An exegetic-herm eneutical research on th e Jo n a h evidences in M atthew 12:38ff The New Testament interpretation o f the "sign o f Jonah " (Math 12:38jf) cannot be applied as a criterion to legitimate the historical authenticity o f the story about Jonah and the great fish in the Old Testament. It is, however, possible to recognise the authority o f Jesu s' citation in Matthew I2:38ff and simultaneously quash the historical authenticity o f the evidence about Jonah and the great fish.

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... created a new authoritative text with an exegitical method inherent in his own context and never tried to verify the historical authenticity o f the evidence about Jonah and the "three days and three nights " in the belly o f the fish. Matthew 12:38ff as well as the story about Jonah in The Book o f Jonah should each be expounded in its own historical, literary and theological context.