Exegetically Speaking

Matthew Bates, Professor of Theology at Quincy University, analyzes the sequence and theology of Ephesians 1. They discuss predestination, the historical sequence of inclusion, and the association of election with Christ. They also explore the identity of the audience in Ephesians and the theme of inclusivity. Dr. Bates delves into the concept of the spirit as our own and the language of redemption in Ephesians 1:11-14.

Dr. Michael Bird, Deputy Principal at Ridley College, discusses the importance of studying Greek for biblical interpretation. They explore the context and interpretation of Ephesians 4:12, focusing on ministries and comma placement. They also highlight the significance of punctuation in biblical texts, particularly commas, and share their preference for the King James version.

Nijay Gupta, Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, discusses their admiration for the book of Ephesians and their changed perspective on Paul's letters. They explore Ephesians chapter two and the lavishness of God's grace as described by Paul in prison, reflecting on one last sermon.

An Exegetically Speaking listener submitted a question about the gender of a Greek relative pronoun in Matthew’s genealogy (Matt 1:1-16), which provides an opportunity to talk about the potentials (and challenges) of this aspect of grammar for translation. The questioner, Russell, listens to this podcast from his home in New Zeeland, where he is an adult learner at the University of Auckland with a special interest in theology and religious studies. Dr. Jon C. Laansma is the Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis in the Classical Languages program at Wheaton College, IL. He assists in the production of this podcast and has been a regular contributor.

In his teaching about family relations (e.g. Eph. 5:21–6:9), Paul is echoing descriptions of a household that had been formalized by Aristotle, but in so doing Paul turns Aristotle’s teaching on its head. Dr. Lynn Cohick is Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Director of Houston Theological Seminary at Houston Christian University. Among her many publications are The Letter to the Ephesians (NICNT) and (with Amy Brown Hughes) Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second through Fifth Centuries.   Learn more about related programs: M.A. in Biblical Exegesis  B.A. in Classical Languages - Greek, Hebrew, and Latin

As Mark Lanier explains in this episode, the opening words of the Epistle of James, which are rooted in the OT idea of the “servant of YHWH,” give us a window onto how the resurrection of Jesus transformed James’ relationship with and understanding of his brother, Jesus. Lanier is a practicing attorney, a teacher in his local church in Houston, Texas, and the founder of the Lanier Theological Library (co-sponsor of this podcast) among other projects in service of the church.

The grammar, metaphors, background, and possible referents of the Greek wording of Colossians 2:15 make for rich challenges and possibilities for interpretation, translation, and application. As Dr. Joseph Dodson explains in this episode, choosing between options may not always be correct. Dodson is the Dr. Craig L. Blomberg Chair of New Testament at Denver Seminary. In addition to other publications, he co-edited, Paul and the Giants of Philosophy: Reading the Apostle in Greco-Roman Context, and is working on commentaries on Romans (Brill) and Colossians-Philemon (Holman).

The narrator of the book of Ruth preserves small but telling mistakes in the Hebrew uttered by the character Ruth, who was a Moabite immigrant to Israel. How are these clues to the narrator’s intentions? Dr. Timothy Lim is Professor of Hebrew Bible & Second Temple Judaism at The University of Edinburgh. He works broadly in the Hebrew Bible, ancient Judaism, and the origins of Christianity, while concentrating in the biblical canon and the Dead Sea Scrolls. He has published The Earliest Commentary on the Prophecy of Habakkuk, among other things.

At a crossroads in the nascent Christian mission the “apostles and elders” conferred to discern where the Spirit of God and the Scriptures were leading them. The question: What is required of the Gentiles for salvation? James cited Amos 9 which foretold the restoration of David’s “fallen tent” so that the “remnant” of humankind would seek the Lord. As Mark Lanier explains, it is that word “remnant” that ties into a major OT theme. Mark Lanier is a practicing attorney, a teacher in his local church in Houston, Texas, and the founder of the Lanier Theological Library (co-sponsor of this podcast) among other projects in service of the church. In earlier episodes he talked about the library and about the word Behold! in Matthew’s Gospel.