Exegetically Speaking

The very first words of the Hebrew Bible, usually translated as "In the beginning God created…" can also be translated, "In the beginning when God created . . . God said . . . ." What is the basis for this rendition? Dr. Emanuel Tov, the J. L. Magnes Professor of Bible Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, recounts his learning of the biblical languages and illustrates the importance of that learning for interpretation. Among his earlier 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/48AaFrH M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4bC3W2V

The Hebrew term yehudim in modern Hebrew can be straightforwardly translated as "Jews," but when it occurs in the Hebrew Bible this is not the best translation. Remarkably, more than half the occurrences in the OT are in one book: Esther. The question can be extended into the NT as well. Rabbi Steven Bob, who has contributed several episodes to this podcast series, is Rabbi Emeritus at Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard, Il and guest faculty at Wheaton College. He is currently working on a commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3uyqT6B M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/48hluhX

In Acts 2:33 there is a completely new thing: Whereas in the OT and everywhere in Judaism it is God, Yahweh, who sends the Holy Spirit, in Acts 2 Jesus has ascended to the right hand of God, received the Spirit from his Father, and himself performs the act of pouring out the Spirit. This should provoke reflection on both Jesus and the Spirit. 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.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3uLWMIK M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/48Aa6y5

In his lecture to philosophers in Acts 17, Paul declares that God has so ordered human history that people "would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us" (NIV). The verb translated "reach out for" (ψηλαφάω) can be illuminated by the blinded Cyclops in Homer's Odyssey or by the biblical Isaac trying to identify which of his sons was talking to him. 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.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3I3fUVG M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3OMWS9X

The spiritual gift of "tongues" in 1 Cor. 12-14 was evidently by itself unintelligible, requiring that someone render what was being said in plain Greek if the Corinthian church was to benefit from it. When discussing the negative effect the utterance would have if left unintelligible, Paul calls a part of the audience the ἰδιῶται (idiotai). Are these believers, unbelievers, Christian catechumens, or what? Jon C. Laansma is the Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis in the Classical Languages program at Wheaton College, and the Wheaton-based director of this podcast series. He is currently working on a commentary on 1 Corinthians for the T&T Clark International Theological Commentary series.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3I3fUVG

M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3OMWS9X

The Greek of the New Testament writers is known as Koiné Greek. What did it sound like? Some recent research has aided our hearing. Dr. Alexander Loney is Associate Professor of Classical Languages and the Coordinator of the Classical Languages program at Wheaton College. His publications include The Ethics of Revenge and the Meanings of the Odyssey and (co-editor) The Oxford Handbook of Hesiod. In this conversation, Dr. Loney makes reference to the book of Benjamin Kantor, The Pronunciation of New Testament Greek.

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4283x3T

M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3OawE0E

We've heard of biblical literacy, but if we don't know what to do with the Bible once we've read it, we might be suffering from hermeneutical illiteracy. The lack can be especially apparent in approaches to the Old Testament. Dr. John Walton, Old Testament Professor Emeritus at Wheaton Graduate School, is a frequent contributor to this podcast. One of his most recent publications is Wisdom for Faithful Reading: Principles and Practices for Old Testament Interpretation. An earlier but related work is Old Testament Theology for Christians: From Ancient Context to Enduring Belief.

B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/48mVHG2

M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/490LOxR

It has been the contention of Dr. John Walton that the authority of Scripture is located in the intention of the human authors as represented in what they wrote. In this conversation he explains what he means, in part by contrasting it with some other possible models. John Walton, Old Testament Professor Emeritus at Wheaton Graduate School, is a frequent contributor to this podcast. One of his most recent publications is Wisdom for Faithful Reading: Principles and Practices for Old Testament Interpretation. An earlier but related work is Old Testament Theology for Christians: From Ancient Context to Enduring Belief.

Check out related programs at Wheaton College:

B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/48rJ38H

M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3vpeW3b

Colossians 1:15-20, which many think was an early Christian hymn, is one of the uniquely rich and intense expressions of the identity and work of Christ. Daniel J. Treier models a wise union of exegetical care and theological sophistication while reading this passage. Prof. Treier is the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Theology and Director of the Ph.D. Program at Wheaton College & Graduate School. His most recent publication is Lord Jesus Christ (New Studies in Dogmatics).

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B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3tlYW1e

M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3Tvez18

In Gal. 1:16 Paul uses the arrestive phrasing that God had revealed his Son "in me." Taken together with other expressions used by Paul in Galatians, it looks as if one of the ways Paul thought of the gospel was through a pregnancy/maternal metaphor. Amy Peeler is the Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. One of her most recent publications is Women and the Gender of God and she is presently working on Paul's Letter to the Galatians.

Check out related programs at Wheaton College:

B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/48pRa5t

M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3RwVFp1