Exegetically Speaking

Is Ecclesiastes 3:10-14 about a despotic, distant god or a benevolent, known God? It depends on whether we recognize the force of a Hebrew definite article. Bradley Cameron (PhD, Wheaton) is Visiting Instructor in Old Testament at Wheaton College. His dissertation was, "Learning to Fear: An Exploration of the Fear of God in Ecclesiastes through the Lens of Emotion." Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4l0bd0B M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4kx3ozy

Philip Graham Ryken, the 8th President of Wheaton College and author of I Have My Doubts, delves into the profound meanings behind Hebrews 1:3. He explains Jesus as the 'express image' of God, exploring the Greek term 'charakter' and its implications for understanding divine nature. Listeners are invited to appreciate the uniqueness of Christ compared to Old Testament prophets, while also considering the value of biblical scholarship. Ryken highlights Wheaton College's role in shaping future scholars in biblical studies.

Daniel's refusal to eat the food provided by the king of Babylon is among the most popular of the Bible's stories. But what food did Daniel refuse, what did he request, and why? A new look at the Hebrew text and its background suggests new answers. Dr. Aubrey Buster, who has been with us before, is Associate Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College. Her publications include Remembering the Story of Israel: Historical Summaries and Memory Formation in Second Temple Judaism. Dr. John Walton, Old Testament Professor Emeritus at Wheaton Graduate School, is a frequent contributor to this podcast. He has many volumes in his "Lost World" series along with many other publications, including Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible. Dr. Buster and Dr. Walton are collaborating on a major commentary on Daniel (NICOT). The first volume on Daniel 1-6 is due out soon. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3Sm7pdH M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/43IbAqx

Jon Laansma, a distinguished professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis at Wheaton College, dives deep into 1 Corinthians 1:30. He unpacks the rich nuances of Greek language and its impact on understanding wisdom, righteousness, and redemption. The conversation reveals intricate theological interpretations of being 'of God' and 'in Christ,' exploring how identity and salvation are expressed. Laansma also emphasizes the importance of humility in church leadership, linking scriptural themes with contemporary insights.

The choice for Israel is between quiet trust and anxious haste in an important prophetic passage. Prof. Schultz explains the background, Hebrew imagery, and the NT's interpretation of Isaiah 28:16. Dr. Richard Schultz is the Blanchard Professor of Old Testament in Wheaton College Graduate School. In addition to other publications, he has authored Out of Context: How to Avoid Misinterpreting the Bible and The Search for Quotation: Verbal Parallels in the Prophets; he has co-edited with Daniel Block, Bind Up the Testimony: Explorations in the Genesis of the Book of Isaiah. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3EWIdHE M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/42Pce5h

Dan. 5:2, within the Aramaic portion of Daniel, has always been taken to refer to the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines, but a fresh look at the Aramaic and its context suggests that the last were female officials, not concubines. Dr. Aubrey Buster, who has been with us before, is Associate Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College. Her publications include Remembering the Story of Israel: Historical Summaries and Memory Formation in Second Temple Judaism. She and John Walton are co-authoring a major commentary on Daniel (NICOT). The first volume on Daniel 1-6 is due out soon. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4m02lJy M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4jUhz0K

The Greek word usually translated as 'righteousness' in the Beatitudes (and elsewhere), is closer to the concept of 'justice,' signaling the down-to-earth concern of a people living under an unjust regime. Dr. George Kalantzis grew up in Athens, Greece, and has been at Wheaton College since 2007, where he is Professor of Theology and the Director of The Wheaton Center for Early Christian Studies. Among his publications are Theodore of Mopsuestia: The Gospel of John and Caesar and the Lamb. He has co-authored, Evangelicals and the Early Church. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3EDw2zf M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4lLI2zm.

The M.A. in Biblical Exegesis at Wheaton has been running for about a quarter of a century and it recently broadened its mission to enroll remote learners. Prof. Abernethy explains this transition, along with the program's resolute commitment to the acquisition and use of the original languages. Dr. Andrew Abernethy, a frequent contributor to this podcast, is Professor of Old Testament, Assistant Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies in the Litfin Divinity School, and Program Director of the M.A. in Biblical Exegesisat Wheaton Graduate School. He is currently President of the Institute of Biblical Literature. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4jwANK8 M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4cYI6Ic

In this 300th episode of Exegetically Speaking, we hear once again from Dr. Michael Bird. This time he is highlighting how the knowledge of Greek enables us to understand alternative interpretations of a critical Pauline passage. What do Paul's uses of the perfect tense and genitive case convey in speaking of participation in Christ's crucifixion and the life of faith? Prof. Bird is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in New Testament at Ridley College (Melbourne, Australia). His many publications include Romans: Greek-English Interlinear | Paraphrase | Study Notes, Jesus among the gods: Early Christology in the Greco-Roman World, and (with N. T. Wright) Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3Y07pTQ M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/44qhNrW

The poem in Nahum 1 breaks its stride in 1:7, in terms of both the Hebrew poetic structure and thematic emphasis. In part by this means, it implicitly asks its Israelite readers, some of whom may have been collaborators with Assyria, whether they side with the Lord or the Lord's enemies. Dr. Mario Tafferner is Assistant Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature at Tyndale Theological Seminary, in Badhoevedorp, The Netherlands. His two most recent publications deal with "The Question of Future Hope in 2 Kgs 25.27–30" in Journal for the Study of the Old Testament (2024) and the translation of "Line 12 of the Mesha Inscription in Light of Shared Scribal Practices in Moab and Ancient South Arabia" in MAARAV (2024). Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3Rbjzpd M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3Rgdnwe