

Exegetically Speaking
Wheaton College
“Exegetically Speaking” is a weekly podcast of the friends and faculty of Wheaton College, IL and The Lanier Theological Library. Hosted by Dr. David Capes, it features language experts who discuss the importance of learning the biblical languages—Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek—and show how reading the Bible in the original languages “pays off.” Each podcast lasts between seven and eleven minutes and covers a different topic for those who want to read the Bible for all it is worth. Click on the ⓘ symbol below for each episode to read the description.
If you're interested in going deeper, learn more about Wheaton's undergraduate degree in Classical Languages (Greek, Hebrew, and Latin) and our MA in Biblical Exegesis.
If you're interested in going deeper, learn more about Wheaton's undergraduate degree in Classical Languages (Greek, Hebrew, and Latin) and our MA in Biblical Exegesis.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 21, 2025 • 11min
Satan Paraded, with Shane J. Wood: Revelation 20:3
A small, common, but theologically charged Greek verb in Rev. 20:3 quietly signals the fate of Satan in the triumphant King’s victory procession. Dr. Shane Wood is Professor of New Testament & Its Origins at Ozark Christian College. His publications include The Alter-Imperial Paradigm: Empire Studies & the Book of Revelation and Thinning the Veil: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/44PwmnC M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4kRgXt0

Jul 14, 2025 • 9min
Habakkuk and God in Dialogue, with Andrew Abernethy: Habakkuk 1-2
Unlike other prophetic books that directly address an audience, the message of Habakkuk presents itself to listeners by pondering a dialogue between the prophet Habakkuk and God. By paying attention to repetition related to “seeing” in Habakkuk 1-2, we can pick up on God’s invitation to allow God’s perception of reality to enrich and challenge our own. 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 Exegesis at Wheaton Graduate School. He is currently President of the Institute of Biblical Literature. His publications include Savoring Scripture: A Six-Step Guide to Studying the Bible and (with Gregory Goswell) God's Messiah in the Old Testament: Expectations of a Coming King. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3GdsmVS M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3IxWKux

Jul 7, 2025 • 9min
Amos’ Art, with Danny Carroll Rodas: Amos
Amos’ Hebrew is rich with rhetorical techniques such as word play and satire, sometimes throwing hard punches. Some of these can be heard in translation, others are difficult to preserve in English. Dr. Danny Carroll Rodas, who has contributed several episodes to this podcast series, is the Scripture Press Ministries Professor of Biblical Studies and Pedagogy at Wheaton College. He has written extensively on Amos, including a major commentary on that prophetic book in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series. He explores the features discussed in this episode in his newest publication, The Lord Roars: Recovering the Prophetic Voice for Today. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4lxtcLR M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3Ib6VoX

Jun 30, 2025 • 9min
A Figura Etymologica in Jesus’ Teaching, with Alexander Loney: Matthew 7:2
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew’s Greek utilizes figures of speech that can be impossible to translate into English but which lend force and memorability to his words. 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. He has contributed several episodes to our podcast. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4npvVsB M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4eJpHjz

Jun 23, 2025 • 9min
How Not to Run Amuck, with Richard Schultz: Proverbs 29:18
The English words, “where there is no vision, the people perish,” would seem to commend the need of a good plan for a desired future, but the Hebrew sentence points in a different direction. 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/4e7CgVw M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3HFTMnn

Jun 16, 2025 • 11min
This God, with Bradley Cameron: Ecclesiastes 3:10
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

Jun 9, 2025 • 8min
The Express Image, with Philip Graham Ryken: Hebrews 1:3
Heb. 1:1-4 is a beautifully rounded Greek sentence in praise of God’s Son in and as whom God has spoken. One metaphor conveys the uniqueness of this person as the “express image” of God himself. It is this metaphor that Dr. Ryken explains. 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 I Have My Doubts: How God Can Use Your Uncertainty to Reawaken Your Faith. You can hear many of his talks at Family Life Ministry – Podcast or at Every Last Word. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/43wN0Yw M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3FwNk1l

Jun 2, 2025 • 13min
Food as an Identity Assertion, with Aubrey Buster and John Walton: Daniel 1:8-16
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

May 26, 2025 • 15min
He Became Wisdom, with Jon Laansma: 1 Corinthians 1:30
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.

May 19, 2025 • 11min
Amen God and He’ll Amen You, with Richard Schultz: Isaiah 28:16
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