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The Biblical Languages Podcast (brought to you by Biblingo)

The Biblical Languages Podcast (brought to you by Biblingo)

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The Biblical Languages Podcast hosts discussions and interviews related to learning the biblical languages and issues relevant to biblical exegesis.
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Speaking Ancient Languages, Translating vs. Glossing, and Explicit Grammar

The Biblical Languages Podcast (brought to you by Biblingo)Jun 29, 2022

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59:37
Greek Readings Outside the New Testament with Max Botner

Greek Readings Outside the New Testament with Max Botner

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Max Botner about his book "Beyond the Greek New Testament." Max Botner has served as a lecturer and researcher in the US, UK, and Germany. His primary research interests include Jewish exegetical practices, ancient messianism and early Christology, and early Jewish and Christian sacrificial theologies. Above all, he is passionate about training students, clergy, and lay leaders to know and embody the biblical story. Currently, Max serves as associate professor for the school of theology and leadership at William Jessup University. You can find more from Dr. Botner on his Youtube channel: The Center for Bible Study (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClXkT1vGF9fFFxVwexqlFEQ).

As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit ⁠biblingo.org⁠ to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Mar 20, 202401:05:26
A Greek Reader: Companion to A Primer of Biblical Greek with Mark Jeong

A Greek Reader: Companion to A Primer of Biblical Greek with Mark Jeong

In this episode, we talk to Mark Jeong about his book "A Greek Reader." This volume is a companion resource for use with N. Clayton Croy’s Primer of Biblical Greek, featuring dozens of simple, enjoyable narratives to reinforce the content and skills introduced by Croy.


Mark Jeong was born in South Korea but grew up in the states. After becoming a Christian in middle school, he felt called to ministry while in college which led to a long path of further studies in New Testament. He is an instructor of Hellenistic Greek and a doctoral student in New Testament at Duke Divinity School. He has published articles on the New Testament in the Journal for the Study of the New Testament and New Testament Studies.


As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit ⁠biblingo.org⁠ to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Mar 06, 202401:02:28
Paul and the Resurrection of Israel with Jason Staples

Paul and the Resurrection of Israel with Jason Staples

This is a republished episode with Dr. Jason Staples. Staples recently published a new book called "Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites" (Cambridge University Press, 2023). In this episode, Jason shared many of the ideas that appear in the new book before it was published.


Jason Staples is Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at NC State University. He’s the author of two books, The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism, published with Cambridge University Press in 2021, and Paul and the Resurrection of Israel, which will come out next year, also with Cambridge University press. He also has worked in sports media for fifteen years, used to coach football, and does voiceover work to ensure his family can survive, and he will be launching the BiblePod podcast in the next few months. Jason discusses the difference between Ισραήλ (Israel) and Ἰουδαῖος (Jew) and how it relates to difficult texts like Romans 2:13, Romans 9:19-22, and Romans 11:25-26. Show notes: - "The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism: A New Theory of People, Exile, and Israelite Identity" (Cambridge University Press, 2021): https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/idea-of-israel-in-second-temple-judaism/CB65E50538F8CC4E48C5294FDE445A58 - "Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites" (Cambridge University Press, 2023): https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/paul-and-the-resurrection-of-israel/E88A324A84EB7F7533F23817E4FF17AD - "Vessels of Wrath and God’s Pathos: Potter/Clay Imagery in Rom 9:20–23": https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/harvard-theological-review/article/vessels-of-wrath-and-gods-pathos-potterclay-imagery-in-rom-92023/10212C0E6F1B7E444E80CB3CDD58D106 - "What Do the Gentiles Have to Do with "All Israel"? A Fresh Look at Romans 11:25-27": https://static1.squarespace.com/static/569543b4bfe87360795306d6/t/5a4d463053450af960807100/1515013716367/12Staples.pdf As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Jan 17, 202401:37:24
The Reading Brain: Insights from Neuroscience with Maryanne Wolf

The Reading Brain: Insights from Neuroscience with Maryanne Wolf

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Maryanne Wolf about 'the reading brain' - that is, what happens in our brains when we read. She offers a definition of reading fluency, explains the various cognitive processes involved in fluent reading, and describes the key benefit of reading fluency: deep reading.


Maryanne Wolf is a scholar, a teacher, and an advocate for children and literacy around the world. She is the Director of the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. Previously she was the John DiBiaggio Professor of Citizenship and Public Service and Director of the Center for Reading and Language Research in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University. She is the author of more than 160 scientific articles, she designed the RAVE-O reading intervention for children with dyslexia, and with Martha Denckla, co-authored the RAN/RAS naming speed tests, a major predictor of dyslexia across all languages. At a more popular level, she is the author of Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain (2007, HarperCollins) and Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World (August, 2018, HarperCollins).


