Jonah commentary recommendations
From a preaching focused, Christ-centred perspective
Having just finished preaching through a whole book for the first time, here are the commentaries on Jonah I found most helpful. This is mainly for my own benefit so I can look back to this if I revisit the book, but I’ll post them here in case others find them helpful.
The ratings system I’ve come up is based on their usefulness for preaching and works as follows.
5 star: don’t preach it without reading these.
4 star: read if possible.
3 star: helpful if you’ve time.
(Before I preach on a book I go through the recommendations of Mathison/Carson/Longman/Challies (well, his comments — as all he does is combine the views of the other 3) so with that starting point there shouldn’t be too many lower ratings.)
FIVE STAR
Joyce Baldwin in Thomas E. McComiskey — The Minor Prophets (1992): Divided into two sections, Exegesis and Explanation. Both do their job well. Walks you through the Hebrew without assuming too much. Technical enough to hold its own but not overly so.
Martin Luther — Works vol. 19 (1526):
“Among the minor prophets, Jonah and Habakkuk were obviously of special significance for Martin Luther…In addition to the usual Latin lectures, Luther added popular versions in the manner of a German commentary, carefully written out expressly for printed publication.”
Storming commentary, and eminently quotable. If reading in Logos, make sure you navigate to the German section as it will automatically take you to the more unpolished Latin.
Matthew Henry: It’s always tempting to skip over him, but here he consistently pulls it out of the back. Great on the not-so-obvious parallels to Christ.
O. Palmer Robertson — Jonah: A Study in Compassion: A careful exegete and lots of convicting application in this short book.
Douglas Stuart — Hosea-Jonah (WBC): One of the more conservative Word commentaries, it has a good reputation and certainly justifies it on Jonah. You may not need to read every word, but worth consulting on key issues.
Robert Hawker — Poor Man’s Commentary: For an introduction to Hawker, see my post here. Spurgeon’s comment on Hawker sums up his work on Jonah:
“Not as a substantial dish, but as a condiment, place the Plymouth vicar’s work on the table. His writing is all sugar, and you will know how to use it, not devouring it in lumps, but using it to flavour other things.”
FOUR STAR
Sinclair Ferguson — Man Overboard: Found some chapters more helpful than others but definitely worth reading. Some great illustrations.
John L. Mackay — Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habbakuk (FOTB) (CFP, 2008): another great OT scholar takes on Jonah — we’re spoilt for choice!
THREE STAR
John Calvin: Normally Calvin would be right up there, but found his commentary on Jonah too voluminous to keep up with on some sections, and didn’t always agree with his take on things.
Desmond Alexander in Obadiah, Jonah, Micah (Tyndale): Concise but not superficial, and brings together Alexander’s other work on Jonah.
Gordon Keddie — Preacher on the Run: Can be suggestive, and has gleaned from earlier works, such as Martin.
Hugh Martin — The Prophet Jonah: Good but a struggle to keep up with if preaching chapters at a time. Includes sections on NT references to Jonah.
NOT USED BUT WORTH A LOOK
Bryan D. Estelle — Salvation Through Judgment And Mercy: The Gospel According to Jonah (P&R, 2005).
Patrick Fairbairn: Jonah, His Life, Character, and Mission.
Richard D. Phillips — Jonah & Micah (REC) (P&R, 2012).
ONLINE SERMONS
Titus Martin, David Whitla, Andrew Quigley, David McCullough
