In a recent episode, Dr. Ellie Paley walked us through Job 42:6, Job's final response to God's answer from the whirlwind. The very next verse, Job 42:7, presents the conundrum of how Job, who was just rebuked by God, is now commended by God in contrast to his three friends. The Hebrew wording suggests that the key difference between Job and his friends lies in the direction of their speaking: To God about Job or to Job about God? Dr. Paley has taught courses at Duke Divinity School and Jerusalem University College, and is transitioning to a postdoctoral position at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. Her doctoral research on Divine-Human Dialogue and Resolution in the Book of Job is forthcoming with Brill.   Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/48GQoDD  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3RjAzww 

Though most often cited at funerals or in times of greatest difficulty, Psalm 23 has a profound message for the whole of life. A close reading of the Hebrew of the opening verses bears out some of this. Dr. Kenneth Gore is Professor of Biblical Studies at Mary C. Crowley College of Christian Faith, Dallas Baptist University. He wrote the column "Baptists Ask," for the Arkansas Baptist News from October 2001 to March 2020, and recently contributed a series of articles on The Psalms for GC2 Press.   Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4cFzZld  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4t3bZ04 

For the 350th episode of this podcast, Dr Michael Bird reviews the ways in which John's Gospel presents Jesus as equal to God, and then concentrates on the language of 1:18. Is the idea that of Jesus as the "only begotten" of the Father, what would that mean, and how would later theological terminology express what John is teaching? Dr. Bird is Deputy Principal and Academic Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College (Melbourne, Australia). His many publications include What Christians Ought to Believe: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine through the Apostles' Creed and Jesus among the gods: Early Christology in the Greco-Roman World.   Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4mAwEY0  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/41Duai0 

Following Job's sufferings, mourning, arguments with his friends, and God's own speech to him, Job makes his final response in Job 42. But the Hebrew of Job 42:6 has been hotly contested in scholarship, with its interpretation bearing significant implications for how this afflicted God-fearer has emerged from his long-awaited encounter with God. Dr. Ellie Paley has taught courses at Duke Divinity School and Jerusalem University College, and is transitioning to a postdoctoral position at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. Her doctoral research on Divine-Human Dialogue and Resolution in the Book of Job is forthcoming with Brill.    Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4vrZZaV  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/480BQ1j 

Two of the shortest verses in the Bible are 1 Thess. 5:16 and 17: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing" (NRSV). Dr. Jeff Peterson argues that that these verses are directed to leaders of the Thessalonian church, along with all of vv. 14-22, and he zeroes in on the Greek adverb translated "without ceasing." Concretely, what was Paul asking the recipients of his letter to do? Dr. Jeff Peterson is Professor of New Testament at Harding School of Theology, Harding University. His publications include (co-editor), Marcan Priority Without Q: Explorations in the Farrer Hypothesis. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3NUCXJ0  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4diWywK 

John 20:31 is usually translated as John's purpose statement: "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" (ESV). But could the clause also be understood as, "that you may believe that the Christ, the Son of God, is Jesus"? What difference would this make for how we read John's Gospel as a whole? In this episode, David Ritsema discusses the grammatical question behind this translation and its implications for John's presentation of Jesus as the Messiah. Dr. David Ritsema is Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor of New Testament at B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary, East Texas Baptist University. His book, The Divine Messiah: A Portrait of Jesus in the Johannine Literature, is forthcoming with Wipf & Stock. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4tfjeTr  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4lYiJuC 

Rom. 7:7-25 has attracted more attention from commentators than any other biblical passage. All readers feel some sympathy with the struggle with sin that is voiced, though elements of what Paul writes make neat identifications difficult. Who is the "I" who is speaking in vv. 7-13 and then the "I" in 7:14-25? Prof. Witherington, who has been on this podcast before, is the Jean R. Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and is an emeritus professor of New Testament at St. Andrews University, Scotland. He has published widely, including commentaries on every book of the New Testament; of relevance to this episode is Paul's Letter to the Romans: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. His most recent book is Rethinking Biblical and Systematic Theology. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4uziQR4  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4sP9NJY     

A long tradition of reading John 4 has viewed the woman at the well as immoral. How was that reading established? What is its textual warrant? What are alternative traditions? What does all this tell us about the role of assumptions in exegesis? Dr. Benjamin Wall is Professor of Theology and Ethics at South University. His publications include Welcome as a Way of Life and he is currently a resident scholar at Lanier Theological Library working on C. S. Lewis' theological anthropology related to disabilities and mental health.  Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4sZt6k7  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/47XmhqW 

Ps. 103:17-18 presents God's kingdom as the kingdom of Israel while v. 19 also mentions God's universal kingdom. In which sense did Christ bring God's kingdom to realization? Dr. Fredericks is Professor of Biblical Studies and Provost Emeritus at Belhaven University. His publications include Reframing Biblical Theology: The Eternal Design and (co-author) Ecclesiastes & The Song of Songs. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/46Wx5Fv  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4syONHm 

Knowing that devastating judgment is descending on Israel, the prophet affirms that God is his strength. To appreciate the depth of Habakkuk's hope we must understanding the Hebrew language used in its contexts (plural), including the species of deer in Israel. Dr. Oliver Hersey, who has been on this podcast before, is the 11th president of Jerusalem University College. This college, located on the southwestern corner of Mount Zion, Israel, equips for ministry by providing immersive study of the ancient and modern contexts of Israel and the surrounding regions for a deepened understanding of God and his word. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/46qmYsc  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4qYJdgj