As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit ⁠biblingo.org⁠ to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Nov 16, 202348:41
How to Read and Understand Different Bible Translations (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 6)
Sep 29, 202350:41
The NIV Bible and Pauline Theology with Doug Moo (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 5)
Sep 13, 202345:21
Ephesians and the New Living Translation with Lynn Cohick (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 4)

Ephesians and the New Living Translation with Lynn Cohick (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 4)

Dr. Lynn Cohick was recently appointed to be on the translation committee for the popular New Living Translation. In this episode, host Kevin Grasso discusses Lynn's translation philosophy and how she handles certain exegetical and translational issues in Ephesians, on which she has written the commentary in the NICNT series. Particular attention is given to Ephesians 2:9 and the translation of ἐξ ἔργων as well as 5:21-24 and the translation of ὑποτάσσω and κεφαλή. You don't want to miss this thought-provoking conversation!


Lynn H. Cohick (Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania) is Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Director of the Houston Theological Seminary at Houston Christian University. Prior to coming to HCU, she served as Provost/Dean of Academic Affairs at Northern Seminary, and Provost of Denver Seminary. She was Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and taught at Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology in Nairobi, Kenya. She serves as President of the Institute for Biblical Research. Her books include The Letter to the Ephesians in NICNT (2020); Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second through the Fifth Centuries (co-authored with Amy Brown Hughes (2017); Philippians in the Story of God Commentary (2013); Ephesians in New Covenant Commentary (2010); Women in the World of the Earliest Christians (2009).


As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Sep 06, 202301:09:08
 The Legacy Standard Bible with William Varner (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 3)

The Legacy Standard Bible with William Varner (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 3)

William Varner was on the translation committee for the Legacy Standard Bible, an updated version of the NASB published in 2021. In this episode, host Kevin Grasso discusses Varner's involvement in the project, including some of the distinctives of the translation. They cover some of the exegetical decisions made by the committee as well as the translation philosophy behind the LSB. Other translations are also discussed, including Scot McKnight's new translation, The Second Testament. See Part 2 of this series for our interview with McKnight here: The Second Testament with Scot McKnight William C. Varner is an American biblical scholar. He is Professor of Biblical Studies & Greek at The Master's University. Varner studied at Bob Jones University, Dropsie College, Biblical Theological Seminary, Gratz College, and Temple University. In 1996, he came to The Master’s College, where he teaches Bible exposition courses and Greek Exegesis. He was also the Director of IBEX, the college’s overseas campus in Israel, for over twenty years, and has led 51 study trips to the land of Israel. Will pastored the Sojourners fellowship in Grace Community Church for twenty three years, and now teaches the Bereans Class at Grace Baptist Church.  He has written twenty books, some for laymen and some for scholars. His most significant scholarly efforts have been the 450 page commentary on James published by Fontes Press and a new translation and introduction to the Apostolic Fathers published by T&T Clark. He is also the founder and one of the moderators of the popular Facebook group Nerdy Biblical Language Majors where he is known as "Papa Nerd." As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.
Aug 30, 202301:00:33
The Second Testament with Scot McKnight (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 2)

The Second Testament with Scot McKnight (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 2)

Scot McKnight recently released a new translation of the New Testament called The Second Testament: A New Translation (published by IVP Academic). In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, host Kevin Grasso interviews Scot on his new translation. They discuss Scot's translation philosophy as well as some of his exegetical decisions. Scot also responds to some of the criticism he has gotten for some of his more radical translation decisions. You don't want to miss this behind-the-scenes conversation on this leading NT scholar's fresh translation.


Scot is a recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. McKnight, author or editor of some eighty-five books, is Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lisle, IL. Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly speaks at local churches, conferences, colleges, and seminaries in the USA and abroad. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986) and has been a professor for nearly four decades.


As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Aug 23, 202351:00
Exploring Translation Theories with Anthony Pym (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 1)

Exploring Translation Theories with Anthony Pym (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 1)

Anthony Pym's book "Exploring Translation Theories" is now in its third edition. In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, host Kevin Grasso interviews Anthony on different translation theories and how they work themselves out in real translations of texts. They focus on the idea of "equivalence" and the different ways two texts can equivalent. Other translation-related ideas are also discussed, such as a taxonomy of translation methods, skopos-related theories, and translation universals.


Anthony Pym is Professor of Translation Studies at the University of Melbourne in Australia and at Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain. He has been a practicing translator since the 1980s, mostly working from Romance languages.


