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Gospel According to the Old Testament
Salvation Through Judgment and Mercy: The Gospel According to Jonah (The Gospel According to the Old Testament) by Bryan D. Estelle
A responsible Christological reading of the book of Jonah, a highly complex and artistic short story with multiple layers of meaning.
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First published June 1, 2005
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About the author
Bryan D. Estelle
4 books5 followersBryan D. Estelle (PhD, Catholic University of America) is professor of Old Testament at Westminster Seminary California. He is the author of Salvation Through Judgment and Mercy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 11, 2025
Okay, I’ve got so many quotes marked in this book! Comprehensive and clear. Hits on translation issues and controversies but does not get into the weeds (praise). Exalts Christ in the story of Jonah. Top 3 Jonah commentary 👏👏👏
January 22, 2022
Another book that I read to prepare for my youth group Jonah study. This had more of specific focus than the other three or four books I have read. But this will make it much more useable for me going into the study I will be doing. Very good book!
October 13, 2025
Excellent!
January 19, 2023
Overall, a VERY good commentary on Jonah. Most commentators woefully miss the point of Jonah and turn it into a post-enlightenment book about Jonah coming to terms with God's universal love. (In reality, Jonah knows that his commission to Nineveh is a portent of Israel's coming destruction, which indeed came in 722 BC, and so he runs as he doesnt want to be the prophet through whom his own people is destroyed) This commentary comes SOO close to a proper, canonical, covenantal and contextual reading of Jonah. The discussion on Jonah 2:8 and 'those who cling to useless idols' being a reference not to the sailors but to Israel was so refreshing to read.
Unfortunately this all fell apart at chapter 4. Why does Jonah quote the formula from Joel 2 not Exodus 34? Why does God show Jonah a plant and then destroy it? These are all related to the story of Israel. That said, there were some brilliant points made, particularly pointing out the use of a fortiori argumentation from God (essential to the ending line of Jonah).
This will be a commentary on Jonah I recommend.
Unfortunately this all fell apart at chapter 4. Why does Jonah quote the formula from Joel 2 not Exodus 34? Why does God show Jonah a plant and then destroy it? These are all related to the story of Israel. That said, there were some brilliant points made, particularly pointing out the use of a fortiori argumentation from God (essential to the ending line of Jonah).
This will be a commentary on Jonah I recommend.
February 1, 2021
The book of Jonah is largely known for the story of Jonah in the belly of the great fish, as Estelle himself points out. But this little book is so much more. As Estelle states in his introduction, "Christ, the risen One who is greater than Jonah, brings salvation through judgment and mercy to his people, those inside and outside of Israel who call on his name." (see Matthew 12:39-41, 16:4; Luke 11:29-32)
This is a short book, but then the book of Jonah itself is short, only forty-eight verses. Estelle does not attempt or intend to cover every verse of Jonah. Like the other books in The Gospel According to the Old Testament series, this is not intended as a scholarly commentary on the book but rather a guide to the themes and message of the book, a guide accessible to laypeople as well as pastors and academics (he does include a two-page postscript directed at pastors). Having said that, it should be noted that he draws on over seventy sources, so he has done his research well.
The first chapter is an orientation to the book of Jonah. The next three chapters cover almost the entire first chapter of Jonah; an additional chapter is devoted to Jonah 1:17 alone! Then he gives two chapters to Jonah 2, and one chapter each to the remaining chapters of Jonah. References to various Hebrew words in the text are sprinkled throughout, but the Hebrew is transliterated and explained, so that it is helpful in understanding what may not be fully captured by the English translation. Each chapter ends with questions for further consideration.
In addition to covering the text of Jonah well, Estelle also deals with theological issues that are germane to or suggested by the text. For example, in his orientation to the book he treats the subject of covenant theology and Israel's covenant relationship to God. In his covering of Chapter 3, particularly verse 10, he deals with open theism.
