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The main question is that comes up when discussing Jonah is can it be believed as presented, or is it allegory?
Other References to Jonah
- Jonah is referenced in 2Kgs 14#25
- Jesus Talks about Jonah Matt 12#38..41, Matt 16#4, Luke 11#29..32
Jonah and the Resurrection
One of the main criticisms that the book of Jonah gets is the part about Jonah in the belly of the fish. Oddly this is a small part of the overall story of Jonah and yet it is most people even know about Jonah. Somehow the other 9 miracles that are found in the book don't receive much attestation at all. See Ten Miracles in Jonah
But what does the resurrection have to do with Jonah? Lets start with what Christ' death and resurrection means. For Salvation we must believe in the Resurrection (1Cor 15). Because it confirms that Jesus is who he says He is, the Son of God. If there was any one thing that Christ claimed to be and did not fulfill then He could not be God in the form of man.
A dead savior can not save anybody. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is as much a part of the gospel message as His sacrificial death on the cross (1Cor 15#1..8). In fact, in the book of Acts, the church gave witness primarily to the resurrection (Acts 1#22, Acts 4#2, Acts 4#33)
- Wiersbe1
If we can not believe in the resurrection then what foundation do we have to believe in anything else in the bible? Did God part The Red Sea for Moses (Exod 14)? Did God Flood the whole earth (Gen 6)? Did God create the Heavens and the Earth in 6 days (Gen 1)?
This also sets a dangerous president. We can not pick and choose what in the bible is allegory and what is truth.