As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Aug 16, 202357:45
Pronunciation of New Testament Greek with Ben Kantor

Pronunciation of New Testament Greek with Ben Kantor

Ben Kantor has recently published two books on the pronunciation of NT Greek with Eerdmans:



In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, host Kevin Grasso interviews Ben on his new books. They discuss how we can know what NT Greek sounded like, different pronunciation systems in use in the first century, the importance of pronunciation, and what languages Jesus and other Jews most likely spoke in first century Palestine.


Benjamin Paul Kantor is a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. He received his B.A. in Classical Studies with an emphasis in Greek from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2012. Subsequently, he received his Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from the University of Texas in 2017. He specializes in the historical phonology of Greek and Hebrew and has particular interest in ancient Greek and Hebrew pedagogy. In addition to his research work, he also runs a website, KoineGreek.com, which focuses on providing “living language” resources for students and scholars of ancient Greek.


As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Aug 03, 202301:16:25
The Meaning of εὐαγγέλιον (Gospel) and πίστις (Faith/Allegiance) with Matthew Bates

The Meaning of εὐαγγέλιον (Gospel) and πίστις (Faith/Allegiance) with Matthew Bates

This is a republished interview with Matthew Bates on his book “Gospel Allegiance: What Faith in Jesus Misses for Salvation in Christ” (Brazos Press, 2019). Bates recently published a new book called “Why the Gospel? Living the Good News of King Jesus with Purpose” (Eerdmans, 2023). Whereas Bates new book focuses on *why* the gospel was given, this present conversation is a helpful precursor as it focuses on *what* the gospel is. We discuss some of the central arguments made in “Gospel Allegiance”, including Bates' understanding of the pistis ('faith/faithfulness') word group, euangelion ('gospel'), and the relationship between these concepts and others in the Bible, especially the New Testament. 

May 16, 202353:04
Metaphors in Biblical Hebrew: Deuteronomy 6:5 and the Meaning of לֵבָב ("Heart"?)

Metaphors in Biblical Hebrew: Deuteronomy 6:5 and the Meaning of לֵבָב ("Heart"?)

Deuteronomy 6:5 is typically translated, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength." But what does it really mean to love the Lord with your "heart"?

The word translated "heart" here is לֵבָב, which is a word that does, in fact, refer to the organ that we call "heart". Here, the word is obviously being used metaphorically, just like we use "heart" metaphorically in English. But the key question is whether לֵבָב and "heart" are used metaphorically *in the same way*.

In this video, Dr. Kevin Grasso shows how this Hebrew word actually has a different metaphorical use than you might expect, and that there may be a better English word than "heart" to get its meaning across.

Check out our previous episode on Deuteronomy 6:4 here: https://youtu.be/_DRu1aE4y-s

Feb 28, 202309:41
The Shema in Biblical Hebrew: Deuteronomy 6:4 and the Meaning of אֶחָד (One or Alone?)

The Shema in Biblical Hebrew: Deuteronomy 6:4 and the Meaning of אֶחָד (One or Alone?)

Deuteronomy 6:4 is quite possibly the most well-known verse in Israel today. It is often referred to as "the Shema" because of the first Hebrew word: שְׁמַע  

However, this verse is also notoriously difficult to understand, and consequently, translate. A lot of the difficulty centers on the Hebrew word אֶחָד, which often just refers to the number "one". Does אֶחָד here refer to a quality of "the Lord", namely his "oneness" or "simplicity"? Or does it refer to some class of things that "the Lord" alone belongs to? Or something else entirely?

In order to better understand and translate this verse, Dr. Kevin Grasso dives into the Hebrew text using key linguistic tools.

Do you want to become a fluent reader of biblical Hebrew (or Greek)? Check out Biblingo, the premier solution for learning the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to sign up for a 10-day free trial.

Jan 25, 202314:11
Reading the Septuagint and Greek New Testament in a Year with Matthew Thomas

Reading the Septuagint and Greek New Testament in a Year with Matthew Thomas

Matthew Thomas read through the entire Septuagint and New Testament in 2022. In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso interviews Matthew about his experience and why others should consider doing it.

*Note: in the episode, we repeatedly reference reading through the Septuagint, when in fact, Thomas' experience was reading through the Septuagint AND the Greek New Testament.

If you're looking for ways to advance your Greek or Hebrew in 2023, join one of our free reading groups. For Hebrew, we're reading through the entire Hebrew Bible. For Greek, we're reading through the whole Greek New Testament and the whole Septuagint. Join us at community.biblingo.org.

Dec 30, 202201:13:36
Key Terms and Texts in Pauline Theology (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 7)

Key Terms and Texts in Pauline Theology (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 7)

This is a recording of a live discussion and Q&A with Dr. Kevin Grasso about our series on Key Terms in Pauline Theology. Kevin offers a summary and synthesis of  what was covered in the series, offers more of his own analyses of Greek terms and key texts, and answers questions from the live viewers.