I definitely gained a new appreciation for, and a better understanding of, the book of Jonah through reading this book. And I appreciate very much the way that Estelle showed how this book, like the rest of Scripture, points us to Christ, even as he warns us "that does not mean that every Christocentric reading of an Old Testament text is a legitimate one." Estelle shows us how to read the book of Jonah Christologically, and in a proper and legitimate way.
Finally, at the beginning of most of the chapters in his book, Estelle places a quotation from Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick. And they're appropriate and interesting quotes; makes me want to read that novel once again.
This is a short book, but then the book of Jonah itself is short, only forty-eight verses. Estelle does not attempt or intend to cover every verse of Jonah. Like the other books in The Gospel According to the Old Testament series, this is not intended as a scholarly commentary on the book but rather a guide to the themes and message of the book, a guide accessible to laypeople as well as pastors and academics (he does include a two-page postscript directed at pastors). Having said that, it should be noted that he draws on over seventy sources, so he has done his research well.
The first chapter is an orientation to the book of Jonah. The next three chapters cover almost the entire first chapter of Jonah; an additional chapter is devoted to Jonah 1:17 alone! Then he gives two chapters to Jonah 2, and one chapter each to the remaining chapters of Jonah. References to various Hebrew words in the text are sprinkled throughout, but the Hebrew is transliterated and explained, so that it is helpful in understanding what may not be fully captured by the English translation. Each chapter ends with questions for further consideration.
In addition to covering the text of Jonah well, Estelle also deals with theological issues that are germane to or suggested by the text. For example, in his orientation to the book he treats the subject of covenant theology and Israel's covenant relationship to God. In his covering of Chapter 3, particularly verse 10, he deals with open theism.
I definitely gained a new appreciation for, and a better understanding of, the book of Jonah through reading this book. And I appreciate very much the way that Estelle showed how this book, like the rest of Scripture, points us to Christ, even as he warns us "that does not mean that every Christocentric reading of an Old Testament text is a legitimate one." Estelle shows us how to read the book of Jonah Christologically, and in a proper and legitimate way.
Finally, at the beginning of most of the chapters in his book, Estelle places a quotation from Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick. And they're appropriate and interesting quotes; makes me want to read that novel once again.
January 28, 2022
I enjoyed reading this commentary in preparing some studies on Jonah. This is not a critical commentary but more for general audiences, so it read fairly easily. Estelle does a good job of bringing out some simple structure of the book and explaining some of the original language in the book of Jonah that would otherwise evade the naive reader of Hebrew. More than anything though, he gives a fresh perspective on the prophet that makes you think long and hard about the book and key events in the book. I don't agree with Estelle's final conclusion that Jonah is better than we often give him credit, but Estelle's approach allows you to approach the matter objectively and decide for yourself.
November 12, 2025
It’s shortness may indicate a cursory glance at Jonah, but it is rich, deep, and resonated wonderfully with profound connections to Christ. A refreshing work that combines some excellent scholarly insights with searching challenges and encouragements for faith.
June 8, 2017
A very helpful, approachable commentary on the book of Jonah. This is more aimed at the lay-level, but provides plenty of depth for the interested reader.
November 18, 2023
Rich connections made between Jonah and Jesus. A delightful read.
February 28, 2020
Very helpful as I am preaching through Jonah.
October 13, 2016
A decent small book stretched into a longer book. Clocking in at about 150 pages, it needed a firmer hand in editing. Estelle tended towards verbosity and it needed to be ratcheted back a bit. But I think that would turn this more into a booklet size rather than a book, which works against the pattern of the series.
There is also an overwhelming weight placed on the first chapter. Fully one half of the book is focused on authorship and composition and the first 17 verses and the last half seems rushed.
Positives: Estelle holds to a conservative evangelical and historical reading of the text, allowing the book to stand on its own merits. He is Christ-centered in his interpretation (as per the series' aim). He regularly breaks out complicated and thorny issues in interpretation such as Jonah's motivation in requesting to be thrown overboard, the use of typology as it relates to Christ, and the use of analogical language (I.e. God using baby talk when explaining his actions to us). There is also a helpful structural analysis and comparison between chapters 1&3 and 2&4.
