Exploring the Language of Scripture

How Jesus Actually Shapes 1 Peter's Theology? | Ben Castaneda

How does Jesus shape 1 Peter? In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen is joined by Ben Castaneda, Lecturer in Greek and New Testament at Edinburgh Theological Seminary, to explore how Jesus’ teaching and passion shape the message of 1 Peter and why that matters for the Christian life. From the value of the biblical languages to the importance of the Septuagint, Ben explains how the Catholic Epistles draw on Jesus traditions in ways many readers miss. The conversation then focuses especially on 1 Peter, showing how Jesus’ teaching, suffering, and use of Scripture help form Peter’s vision of holiness, hope, and faithful endurance. Whether you are wondering how 1 Peter relates to Jesus’ teaching, why suffering is so central to the letter, or how these themes speak into everyday Christian life, this episode offers a rich and practical discussion. Don’t Miss the Next Episode: More conversations exploring how the biblical languages open up Scripture. 📚 Free Guide — Why Struggle with Greek? Avoid the most common pitfalls and start making real progress: https://ntgreektutoring.com/why-struggle-with-greek?utm_source=youtube Chapters: 00:00 Coming Up... 00:52 Meet Ben Castaneda and His Love for 1 Peter and the Biblical Languages 03:39 “Kissing Through a Veil”? Why Greek Changes Everything 06:22 Hidden Connections You Miss in Translation 11:22 Why the Septuagint Matters More Than You Think 13:47 Did the Catholic Epistles Really Use Jesus’ Teaching? 15:36 The Big Claim: Jesus Traditions Shape These Letters 23:16 Why Focus on 1 Peter? (And Why It Matters) 28:06 The Clearest Link Between 1 Peter and Jesus 30:15 Suffering Isn’t Random in 1 Peter 33:13 Are We Meant to Imitate Jesus’ Suffering? 37:06 Isaiah 53 and the Shape of Christian Suffering 40:32 Why Holiness and Suffering Go Together 47:30 What This Means for Your Life Today Music from #Uppbeat: All Good Folks – Aspire Please, let us know what you thoughts on the episode. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2392694/fan_mail/new] If you enjoyed this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, please consider becoming an Explorer! Your support helps keep the podcast ad-free, allows us to bring in more guests, and enhances the content we create. By joining our Explorer community, you’ll receive exclusive benefits, including Q&As, priority for Greek tutoring applications, and discounts on tutoring. Explore more and join the Explorer programme here: Become an Explorer [https://podcast.ntgreektutoring.co.uk/enroll].  Podcast Keywords: biblical languages, New Testament, Old Testament, Christ, bible study,  Relationship with God, learn biblical languages, Biblical Theology, Christianity, Covenants, New covenant, old covenant, language acquisition, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew.

What Did Paul Really Mean by the Kingdom of God? | Daniel Pollorena

Paul only mentions the Kingdom of God eight times across all his letters — yet it was central to Jesus' teaching. Why does Paul seem to avoid it? Paul's contemporaries — both Jewish and Gentile — were steeped in kingdom language. Roman imperial power dominated every city. The Jewish hope for God's kingdom was alive. Yet Paul rarely uses βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ (basileia tou theou, "Kingdom of God") in his letters. Was this deliberate? And does the popular idea that Paul's kingdom language directly challenges Roman imperial power actually hold up to historical scrutiny? In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen sits down with Daniel Pollorena, PhD researcher at the University of Vienna specialising in the Kingdom of God in Paul's letters, to explore one of Pauline theology's most misunderstood themes. Together they examine why Paul uses βασιλεία language so sparingly, whether βασιλεύς (basileus, "king") was ever realistically applied to Caesar in Paul's day, what Roman titles like imperator actually meant historically, and how Paul's kingdom theology connects to ethics, justification, and resurrection. If Paul teaches that Christ is King and his kingdom is concerned with how believers live — what does that mean for Christian ethics and how we face suffering and death today? Whether you're a Greek student, seminary student, pastor, or everyday Christian wanting to go deeper into Paul's theology, this episode will change how you read his letters. 📖 Free Greek Guide — 'Why Learning Greek Could Be a Struggle and How to Move Forward' 👉 https://ntgreektutoring.com/why-struggle-with-greek [https://ntgreektutoring.com/why-struggle-with-greek?utm_source=buzzsprout] 🔜 Don't Miss the Next Episode: Daniel welcomes Ben Castaneda to discuss how Jesus' teaching are received and used in 1 Peter. In this episode: 00:00 Coming Up 01:02 Meet Daniel Pollorena — researching the Kingdom in Paul 04:27 How seminary introduced him to biblical Greek 06:13 Why learning the biblical languages opens a new world 09:46 How Greek changes the way you read scripture 13:03 Why reading multiple Bible translations helps 21:08 Translating Greek literally vs idiomatically 24:26 What Greek reveals about the Kingdom in Paul 25:45 Why study the Kingdom of God in Paul 31:16 How this research project developed 33:05 Why Paul rarely uses Kingdom of God language 34:53 Paul the preacher vs Paul the letter writer 38:12 Evidence from Galatians and Paul's preaching 46:32 Understanding Kingdom language in the Roman world 51:23 Is Paul's Kingdom language anti-Roman? 54:07 Kings, Caesar and Roman political language 56:59 How Rome viewed kings and kingdoms 01:02:11 The Kingdom of God is not in word but power 01:07:53 Why local historical context matters 01:10:12 Final reflections on the Kingdom in Paul Music Credits: Music from #Uppbeat  🔗 https://uppb [https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/aspire] Please, let us know what you thoughts on the episode. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2392694/fan_mail/new] If you enjoyed this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, please consider becoming an Explorer! Your support helps keep the podcast ad-free, allows us to bring in more guests, and enhances the content we create. By joining our Explorer community, you’ll receive exclusive benefits, including Q&As, priority for Greek tutoring applications, and discounts on tutoring. Explore more and join the Explorer programme here: Become an Explorer [https://podcast.ntgreektutoring.co.uk/enroll].  Podcast Keywords: biblical languages, New Testament, Old Testament, Christ, bible study,  Relationship with God, learn biblical languages, Biblical Theology, Christianity, Covenants, New covenant, old covenant, language acquisition, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew.