In this series, we interviewed expert guests on their research focusing on key terms on Pauline theology. These terms and the texts in which they appear have been the subject of centuries of debate, with thousands of pages devoted to each. The way we understand these terms has a massive impact on how we understand Paul’s letters and theology.

We covered χριστός (Christ, Messiah) with Joshua Jipp and Matthew Novenson, πίστις (faith, trust, faithfulness) with Teresa Morgan, δικαιοσύνη (righteousness, justification) with James Prothro, νόμος (law, Torah) with John Collins, and Ισραήλ (Israel) with Jason Staples. In addition to these interviews, Dr. Kevin Grasso did a series of episodes on key texts in which these terms appear, showing how a close reading of the Greek, along with the tools provided by theoretical linguistics, can bring a lot of clarity. He covered Romans 10:4, Galatians 3:22, Romans 1:17, Romans 3:24, Romans 2:14, and Romans 2:28-29.

Nov 02, 202201:41:32
The Inward Jew: Romans 2:28-29 and Biblical Greek Syntax

The Inward Jew: Romans 2:28-29 and Biblical Greek Syntax

Who is truly a "Jew" in Romans 2:28-29? Does Paul essentially redefine what it means to be Jewish? And what do ellipsis and constituent negation have to do with circumcision?

In order to better understand and translate these verses, Dr. Kevin Grasso unpacks three key characteristics of biblical Greek syntax: ellipsis, negated constituents, and contrastive focus.

This is a bonus episode for our series on Key Terms in Pauline Theology. Go to biblingo.org/podcast to learn more and subscribe to the Biblical Languages Podcast.

Show notes:

- Basic Pragmatics Concepts: https://youtu.be/h1xtO_Ozxiw

-  Matthew Thiessen, "Paul and the Gentile Problem": https://academic.oup.com/book/7322

- Andrew Carnie, "Syntax: A Generative Introduction": https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Syntax:+A+Generative+Introduction,+4th+Edition-p-9781119569237

Oct 24, 202222:36
The Meaning of Ισραήλ (Israel) in Paul with Jason Staples (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 6)

The Meaning of Ισραήλ (Israel) in Paul with Jason Staples (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 6)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso talks with Dr. Jason Staples about the meaning of Ισραήλ (Israel) in Paul.

Jason Staples is Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at NC State University. He’s the author of two books, The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism, published with Cambridge University Press in 2021, and Paul and the Resurrection of Israel, which will come out next year, also with Cambridge University press. He also has worked in sports media for fifteen years, used to coach football, and does voiceover work to ensure his family can survive, and he will be launching the BiblePod podcast in the next few months.

Kevin and Jason discuss the difference between Ισραήλ (Israel) and Ἰουδαῖος (Jew) and how it relates to difficult texts like Romans 2:13, Romans 9:19-22, and Romans 11:25-26.

Show notes:   

- The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism: A New Theory of People, Exile, and Israelite Identity (Cambridge University Press, 2021) - https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/idea-of-israel-in-second-temple-judaism/CB65E50538F8CC4E48C5294FDE445A58  

- Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites (Cambridge University Press, forthcoming 2023)  

- Vessels of Wrath and God’s Pathos: Potter/Clay Imagery in Rom 9:20–23 - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/harvard-theological-review/article/vessels-of-wrath-and-gods-pathos-potterclay-imagery-in-rom-92023/10212C0E6F1B7E444E80CB3CDD58D106  

- What Do the Gentiles Have to Do with "All Israel"? A Fresh Look at Romans 11:25-27 - https://static1.squarespace.com/static/569543b4bfe87360795306d6/t/5a4d463053450af960807100/1515013716367/12Staples.pdf

As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Oct 19, 202201:37:00
Gentiles and Torah: Romans 2:14 and the Nature of Biblical Greek Adverbs

Gentiles and Torah: Romans 2:14 and the Nature of Biblical Greek Adverbs

How should we understand φύσει in Romans 2:14? Does it mean that the Gentiles "naturally" do what the Law requires, as suggested by most translations (e.g. ESV)? Or does it mean that Gentiles do not "naturally" have the Law, as suggested in translations like the CSB? And how does this distinction change what Paul is trying to communicate about Gentiles?

In this short explanation, Dr. Kevin Grasso looks at how φύσει functions adverbially in other biblical Greek texts, as well as broader ancient Greek texts. He uses this analysis along with the context of the verse to better understand the meaning of the verse and how it should be translated.

This is a bonus episode for our series on Key Terms in Pauline Theology. Go to biblingo.org/podcast to learn more and subscribe to the Biblical Languages Podcast.

