Topical Bible: Resurrection: Typified: Jonah

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The concept of resurrection is a central theme in Christian theology, symbolizing the victory over death and the promise of eternal life. One of the typological foreshadowings of resurrection in the Old Testament is found in the account of Jonah. The account of Jonah serves as a prophetic sign pointing to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as affirmed by Jesus Himself in the New Testament.

Jonah's Experience

The Book of Jonah recounts the account of the prophet Jonah, who was called by God to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh. Jonah, however, attempted to flee from God's command and boarded a ship heading in the opposite direction. A great storm arose, and Jonah was thrown into the sea, where he was swallowed by a great fish. Jonah 1:17 states, "Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish."

During his time in the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed to God, acknowledging his distress and seeking deliverance. Jonah 2:2 records his prayer: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice." After three days and nights, the LORD commanded the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry land, symbolizing a form of resurrection from the depths of the earth.

Typology of Resurrection

The experience of Jonah is seen as a typological precursor to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself draws a parallel between Jonah's three days in the belly of the fish and His own death and resurrection. In Matthew 12:40 , Jesus declares, "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

This typology emphasizes the power of God to bring life from death and deliverance from the grave. Just as Jonah emerged from the fish to fulfill his mission in Nineveh, Jesus rose from the dead to complete His redemptive work for humanity.

Significance in Christian Theology

The typology of Jonah's experience underscores the prophetic nature of the Old Testament and its fulfillment in the New Testament. It highlights the continuity of God's salvific plan and the foreshadowing of Christ's resurrection, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith. The resurrection of Jesus is seen as the ultimate victory over sin and death, offering believers the hope of eternal life.

Jonah's account, therefore, serves as a powerful illustration of God's sovereignty, mercy, and the promise of new life through resurrection. It invites believers to trust in God's power to redeem and restore, even from the depths of despair.

Nave's Topical Index

Jonah 2:10
And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah on the dry land.
Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 12:40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Guilty Silence and Its Reward
... The history of Israel was typified in this history, and the ... Jonah's repentance saved
his life ... employed this incident as a symbol of His Death and Resurrection. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/guilty silence and its reward.htm

Against Heresies
... Chapter XXII.--The thirty ??ons are not typified by the ... our body a participator of
the resurrection and of ... as well as the preservation of Jonah, of Shadrach ...
//christianbookshelf.org/irenaeus/against heresies/

Subject Index
... the thirty, not typified by the baptism of Jesus in His thirtieth year, [9]390. ... His
resurrection, [280]11, [281]33, [282]33, [283]70, [284]70, [285]70, [286]87 ...
/.../irenaeus/fragments from the lost writings of irenaeus/subject index.htm

The Typical Significance of the Scriptures Declare their Divine ...
... forth triumphant"a remarkable type of our Lord's resurrection. ... now consider at
length:"Adam typified His Headship ... the Faithful Witness for God; Jonah as the ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter six the typical significance.htm

Index of Subjects.
... Jonah, book of, 338. ... Resurrection, first and second, 630. ... Theocracy, its establishment
under Moses, 232; Christ its end, 118; and typified by it, 146; alleged ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barrows/companion to the bible/index of subjects.htm

The City of God. Index of Subjects.
... possessed true human emotions, [291]269, etc.; the passion of, typified by Noah's ...
the [296]110th and [297]22d Psalms, [298]355; the resurrection of, predicted ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /the city of god index.htm

Index of Subjects.
... miracles, [278]264; foresaw the Jews' unbelief, [279]274; how like Jonah, [280]274 ...
Law, the, given in terrors, [1023]2, [1024]8; was typified in Phares, [1025]16 ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/index of subjects.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... members of Christ, [716]ib., and condemned by the doctrine of the Resurrection,
[717]97 ... Jonah, sought his own profit, [959]147; fled from his duty, [960]170. ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

General Index.
... New Testament, see Bible, translations of. Nineveh, Jonah's message to, 406. ...
special resurrection of, 637. ... Satan typified by, 422, 485, 658. ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /general index.htm

Introduction to Oration ii.
... the dominion of evil, and of death for death, and of darkness for the sake of light,
and of burial for the return to the ground, and of resurrection for the ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/introduction to oration ii.htm