Exegetically Speaking

In Gal. 3, Paul makes the grammatically singular form of the noun "seed" (σπέρμα) load bearing for his argument. But the singular form of that word doesn't necessarily denote one individual. Paul is employing contemporary Jewish exegetical practices, and the understanding of that and Paul's wider aims can be helpful here. Dr. Christian Brady is T. W. Lewis Dean of the Lewis Honors College and Professor of Ancient Hebrew and Jewish Literature at the University of Kentucky. He completed an M.A. degree in Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton College (1994), before earning his Ph.D. from the University of Oxford (2000). His publications include The Proselyte and the Prophet: Character Development in Targum Ruth and Beautiful and Terrible Things: A Christian Struggle with Suffering, Grief, and Hope.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3Wc2vms M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3W9AFr1

Isaiah 7:14 is quoted by Matthew (1:23) in application to Mary's pregnancy: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son." But is Isaiah's reference to a young woman (עַלְמָה) or a virgin (παρθένος)? The former is the Hebrew of Isaiah, and the latter is the Greek of the Septuagint and Matthew's citation. Can Genesis 24 shed some light on this question? Dr. Emanuel Tov is the J. L. Magnes Professor of Bible Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Among his roles, he was one of the editors of the Hebrew University Bible Project and was Editor-in-Chief of the Dead Sea Scrolls Publication Project (1990-2009). His many publications include Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible: Revised and Expanded Fourth Edition and The Text-Critical Use of the Septuagint in Biblical Research.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3xE2mOx M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3TVabGY

For the first several chapters in the book of Acts, the author, Luke, consistently speaks of one Saul, but at 13:9 Luke begins referring to him as Paul, which is also the name that this apostle uses in all his letters. Where do these two names come from? What does each mean? Why this switch in which name is used? Dr. Steve Walton is Senior Research Fellow in New Testament at Trinity College in Bristol, U.K., and former Secretary of the British New Testament Society. His many publications include (with David Wenham), Exploring the New Testament, vol. 1: The Gospels and Acts. He is currently working on a major critical commentary on Acts for the Word Biblical Commentary Series; volume 1 will appear in October 2024. He has contributed past episodes to this podcast series, and you can read an article of his on the topic of this episode here.

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B.A. in Classical Languages: https://bit.ly/3xx6tfm M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3TLAvn2

Dr. Steven Jones is the co-author of Acquiring Medical Language(McGraw Hill), a widely used textbook in medical schools for instruction in medical terminology and rooted directly in his education in Classical Greek and Latin. He makes a case for translating this terminology so that patients can understand it, but also so that the human and ethical aspects of medicine are brought out of the shadows of obscure technical language. Dr. Jones is the Teaching & Training Pastor at Kingsland Baptist Church, Katy, TX, a Greek instructor at Lanier Theological Library (which sponsors this podcast along with Wheaton College), and is currently teaching Greek, Latin, and Medical Terminology at Rice University. He has an MA in Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies from Bryn Mawr College, and a PhD in Classics from the University of Texas at Austin.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3vxDpUv M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3PPFdPB

In I John 2:5 the apostle writes, "Whoever keeps his word, truly in this one the love of God is completed." The Greek phrase translated "the love of God" (ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ) could be understood as God's love for us or our love for God. Dr. Elizabeth Mburu explains the grammar, the context, and the reasoning behind her conclusion. Dr. Mburu is Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek at Africa International University, Nairobi, Kenya, and is the regional coordinator for Anglophone Africa for Langham Literature. She is on the board of the Africa Bible Commentary and is the editorial coordinator and New Testament editor for its revision. Her publications include Qumran and the Origins of Johannine Language and Symbolism and African Hermeneutics. She has also contributed the exegetical notes on 1, 2, 3 John to the forthcoming Greek New Testament Study Bible (Zondervan).

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): bit.ly/4abFiF7 M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4aesr5b

In writing to the "rich in this present world," Paul stirs together a related adjective (πλούσιος), noun (πλοῦτος), adverb (πλουσίως), and infinitive (πλουτεῖν), pastorally building up to his point: understanding the true source of wealth and how to use it richly. Dr. Phil Ryken, who has been a regular on our podcast, is the President of Wheaton College, 8th in the college's history. His most recent book is Beauty Is Your Destiny: How the Promise of Splendor Changes Everything. You can hear many of his talks at Family Life Ministry – Podcast or at Every Last Word.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3ILirUO M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4aqbZia

James 5:11 refers to the "patience of Job" (KJV). If we take a detour through the book of Job and notice how the Greek vocabulary of perseverance (the KJV's "patience") is used in James' letter, we gain insight into human suffering as something properly to lament. Dr. Grant Flynn is Visiting Assistant Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. His Ph.D. (Wheaton Graduate School) dealt with lament in the Epistle of James.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3TeXZAD M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4ceHg9q

The act of "calling out," either to pagans or to the Lord, forms a thread through the story of Jonah, which was challenging to Jonah, and can remain challenging for modern readers. Dr. Andrew Abernethy is Professor of Old Testament and Director of the M.A. in Biblical Exegesis at Wheaton Graduate School. He co-edited the newly published The Prophets and the Apostolic Witness: Reading Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel as Christian Scripture.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4c3ACCC M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/49Wq2LU

In the greeting of his letter to Philemon (v. 2), Paul calls Archippus a "fellow soldier." Roman soldiers were often involved in the capturing and returning of runaway slaves, a function that may explain why Paul characterizes Archippus like so in this letter. Dr. Seth Ehorn is guest faculty at Wheaton College currently teaching Greek. His publications include 2 Maccabees 1-7: A Handbook on the Greek Text and 2 Maccabees 8-15: A Handbook on the Greek Text.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3T5SK6f M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4a2Tr78

Peter, along with other NT writers, uses a term (ὑποτάσσω, hypotasso) which related to the idea of subordination, or being sub-ordered, whether in the society, household, church, or in cosmic terms. While Peter calls Christians to live out the faith under the hierarchies or "orders" of ancient Roman society, may the church be an agent in society which helps change the "orders"? In this episode, Dr. Green refers to Mark Noll's book The Civil War as a Theological Crisis which describes how Christians brought about such change through the abolition of slavery. Dr. Gene Green is Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Wheaton College and Graduate School. He has published widely, including Jude and 2 Peter and Vox Petri: A Theology of Peter.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3URAPmn M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/48teK0F