Oct 14, 202211:03
The Meaning of νόμος (Law or Torah) in Paul with John Collins (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 5)

The Meaning of νόμος (Law or Torah) in Paul with John Collins (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 5)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso talks with Dr. John Collins about the meaning of νόμος (Law or Torah) in Paul.

A native of Ireland, Professor Collins was a professor of Hebrew Bible at the University of Chicago from 1991 until his arrival at Yale Divinity School in 2000. He previously taught at the University of Notre Dame. He has published widely on the subjects of apocalypticism, wisdom, Hellenistic Judaism, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and he has numerous scholarly accolades that would take far too long to enumerate. Here, we primarily discuss his book “The Invention of Judaism: Torah and Jewish Identity from Deuteronomy to Paul.”

Kevin and John discuss various scholarly positions on Paul and the Law/Torah, the significance of apocalypticism, the Law of Moses vs. the Law of Christ, diaspora Jews vs. Palestinian Jews on Torah, Torah for Jews vs. Gentiles, the Messiah and Torah, and much more!

As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Oct 12, 202256:45
Justified or Made Righteous? Biblical Greek, Lexical Semantics, and Romans 3:24

Justified or Made Righteous? Biblical Greek, Lexical Semantics, and Romans 3:24

How should we understand the word δικαιούμενοι in Romans 3:24? It's often translated as "justified", but here we argue for the translation "made righteous." In this short discussion, we first look at recent proposals for what this word means. We then present some linguistic tools that you can use to think through what words mean and how to interpret them. In light of these tools, we will take another look at justification language in Romans 3:24 and in Romans more broadly.  

The Meaning of δικαιόω (Justify) in Paul with James Prothro: https://youtu.be/rDZTV4m5TUA

Basic Semantic Concepts: https://youtu.be/Ul_4JWrx0O4

Kennedy & McNally on Scale Structure: https://semantics.uchicago.edu/kennedy/docs/km-scales05.pdf

This is a bonus episode for our series on Key Terms in Pauline Theology. In this episode, Kevin dives into Romans 3:24 to show how the Greek can help us better understand how these terms relate, and ultimately better understand the text.  Go to biblingo.org/podcast to learn more and subscribe to the Biblical Languages Podcast.

Oct 08, 202217:43
The Meaning of δικαιόω (Justify) in Paul with James Prothro (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 4)

The Meaning of δικαιόω (Justify) in Paul with James Prothro (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 4)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso talks with Dr. James Prothro about the meaning of language related to justification and righteousness in Paul.

James B. Prothro earned masters degrees in theology and in classical philology, and completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge in 2017. He has worked in churches and parish ministries and as a professor, and currently teaches at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology in Colorado.

He has written on Greek and on textual criticism, but his main areas of research are in the letters of Paul and in methods of interpretation and biblical theology. His books reflect these interests. He is the author of Both Judge and Justifier: Biblical Legal Language and the Act of Justifying in Paul (2018), The Apostle Paul and His Letters: An Introduction (2021), and a forthcoming volume on Paul’s theology of justification and salvation called A Pauline Theology of Justification: Forgiveness, Friendship, and Life with God (2023).

Reflecting interests in interpretation and biblical theology, he is currently finishing a biblical theology of confession and repentance for Baker Academic, and editing a collection of essays forthcoming with Eerdmans entitled The Future of Catholic Biblical Interpretation: Lagrange and Beyond.

As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Show notes available at: https://biblingo.org/blog/the-meaning-of-δικαιόω-justify-in-paul-with-james-prothro/

Oct 05, 202201:45:25
From the Faith for the Faith: Pistis in Romans 1:17 and Habakkuk 2:4

From the Faith for the Faith: Pistis in Romans 1:17 and Habakkuk 2:4

Almost every verse in Romans is hotly debated, but Romans 1:17 is one of the few where just about every word is contested. The phrase ‘righteousness of God’ has, of course, received a lot of airtime. Then there is the very condense ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν, usually woodenly translated ‘from faith for faith’ (ESV) or opaquely translated ‘by faith from first to last’ (NIV).

These translations can be quite puzzling even for native speakers of English. What exactly would mean for the righteousness of God to be revealed ‘from faith for faith’ or ‘by faith from first to last’? And how is that connected to the quote from Habakkuk 2:4?  In this video, Dr. Kevin Grasso suggests a different understanding of the noun πίστις in this verse - one that makes sense of both the odd phrase ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν and the Habakkuk quote.  This is a bonus episode for our series on Key Terms in Pauline Theology.

In this episode, Kevin dives into Romans 1:17 to show how the Greek can help us better understand how these terms relate, and ultimately better understand the text.  Go to biblingo.org/podcast to learn more and subscribe to the Biblical Languages Podcast.