Negatives: as mentioned above, very wordy, possibly excessively so. It is incredibly difficult to read aloud which makes it nearly impossible to use for family devotions (one of the reasons the book was purchased). Also, the rabbit trails over the interpretive issues break the flow of the exegesis and even, in the later chapters, so overwhelm the exegesis as to replace it.
Summary analysis: Jonah is not governed by racism or xenophobia, but by rejecting the idea of God's mercy to pagans. Jonah provides a foil to both pagan Nineveh and piteous God and represents unmerciful and unrepentant Israel. This points us to Jesus and the mission of the cross as God is merciful to all who would repent.
There is also an overwhelming weight placed on the first chapter. Fully one half of the book is focused on authorship and composition and the first 17 verses and the last half seems rushed.
Positives: Estelle holds to a conservative evangelical and historical reading of the text, allowing the book to stand on its own merits. He is Christ-centered in his interpretation (as per the series' aim). He regularly breaks out complicated and thorny issues in interpretation such as Jonah's motivation in requesting to be thrown overboard, the use of typology as it relates to Christ, and the use of analogical language (I.e. God using baby talk when explaining his actions to us). There is also a helpful structural analysis and comparison between chapters 1&3 and 2&4.
Negatives: as mentioned above, very wordy, possibly excessively so. It is incredibly difficult to read aloud which makes it nearly impossible to use for family devotions (one of the reasons the book was purchased). Also, the rabbit trails over the interpretive issues break the flow of the exegesis and even, in the later chapters, so overwhelm the exegesis as to replace it.
Summary analysis: Jonah is not governed by racism or xenophobia, but by rejecting the idea of God's mercy to pagans. Jonah provides a foil to both pagan Nineveh and piteous God and represents unmerciful and unrepentant Israel. This points us to Jesus and the mission of the cross as God is merciful to all who would repent.
February 19, 2019
Not very impressed with this one. Overall I’m a fan of the series, and Estelle’s volume hit the right notes in terms of being Christ-centered, but left me wanting more. Lacking in application for contemporary readers. For such a short book, there were many rabbit trails and efforts made to qualify his statements. The reflection questions were the type of questions I get from my seminary professors to test my knowledge of what was taught, but were not helpful for better understanding the message of Jonah for the church today and not really useful for group discussion either. I find this often by books written by professors, especially if they are not also pastors. Other volumes in this series do a better job at taking a step back to summarize principles and then ask heart level discussion questions for the reader to prayerfully consider. I did kind of like the Moby Dick quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
September 8, 2022
*Updated review 10 years later*
This is still one of my favorite commentaries on Jonah. It is interesting, accessible, and covers important contextual information, including important words and poetic devices in the original Hebrew. My favorite thing is Estelle's emphasis on the Gospel. Jonah, like all books of the Bible, is ultimately about God unfolding His plan of redemption throughout history. Estelle does a great job when it comes to making Jonah applicable to the life of the reader, and I use it as a teaching tool when I prepare to teach/preach through Jonah.
This is still one of my favorite commentaries on Jonah. It is interesting, accessible, and covers important contextual information, including important words and poetic devices in the original Hebrew. My favorite thing is Estelle's emphasis on the Gospel. Jonah, like all books of the Bible, is ultimately about God unfolding His plan of redemption throughout history. Estelle does a great job when it comes to making Jonah applicable to the life of the reader, and I use it as a teaching tool when I prepare to teach/preach through Jonah.
September 25, 2024
This wasn't bad, exactly, but it was more superficial than I'd hoped it would be and had a patronizing tone that was...disagreeable. I understand that some terms might need to be defined, or that the editors might decide they need to be defined against the inclination of the author, but it is painful to be told what "anthropomorphism" and "literary foil" mean; it comes across as the scholarly author condescending to the level of us plebeian laypeople, who, not being Academic[TM], cannot be expected to Know Things.
