Complete English translation
Introducing Bible Study Techniques: PCS (Plots, Characters, Settings)
With this method, we will dig deeper into the stories in the Bible through three key elements: plot, character, and setting. As an exercise, let's apply this technique to the Book of Jonah and see how we can find profound messages from his story.
Plots/Storylines
Just like in a movie, stories in the Bible often have a main plot and a sub-plot. Every plot usually consists of the beginning of the story, conflict escalation, and resolution. Let's look at two different plots in the Book of Jonah.
Main storyline: God wanted Jonah (His Messenger) to go to Nineveh and preach repentance to them, and if they do not repent, they will face the wrath of God.
Additional storyline: Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh, so he disobeyed and decided to escape from his mission.
Reflection question: Find out what motivated Jonah not to want to go to Nineveh.
Characters
Let's focus on the first chapter of the Book of Jonah. Here, we can see three main characters: God, Jonah, and the sailors or the people on the ship that Jonah used to escape from his mission.
God:
• Ordering Jonah to Nineveh.
• Bringing storms because of Jonah's disobedience.
Yunus:
• Disobeying God's commandments.
• Fleeing to Tarsis, causing a storm.
Sailors:
• Infidels/worldly people.
• Throwing Jonah into the sea for the sake of saving the ship.
Reflection question: There is an interesting contrast between Jonah and the pagan sailors. What can you find from this comparison?
Settings/Background
Background is very important in reading the Old Testament. Often, we lose the nuance or meaning of the author because we fail to understand the existing background. Check out the following information:
Tarshish
Nineveh
2500 miles 550 miles
Joppa
So, when the Bible says Jonah escaped from his mission to Nineveh, he really tried to run as far as maybe to the opposite end of the world.
Reflection question: After seeing the setting of this story, what comes to your mind about God's character?
Now, you can read until the end of the Book of Jonah with the PCS study method. Can you find the climax of the storyline? The majesty of God's character? And what can you learn about what the city of Nineveh symbolizes?