Teresa Morgan's "Roman Faith and Christian Faith: Pistis and Fides in the Early Roman Empire and Early Churches": https://global.oup.com/academic/product/roman-faith-and-christian-faith-9780198724148

Kevin Grasso's "A Linguistic Analysis of πίστις χριστοῦ: The Case for the Third View": https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0142064X20949385

The Meaning of πίστις (faith) in Paul with Teresa Morgan: https://youtu.be/fL227P1dD8w

The Jesus-Christ-Faith: Galatians 3:22 and The Pistis Christou Debate: https://youtu.be/IfuX5fG1hB0

Sep 30, 202211:60
The Meaning of πίστις (faith) in Paul with Teresa Morgan (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 3)
Sep 28, 202201:05:41
The Jesus-Christ-Faith: Galatians 3:22 and The Pistis Christou Debate

The Jesus-Christ-Faith: Galatians 3:22 and The Pistis Christou Debate

Galatians 3:22 in Greek reads: ἀλλὰ συνέκλεισεν ἡ γραφὴ τὰ πάντα ὑπὸ ἁμαρτίαν, ἵνα ἡ ἐπαγγελία ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοθῇ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν.

We can translate this as 'But the Scriptures shut up everything under sin, so that the promise from πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ might be given to those who are faithful.'

The only phrase left untranslated in this sentence has led to a tremendous amount of scholarly sparring, which I myself have taken part in. It is the phrase ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, and the debate is called "the Pistis Christou debate". It centers around how to understand the relationship between the words 'pistis,' usually translated 'faith' or 'faithfulness,' and 'Jesus Christ.'

Most translations translate this as 'faith in Jesus Christ.' This is called the objective genitive position. A significant portion of the scholarly world thinks it should be translated 'faithfulness of Jesus Christ.' This is called the subjective genitive position. Here, Dr. Kevin Grasso argues for a third view, translating the phrase as 'the Jesus-Christ-faith,' where it is the faith or message about Jesus the Christ that is being referred to.

This is a bonus episode for our series on Key Terms in Pauline Theology. In this episode, Kevin dives into Galatians 3:22 to show how the Greek can help us better understand how these terms relate, and ultimately better understand the text.  Go to biblingo.org/podcast to learn more and subscribe to the Biblical Languages Podcast.

For a longer, more scholarly treatment of this topic, please see Dr. Kevin Grasso's journal article "A Linguistic Analysis of πίστις χριστοῦ: The Case for the Third View" available for free here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0142064X20949385

Sep 23, 202213:24
The Meaning of Χριστός (Christ) in Paul with Matthew Novenson (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 2)

The Meaning of Χριστός (Christ) in Paul with Matthew Novenson (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 2)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Dr. Kevin Grasso talks with Dr. Matthew Novenson about the meaning of Χριστός (Christ or Messiah) in Paul.

Matthew Novenson is Senior Lecturer in New Testament and Director of the Centre for the Study of Christian Origins at the University of Edinburgh. A scholar of religion in antiquity, in particular Judaism and Christianity, he is the author of Christ among the Messiahs (2012), The Grammar of Messianism (2017), and Paul, Then and Now (2022), among other studies.

Kevin and Matthew discuss topics like:

  • How linguistics and word analysis help us understand what Paul means by Χριστός
  • What has been the historical interpretation of Χριστός in Paul?
  • In what ways can previous scholarly consensus on the meaning of Χριστός be challenged?
  • What is the predominant meaning of Χριστός in Paul?

As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Show notes available at: https://biblingo.org/blog/the-meaning-of-χριστός-christ-in-paul-with-matthew-novenson/

Sep 21, 202255:35
Christ is the τέλος of the Law? A Better Translation of Romans 10:4

Christ is the τέλος of the Law? A Better Translation of Romans 10:4

This is a bonus episode for our series on Key Terms in Pauline Theology. As we release the main episodes for this series where we interview top scholars in the field regarding their research on key terms, we're also going to release these shorter episodes where we dive into a specific biblical text that deals with that term. So in our previous episode, Kevin interviewed Joshua Jipp about the term Χριστός, or Messiah, and how it relates to other terms, such as νόμος, or Torah. In this episode, Kevin dives into Romans 10:4 to show how the Greek can help us better understand how these terms relate, and ultimately better understand the text.

Sep 16, 202214:18
The Significance of Jesus as Messiah with Joshua Jipp (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 1)

The Significance of Jesus as Messiah with Joshua Jipp (Key Terms in Pauline Theology: Part 1)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso talks with Dr. Joshua Jipp about the significance of Jesus as Messiah in Pauline Theology.