Anyhow, the book raises a few interesting points about the book of Jonah, but doesn't really bring out much more than I feel one can get by a close reading of the minor prophet on one's own. Estelle discusses some of the Hebrew terminology, word-play, and poetic devices; these, however, never seemed to add substantially to my appreciation of the passage's meaning (with an exception for the realization that the "steadfast love" in Jonah 2:8 is hesed, the "lovingkindness" of the KJV). Even the parallels or anti-parallels between Jonah and Jesus didn't go beyond surface level. There was little that stood out as remarkable, eye-opening, or devotional. I suspect this is largely the fault of the writing style, which feels dumbed-down; I think the author intended the book to be devotional, but it missed the mark for me. The best section was the last few pages, which draw out the compassion of God on the nations.
I believe another reviewer stated that the book takes a high view of Jonah's historicity, but I have to admit, I missed that. To me it seemed that Estelle was trying to please everyone at once, but that he leaned toward the side of "it's a story written much later than the time it claims to represent, but the author wanted us to think of the story being set in the time of the prophet Jonah, and that's what matters!" I found this approach unnecessary and odd. But if others saw things differently, maybe I missed something?
Anyhow, the book raises a few interesting points about the book of Jonah, but doesn't really bring out much more than I feel one can get by a close reading of the minor prophet on one's own. Estelle discusses some of the Hebrew terminology, word-play, and poetic devices; these, however, never seemed to add substantially to my appreciation of the passage's meaning (with an exception for the realization that the "steadfast love" in Jonah 2:8 is hesed, the "lovingkindness" of the KJV). Even the parallels or anti-parallels between Jonah and Jesus didn't go beyond surface level. There was little that stood out as remarkable, eye-opening, or devotional. I suspect this is largely the fault of the writing style, which feels dumbed-down; I think the author intended the book to be devotional, but it missed the mark for me. The best section was the last few pages, which draw out the compassion of God on the nations.
I believe another reviewer stated that the book takes a high view of Jonah's historicity, but I have to admit, I missed that. To me it seemed that Estelle was trying to please everyone at once, but that he leaned toward the side of "it's a story written much later than the time it claims to represent, but the author wanted us to think of the story being set in the time of the prophet Jonah, and that's what matters!" I found this approach unnecessary and odd. But if others saw things differently, maybe I missed something?
December 31, 2018
Estelle's commentary on Jonah is an enjoyable read and covers everything that is generally covered in other commentaries. I have been reading through commentaries on Jonah to find a good one for a Bible study group I lead. I've settled on this one for a few reasons:
1. Estelle's interpretation of Jonah overall is middle of the road. Where there are differing opinions on interpretation, Estelle usually briefly discusses the alternative interpretation and why he prefers to stick with the traditional. It is nice to see the variety of interpretations and arguments for and against.
2. This is a Christocentric commentary on Jonah. Estelle spends time pointing out the typological connections between Jonah and Christ. This is important since in the Gospels Christ points to Jonah as a type of himself.
3. Estelle takes a few rabbit trails to dig deeper into some theological concepts. For example, digging into the idea of typology in the Bible and an explanation and refutation of the concept of Open Theology.
4. There are questions for further reflection at the end of each chapter. This is of course handy for a study group.
Overall, this is a solid and enjoyable commentary, especially for use in a study group with laity.
3.75-4 Stars.
1. Estelle's interpretation of Jonah overall is middle of the road. Where there are differing opinions on interpretation, Estelle usually briefly discusses the alternative interpretation and why he prefers to stick with the traditional. It is nice to see the variety of interpretations and arguments for and against.
2. This is a Christocentric commentary on Jonah. Estelle spends time pointing out the typological connections between Jonah and Christ. This is important since in the Gospels Christ points to Jonah as a type of himself.
3. Estelle takes a few rabbit trails to dig deeper into some theological concepts. For example, digging into the idea of typology in the Bible and an explanation and refutation of the concept of Open Theology.
4. There are questions for further reflection at the end of each chapter. This is of course handy for a study group.
Overall, this is a solid and enjoyable commentary, especially for use in a study group with laity.
