Exegetically Speaking

Dr. Tim Brookins is Associate Professor of Classics and Biblical Languages at Houston Baptist University, and has co-authored with Bruce W. Longenecker, 1 Corinthians: A Handbook on the Greek Text, among other things. He illustrates the adage that a little learning of Greek, while good as a beginning, is a dangerous thing on its own. Does the grammar of Mark 1:8 tell us that John did not baptize “in” water?

Carmen Imes (Ph.D., Wheaton College) is Associate Professor Old Testament at Prairie College (Canada). She has published several works including Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters (IVP, 2019). In this episode she discusses the command usually translated as “misusing” God’s name. It is about “bearing” God’s name so as to avoid misrepresenting who he is.

Dr. Michael Graves, Armerding Professor of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College, thinks about how a variety of biblical texts help us understand what it means for God to punish the children of those who sin “to the third and fourth generations,” and to show love “to a thousand generations” of those who love him.

Dr. Gene Green is Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Wheaton College and Graduate School, and Dean of Trinity International University – Florida. In this episode, Dr. Green explains what “Relevance Theory” is, how he became interested in its contribution to biblical interpretation, and how it helps us “mind the gap” between “what is said and what is meant” – whether in our own everyday interactions, contemporary cross-cultural conversations, or our attempts to receive ancient texts with good understanding. For instance, what might Jesus mean by being a “friend” in John 15:15.

Dr. Adam Miglio, Associate Professor of Archaeology at Wheaton College, investigates two of the metaphors for God in Psalm 23 to show how the meanings of metaphors can be lost if we are not careful.  Through careful study they can be recovered, in part.

Travis Wright, a PhD student from Cambridge University, shares his passion for reading Greek and Hebrew.  He and another Cambridge colleague have started online classes in both languages at https://biblingo.org/live/. If your Greek and Hebrew are rusty and need a polish, then their classes, tutorials, and workshops may be just for you.

Dr. Aubrey Buster, Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College, explains a “denominative verb” of Exodus 34:29, which could be interpreted as either “rays of light” or “horns.” Translating it as “horns,” as did Jerome’s Vulgate, led to artistic portrayals of Moses with horns and fed into later anti-Semitic ideologies.

Dr. Andrew Abernethy, Associate Professor of Old Testament and Degree Coordinator for the Master of Arts in Biblical Exegesis Program at Wheaton Graduate School, walks us through a passage from a not-so-minor prophet, Haggai 2:4, to investigate the meaning of that wonderful promise, “My Spirit stands among you.”

Dr. Danny Carroll Rodas, Scripture Press Ministries Professor of Biblical Studies and Pedagogy at Wheaton College, surveys some of the insights earned by taking several literary features of Amos seriously, particularly his lists of 5 and 7 items.

Dr. Amy Peeler, Associate Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, directs our attention to Hebrew 12:23 to a phrase often misunderstood and mistranslated.  The redeemed make up an assembly of people who have a standing and status of firstborn in the family with all the rights and privileges appertaining thereunto.