The Biblical Languages Podcast hosts discussions and interviews related to learning the biblical languages and issues relevant to biblical exegesis.
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.
1/17/2024 • 1 hour, 37 minutes, 23 seconds
The Reading Brain: Insights from Neuroscience with Maryanne Wolf (Reading Fluency: Part 1)
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.
11/16/2023 • 48 minutes, 40 seconds
How to Read and Understand Different Bible Translations (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 6)
In this episode, Dr. Kevin Grasso concludes our series on New Testament Bible Translation by bring together the many insights shared on previous episodes and explaining the practical implications. Kevin discusses the goal of Bible translation, summarizes the main translation philosophies, highlights key problems in translation, and explains how to read and understand any Bible translation more effectively.
Kevin Grasso received his M.A. in Linguistics with a concentration in Bible Translation from Dallas International University and his PhD in Hebrew Language from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is also working on an M.A. in Comparative Religion at Hebrew University. He has taught Biblical Greek for the University of the Holy Land and is on the Executive Committee for the Biblical Hebrew Linguistics and Philology Network.
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.
9/29/2023 • 50 minutes, 40 seconds
The NIV Bible and Pauline Theology with Doug Moo (New Testament Bible Translation: Part 5)
Doug Moo is the chair of the translation committee of the NIV, consistently one of the most popular English translations in the world. In this episode, host Kevin Grasso discusses Moo's role as chair of the Committee for Bible Translation as well as Moo's particular translation philosophy. They also discuss how to translate some key terms in Paul, particularly those explored in our previous series on Key Terms in Pauline Theology.
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.
9/13/2023 • 45 minutes, 20 seconds
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.
9/6/2023 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 8 seconds
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.
8/30/2023 • 1 hour, 33 seconds
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.
8/23/2023 • 51 minutes
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.
8/16/2023 • 57 minutes, 44 seconds
Pronunciation of New Testament Greek with Ben Kantor
Ben Kantor has recently published two books on the pronunciation of NT Greek with Eerdmans:
A Short Guide to the Pronunciation of New Testament Greek
The Pronunciation of New Testament Greek: Judeo-Palestinian Greek Phonology and Orthography from Alexander to Islam
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.
8/3/2023 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 25 seconds
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.
5/16/2023 • 53 minutes, 4 seconds
A Quick Update - 2022 Kickoff
In this episode, we share some personal updates from Nick and Kevin, as well as what we have planned for the podcast for the rest of 2022.
Show notes:
Kevin's dissertation: "Verbs of Judgment in Biblical Hebrew. A Lexical Semantic Analysis" (free download)
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