3.75-4 Stars.
January 13, 2021
This book did help to understand the passage and wonderfully kept pointing to Jesus at the centre of it. However I feel the author often included unnecessary details (especially in a long introduction) that didn't aid in understanding (some quotes he didn't explain why they were there) and I think he focused too heavily on the original language that it made it feel like you couldn't possibly understand Jonah unless you have a perfect understanding of Hebrew.
July 28, 2017
I enjoyed Bryan Estelle's book exploring the gospel in Jonah. I appreciated that his connections to the gospel seemed natural and not forced. Generally he gave some key insights into the text itself before demonstrating how certain themes, persons or ideas point us to Jesus.
Some chapters were better than others, but overall I enjoyed the reading and was edified by his insights.
Some chapters were better than others, but overall I enjoyed the reading and was edified by his insights.
June 1, 2021
I found this book extremely enjoyable and helpful. This is not a verse by verse commentary but more of a guide to reading Jonah with a Christ center perspective. In that sense there is a great deal that is unsaid and would be better found in a more conventional commentary. But what this book does say is well said and clearly communicated.
February 15, 2023
A very good commentary on Jonah. The author clearly knows the story very well from an academic perspective but he does an excellent job of explaining the exegetical work (including some nuances of the Hebrew) in a way that the average reader can understand (and learn something from!) There are reflection questions at the end of each chapter. Highly recommended!
October 17, 2017
This was a great resource as I preached through Jonah. Estelle does a good job of showing Christ in this book through a good hermeneutical method. There is no "stretching" to get to Jesus. It's also short and accessible, a good read to accompany you through your own study of the text.
October 17, 2019
It's a light commentary, more like a study guide. Provides good discussion questions
December 13, 2020
A very good commentary on Jonah: orthodox, Reformed, accessible, good for anyone (including pastors).
September 12, 2021
A helpful and biblically faithful overview of the gospel themes found in Jonah. Useful for personal reading, for teacher and pastors.
June 24, 2024
This was a helpful overview of the book of Jonah. I would pair it with Kevin Youngblood's work to help round out one's study.
October 23, 2024
Excellent - more focused on understanding the dynamics of the text than practical application
August 2, 2012
As you go thru the story of Jonah, you will be encouraged by God's mercy towards the people of Ninevah but also towards Jonah. Some insights that were presented are also relevant for today. Nineveh had many people who were entrapped in their sinful lifestyles and did not know how to get out. As the word says, they could not tell their right hand from their left. I think as a Christian that seeks after God, it is humbling to be reminded of that. For myself and others. One of the things that Jonah forgot is that God is ALWAYS true to himself and who he is regarding mercy and justice. The story of Jonah is a great example of God's namesake.
December 30, 2013
In this brief book, Estelle tackles the book of Jonah and some of its long-ranging implications concerning the world-wide scope of God’s message. Jonah also prefigures Christ and His work in some important ways, and Estelle emphasizes how God’s salvation is made possible through a combination of judgment and mercy. Although this book only allows for a surface-level approach, it is an admirable survey of Jonah and encourages a much closer look at this familiar story.
June 3, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed this commentary on the book of Jonah. The author was intellectually challenging but also pastoral, and more importantly, showed how Christ is the central figure of the book. It was a stimulating read and answered the questions I had about the book of Jonah, namely what did the fish represent, and what on earth do I make of the 4th chapter (and why does it end on a cliffhanger!)?
February 23, 2016
This was an excellent commentary on Jonah. Estelle went much deeper into the Hebrew and Ancient customs than I have seen in other such commentaries. Most importantly, he constantly pointed the reader to Christ, the gospel, and God's sovereignty. I read this as our youth group worked through the book of Jonah and I think my small group benefited from what I learned from it; at least I hope.
February 15, 2015
It was probably worthwhile working through this brief commentary, but all in all, it was just too simplistic an approach to the book of Jonah. It is supposedly aimed at pastors and laypeople, but it is very basic and does not seem to have interacted sufficiently with other scholarship on Jonah.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews