本文透過與證道信息、註釋評論、藝術創作和文學作品的互動，一瞥有關約拿書之悠久且引人入勝的接納史。本文研究書中三個主要角色—約拿、水手和尼尼微人—在反猶太論戰中的作用，並探討基督徒的解釋和猶太人的回應。本文首先著眼於對約拿此一角色不同之詮釋。基督徒詮釋者傾向將約拿描述為猶太特殊主義之一個心胸褊狹的例子，而猶太詮釋者則強調其為確保以色列的生存而犧牲之英勇意願。其次本文探索數百年來約拿書一章十二至十六節的水手如何蛻變：他們曾被詮釋為外邦基督徒之楷模先驅、那些想將耶穌釘在十字架上的猶太人之表型、中世紀宗教裁判所之基督徒代表，以及歸附猶太教之虔誠信徒。本文同樣也說明在猶太和基督徒詮釋者筆下尼尼微人如何轉變。本文特別探討在約拿書三章五至八節中尼尼微人悔改如何被用來加劇反猶類比，以及猶太學者對他們的誠意如何表示懷疑。本文亦審視二節特定經文—約拿書二章九節與四章二節—每節均引發猶太人－基督徒之間的爭論。本文最後討論約拿書的總體信息：它是關乎上帝的憐憫，還是祂未能施行公義？

This article offers glimpses of the long and fascinating reception history of the book of Jonah through interaction with sermons, commentaries, artwork, and literature. It explores how the three main sets of characters in the book—Jonah, the sailors, and the Ninevites— have been instrumental in anti-Jewish polemics, and it discusses not only the Christian interpretations but also the Jewish rejoinders. It first looks at the different appreciations of the character of Jonah. Whereas Christian interpreters have tended to depict Jonah as a small-minded example of Jewish particularism, Jewish interpreters have highlighted his heroic willingness to die in order to ensure Israel’s survival. It then explores how the sailors in Jonah 1:12–16 have metamorphosed through the centuries: they have been portrayed as exemplary precursors of Gentile Christians, types for those Jews willing to have Jesus crucified, Christian representatives of the mediaeval inquisition, and pious converts to Judaism. It likewise demonstrates how the Ninevites have been transformed in the hands of their Jewish and Christian interpreters. In particular, the article explores how the Ninevites’ repentance in Jonah 3:5–8 have been used to fuel anti-Jewish comparisons and how Jewish scholars have responded by casting doubts on their sincerity. The article also examines two specific verses—Jonah 2:9 and 4:7—that each has given rise to Jewish-Christian polemic. It concludes with a discussion of the overarching message of the book of Jonah: is it about God’s mercy or his failure to be just?