Dr. Jipp has taught New Testament in a variety of settings, including as a Teaching Fellow at TEDS, before joining the faculty at Trinity. He has published essays in Themelios, Journal of Theological Interpretation, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Bulletin of Biblical Research, New Testament Studies, Horizons in Biblical Theology, Journal of Biblical Literature, and Journal of Theological Studies. He loves reading novels, playing all kinds of sports (esp. baseball) with his kids, being outdoors, listening to music, and having great conversations with his wife.

Kevin and Josh discuss a variety of questions, such as:

  • How do we decide what terms are central to a Paul's letters, or any given corpus?
  • How has recent scholarship changed our understanding of Χριστός ("Messiah")?
  • If Jesus is the messiah, how does that affect Paul’s understanding of our response to him, specifically as it relates to πίστις ("faith")?
  • Given Jesus as Messiah, how does that affect Paul’s understanding of νόμος ("the Torah")?
  • How does the Messiah’s coming change the identity of Ἰσραήλ (“Israel”)?

As always, this episode is brought to you by Biblingo, the premier solution for learning, maintaining, and enjoying the biblical languages. Visit biblingo.org to learn more and start your 10-day free trial. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review. You can also follow Biblingo on social media @biblingoapp to discuss the episode with us and other listeners.

Show notes available at: https://biblingo.org/blog/the-significance-of-jesus-as-messiah-with-joshua-jipp/

Sep 14, 202201:15:59
How to Analyze Word Order in the Biblical Languages (Part 8 of Word Order)

How to Analyze Word Order in the Biblical Languages (Part 8 of Word Order)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso discusses how to analyze word order in biblical Greek and biblical Hebrew.

Show notes at: https://biblingo.org/blog/how-to-analyze-word-order-in-the-biblical-languages/

Aug 27, 202233:03
The Syntax of Negation in Biblical Greek with Chiara Gianollo (Part 7 of Word Order)

The Syntax of Negation in Biblical Greek with Chiara Gianollo (Part 7 of Word Order)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso talks with Dr. Chiara Gianollo about the syntax of negation in biblical Greek.


Show notes here: https://biblingo.org/blog/the-syntax-of-negation-in-biblical-greek-with-chiara-gianollo/

Aug 19, 202255:52
Topic, Focus, and Questions in Biblical Greek (Part 6 of Word Order)

Topic, Focus, and Questions in Biblical Greek (Part 6 of Word Order)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso discusses topic, focus and question words in biblical Greek, and how each of these affects word order.


Show notes available here: https://biblingo.org/blog/topic-focus-and-questions-in-biblical-greek/

Aug 12, 202201:19:14
Basic Word Order in Biblical Greek: VSO, SVO, or Both? (Part 5 of Word Order)

Basic Word Order in Biblical Greek: VSO, SVO, or Both? (Part 5 of Word Order)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso discusses the basic word order of biblical Greek.


Show notes: https://biblingo.org/blog/basic-word-order-in-biblical-greek/

Jul 14, 202201:12:60
Practicing the Biblical Languages 30 Minutes Every Day with Alan Cossey

Practicing the Biblical Languages 30 Minutes Every Day with Alan Cossey

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Nick Messmer talks with Alan Cossey about his experience learning biblical Greek and Hebrew, including how he has managed to practice 30 minutes nearly every day for 2 years.

Show notes at: https://biblingo.org/practicing-the-biblical-languages-30-minutes-every-day-with-alan-cossey

Jul 07, 202230:15
Speaking Ancient Languages, Translating vs. Glossing, and Explicit Grammar

Speaking Ancient Languages, Translating vs. Glossing, and Explicit Grammar

This episode is a recording of a livestream event hosted by the Ancient Language Institute. They invited Nick Messmer, co-founder of Biblingo and co-host of the Biblical Languages Podcast, to be a part of their roundtable discussion about how to learn ancient languages, specifically in light of modern second language acquisition research. The conversation was about 2 hours long, so we're splitting it up into 2 parts for the podcast. In this second part, we talk about speaking ancient languages, the difference between translating and glossing, and the role of explicit grammar.

Show notes at: https://biblingo.org/blog/speaking-ancient-languages-translating-vs-glossing-and-explicit-grammar/

Jun 29, 202259:37
Grammar-Translation, Communicative Approaches, and Ancient Languages

Grammar-Translation, Communicative Approaches, and Ancient Languages

This episode is a recording of a livestream event hosted by the Ancient Language Institute. They invited Nick Messmer, co-founder of Biblingo and co-host of the Biblical Languages Podcast, to be a part of their roundtable discussion about how to learn ancient languages, specifically in light of modern second language acquisition research. The conversation was about 2 hours long, so we're splitting it up into 2 parts for the podcast. In this first part, we talk about about our backgrounds, the grammar-translation method, comprehensible input, and communicative approaches.

