The Prodigal Prophet

Jonah and the Mystery of God's Mercy

By: Timothy Keller

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

An angry prophet. A feared and loathsome enemy. A devastating storm. And the surprising message of a merciful God to his people.

The story of Jonah is one of the most well-known parables in the Bible. It is also the most misunderstood. Many people, even those who are nonreligious, are familiar with Jonah: A rebellious prophet who defies God and is swallowed by a whale. But there's much more to Jonah's story than most of us realize.

In The Prodigal Prophet, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller reveals the hidden depths within the book of Jonah. Keller makes the case that Jonah was one of the worst prophets in the entire Bible. And yet there are unmistakably clear connections between Jonah, the prodigal son, and Jesus. Jesus in fact saw himself in Jonah. How could one of the most defiant and disobedient prophets in the Bible be compared to Jesus?

Jonah's journey also doesn't end when he is freed from the belly of the fish. There is an entire second half to his story--but it is left unresolved within the text of the Bible. Why does the book of Jonah end on what is essentially a cliffhanger? In these pages, Timothy Keller provides an answer to the extraordinary conclusion of this biblical parable--and shares the powerful Christian message at the heart of Jonah's story.

Critic reviews

Praise for Timothy Keller and his books:

“Superb . . . we should be grateful to Keller for his wisdom, scholarship, and humility.”
—The Gospel Coalition

“Tim Keller’s ministry in New York City is leading a generation of seekers and skeptics toward belief in God. I thank God for him.”
—Billy Graham

“Unlike most suburban megachurches, much of Redeemer is remarkably traditional. What is not traditional is Dr. Keller’s skill in speaking the language of his urbane audience. . . . Observing Dr. Keller’s professorial pose on stage, it is easy to understand his appeal.”
—The New York Times

“Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”
—Christianity Today

“Timothy Keller puts a contemporary spin on the familiar story of the prophet who disobeyed God and was swallowed by a whale.”
—Publishers Weekly

If you liked Prodigal God and Counterfit Gods then you will like this book.

An insightful short book by T. Keller. He does a good job at unpacking the story of Jonah and linking it to the New Testament.

Excellent!

A great message of truth, clearly taught! Loved it and worth your time to listen to :)

A New Understanding of Jonah

Timothy Keller did an excellent job of bringing to light many aspects of the book of Jonah that I’d never thought of.

His observations were biblical, personally thought provoking and at times convicting. I have a totally new perspective of this story and I’ve recommended this book to several people.

Sean’s narration of the book was excellent.

Great book!

Great book. Much that I learned about Jonah that I never realized or picked up on before. Well worth the time investment to read and grow.

Thank you Tim Keller!

Another beautiful book- exactly the word of hope, faith and forgiveness I needed to read. I’ve never seen Jonah or myself so clearly.