‘I wonder sometimes if the teacher is not the real student and beneficiary’ (George Steiner)
I am a freelance speaker and writer. I have a passion for reflecting on our human life and vocation in connection with the biblical scriptures and the Christian tradition more widely.
One of my most recent projects has been a book on the interpretation of Jonah.
Jonah’s Story, Our Challenge introduces readers to the most inspiring readings of the book of Jonah from a range of angles, including historical, literary, and psychological ones. It specifically facilitates engagement with contextual, liberationist, and postcolonial readings that afford us fresh and often challenging perspectives from around the world. And it embraces ecological interpretation and its insights about Jonah, thus seeking to encourage ecological reading of the Bible more generally. The book is designed to let different and at times contradictory readings stand alongside each other, thus allowing for multiple voices to be heard. Questions interspersed throughout the text encourage further reflection and discussion of the range of interpretations showcased here, while seeking to tease out their implications for our engagement with the biblical text.
“This is an extraordinarily wide-ranging study of many possible ways of reading the book of Jonah, based on close knowledge of all the major types of biblical interpretation in use today – from now traditional ‘historical-critical’ approaches all the way to postcolonial and ecological readings. In the process, Karl Möller introduces the reader into the current scene in biblical studies in an attractive and approachable way. An ideal book for anyone beginning to study the Bible, but with much to teach even experienced readers who may be bewildered by the variety of methods now encountered, and who need a re-orientation. Jonah turns out to be an ideal text to try out various methods. Highly recommended!”
“This thoughtful and far-reaching book emphasises the inherent plasticity of the book of Jonah and reveals its interpretative richness and diversity. Möller challenges us to re-evaluate our own preconceived ideas of what the book of Jonah is all about and guides us towards a fuller appreciation of the multiple and often mutually contradictory interpretations of the book.”
“In this fascinating and well-written book, Möller speaks eloquently about the capacity of Jonah to reinvent itself over the centuries. … Möller presents the reader with some challenging reflections at every step of the way, from the theology of God presupposed by the text through to the way in which Jonah has been used to foster anti-Semitic stereotyping of Jews as ‘self-righteous, nationalistic and xenophobic’. … The section on committed readings builds on an interesting narrative analysis to encourage a reading of Jonah from the margins – those who are routinely excluded from the religious focus. … This book is intended as an introduction to the critical study of Jonah for undergraduates, and it should be a particularly valuable resource in that regard. Möller suggests that some church and Bible study groups might also want to use the book, although some of those groups might find the probing analysis more challenging and stretching than they are used to in a parochial setting. But this is an excellent introductory-level textbook for university students and much to be recommended.”
Alan Le Grys, in Theology 126/5 (2023), pp. 382-383
I wonder sometimes if the teacher is not the real student and beneficiary.
These words by George Steiner have been a cherished motto of mine for years, except that I would be more definite and say that, as a teacher, I have without question found myself to have been a life-long student and learner, which continues to be immensely inspirational, life-giving, and at times even healing.
I would love nothing more than to share all this with you, so, if you are interested, do please follow the link below to find out about the kinds of talks, workshops, and study days I can offer.
My publications include two short and very readable books on Amos and the Song of Songs as well as a number of (mostly scholarly) articles, some of which can be read online.
Please see the following pages, if you wish to find out more about myself or would like to get in touch.
Karl Möller 