Show notes at: https://biblingo.org/blog/grammar-translation-communicative-approaches-and-ancient-languages/

Jun 23, 202201:04:38
The VS vs. SV Debate in Biblical Hebrew (Part 4 of Word Order)

The VS vs. SV Debate in Biblical Hebrew (Part 4 of Word Order)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso and Nick Messmer discuss the VS vs. SV debate in biblical Hebrew.

Show notes at: biblingo.org/blog/the-vs-sv-debate-in-biblical-hebrew

Jun 10, 202201:23:37
How to Pass a Hebrew (or Greek) Competency Exam with Teresa Kovac

How to Pass a Hebrew (or Greek) Competency Exam with Teresa Kovac

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Nick Messmer talks with Teresa Kovac about her experience learning biblical Hebrew, including self-studying to pass a Hebrew competency exam and place out of first semester Hebrew.

Show notes at: https://biblingo.org/blog/how-to-pass-a-hebrew-or-greek-competency-exam-with-teresa-kovac/

Jun 03, 202225:50
Copula and Existential Clauses in Biblical Hebrew with Daniel Wilson (Part 3 of Word Order)

Copula and Existential Clauses in Biblical Hebrew with Daniel Wilson (Part 3 of Word Order)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso talks with Dr. Daniel Wilson about some special clauses in biblical Hebrew: copula clauses and existential clauses.

Show notes available at: https://biblingo.org/blog/copula-and-existential-clauses-in-biblical-hebrew/

May 27, 202201:10:35
Basic Word Order in Biblical Hebrew with Vince DeCaen (Part 2 of Word Order)

Basic Word Order in Biblical Hebrew with Vince DeCaen (Part 2 of Word Order)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso talks with Dr. Vince DeCaen about basic word order in biblical Hebrew.

Show notes at biblingo.org/blog/basic-word-order-in-biblical-hebrew

May 20, 202201:08:07
Introduction to Word Order with Paul Kroeger (Part 1 of Word Order)

Introduction to Word Order with Paul Kroeger (Part 1 of Word Order)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso talks with Dr. Paul Kroeger about the basics of word order.  Find show notes at: https://biblingo.org/blog/introduction-to-word-order/

May 13, 202201:11:36
Basic Pragmatics Concepts (Part 4 of Biblical Language Linguistics)

Basic Pragmatics Concepts (Part 4 of Biblical Language Linguistics)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso shares core concepts that are essential for doing the task of pragmatics.

Find show notes and a full blog post at: https://biblingo.org/blog/basic-pragmatics-concepts/

Apr 29, 202257:32
Basic Syntax Concepts (Part 3 of Biblical Language Linguistics)

Basic Syntax Concepts (Part 3 of Biblical Language Linguistics)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso shares core concepts that are essential for doing the task of syntax.

Find show notes and a full blog post at: https://biblingo.org/blog/basic-syntax-concepts/

Apr 23, 202201:08:09
Basic Morphology Concepts (Part 2 of Biblical Language Linguistics)

Basic Morphology Concepts (Part 2 of Biblical Language Linguistics)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso shares core concepts that are essential for understanding morphology.

Find show notes and a full blog post at: https://biblingo.org/blog/basic-morphology-concepts/

Apr 15, 202201:00:40
Basic Semantic Concepts (Part 1 of Biblical Language Linguistics)
Apr 08, 202252:29
A Quick Update - 2022 Kickoff
Apr 06, 202203:37
Do We Really Need Exegesis?
Dec 16, 202149:16
The Role of the Biblical Text in Language Learning
Dec 09, 202121:43
Biblical Hebrew Verb Classes and Alternations

Biblical Hebrew Verb Classes and Alternations

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso and Nick Messmer discuss how to group biblical Hebrew verbs into classes and why that matters for our understanding of those verbs and the language as a whole.

Find show notes at https://biblingo.org/blog/biblical-hebrew-verb-classes-and-alternations/

Dec 02, 202156:10
Who Killed Deponency?

Who Killed Deponency?

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso and Nick Messmer discuss the concept of deponency in Greek studies.

Find show notes at https://biblingo.org/blog/who-killed-deponency/

Nov 17, 202122:09
How To Refresh Your Greek Curriculum (with Bob Jones University)

How To Refresh Your Greek Curriculum (with Bob Jones University)

In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Nick Messmer is joined by Esdras Oliveira Borges, Timothy Hughes, and Dan Olinger from Bob Jones University to discuss their recent Greek curriculum refresh.

Find show notes at https://biblingo.org/blog/how-to-refresh-your-greek-curriculum-with-bob-jones-university/

Nov 03, 202153:37