveh listened to Jonah and the Queen of the South listened to Solomon.
• Jesus accuses audience of not listening to him (path / rocky ground)

Question 3

3. Implications

Answer 3

• Conzelmann: argued that Luke seems to have redacted this passage, removing reference to the Crucifixion (downplays Apocalypse)
- People of Nineveh were not destroyed as they turned to God (this may be Luke’s solution)

• Marshall: tone of urgency links with the idea of the 1st Century Christians waiting for the Parousia