How Paul Taught the Priesthood of Believers (Without Naming It) | Danillo Augusto Santos

Paul never uses the word "priesthood"—yet the concept runs through his letters. How did he teach it without naming it? In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen sits down with Danillo Augusto Santos, New Testament lecturer and PhD scholar specialising in the priesthood of believers in Paul's letters, to explore one of Pauline theology's most overlooked mysteries. Paul's contemporaries—both Jewish and Gentile—were intimately familiar with priesthood. The Jerusalem Temple still stood. Pagan temples dominated cities. Yet Paul deliberately avoids using the Greek words ἱερεύς (hiereus, "priest") or ἱεράτευμα (hierateuma, "priesthood") when writing to his churches. Why? Danillo walks through the Greek text of Romans 15, Philippians 2, 1 Corinthians 3, etc. to show this wasn't accidental—it was strategic. He explores why Paul used λειτουργός (leitourgos, "minister") instead of explicit priestly vocabulary, how the concept of priesthood runs implicitly through Paul's sacrificial language, and what the Old Testament prophecies in Exodus 19 and Isaiah 61 reveal about God's original plan for His people as priests. This matters beyond academics. If Paul teaches that every believer is priest, temple, and sacrifice—mediating access to God and bearing His name—what does that mean for worship, Christian service, and how we live tomorrow? Free Greek Guide — 'Why Learning Greek Could Be a Struggle and How to Move Forward' Discover common pitfalls in learning biblical Greek and Daniel's three-step framework to read with confidence. 👉 https://ntgreektutoring.com/why-struggle-with-greek [https://ntgreektutoring.com/why-struggle-with-greek?utm_source=buzzsprout] Don't Miss the Next Episode: Daniel welcomes Daniel Pollorena to discuss the Kingdom of God in Paul. Chapters  00:00 Coming Up...  01:06 Meet Danillo Santos: Pauline Scholar and Pastor  03:40 Why Greek Changed Everything for Me  07:02 The Method That Finally Made Greek Click  10:03 What English Translations Can't Show You  12:55 It's Not Just Detail - It Enhances Meaning  19:15 The Greek Word Translators Struggle With  22:48 Romans 15: Paul's Priestly Ministry (In Greek)  31:36 Why Paul NEVER Used the Word "Priesthood"  37:51 The Exodus Promise Israel Never Fulfilled  45:18 How to Spot Hidden Priesthood in Paul's Letters  52:32 Places Paul Teaches Priesthood (Without Saying It)  01:04:24 You're Not Just Saved - You're Transformed  01:12:19 You Are Temple, Priest AND Sacrifice  01:17:36 Philippians 2: Paul's Shocking Self-Description  01:27:56 What This Means for How You Live Tomorrow Music Credits: Music from #Uppbeat 🔗 https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/aspire [https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/aspire] Please, let us know what you thoughts on the episode. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2392694/fan_mail/new] If you enjoyed this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, please consider becoming an Explorer! Your support helps keep the podcast ad-free, allows us to bring in more guests, and enhances the content we create. By joining our Explorer community, you’ll receive exclusive benefits, including Q&As, priority for Greek tutoring applications, and discounts on tutoring. Explore more and join the Explorer programme here: Become an Explorer [https://podcast.ntgreektutoring.co.uk/enroll].  Podcast Keywords: biblical languages, New Testament, Old Testament, Christ, bible study,  Relationship with God, learn biblical languages, Biblical Theology, Christianity, Covenants, New covenant, old covenant, language acquisition, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew.

The Truth About Jesus' Physical Appearance in The Gospels | John Nelson

Why don't the Gospels describe what Jesus looked like? In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen sits down with John Nelson, New Testament scholar and author of Jesus' Physical Appearance, to explore one of the Bible's intriguing mysteries. Ancient biographies were obsessed with physical appearance—using it to reveal character through physiognomy. Yet the Gospel writers, who clearly knew Greco-Roman biographical conventions, deliberately omit any description of what Jesus physically looked like. Why? John walks through the Greek text, ancient biographical conventions, and Jewish Scripture to show this wasn't accidental—it was intentional. He explores what the Greek word τέκτων (tektōn) reveals about Jesus' occupation (hint: probably not just a carpenter), the hidden wordplay in John's Gospel that's invisible in English, and what we can actually know about Jesus' historical appearance. This matters beyond academics. If the Gospels challenge our image-obsessed world by refusing to describe Jesus' looks, what does that teach us about character, incarnation, and how we see Christ in one another? 📖 John's Book: Jesus' Physical Appearance: Biography, Christology and Physiology 👉 https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/jesus-physical-appearance-9780567723208/ [https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/jesus-physical-appearance-9780567723208/] 📘 Free Greek Guide — 'Why Learning Greek Could Be a Struggle and How to Move Forward' Discover common pitfalls in learning biblical Greek and Daniel's three-step framework to read with confidence. 👉 https://ntgreektutoring.com/why-struggle-with-greek [https://ntgreektutoring.com/why-struggle-with-greek?utm_source=buzzsprout] Don't Miss the Next Episode:  Daniel welcomes Danillo Augustus Santos to discuss the overlooked topic of  the priesthood of believers in Paul's letters? Chapters 00:00 Coming Up... 01:03 Meet John Nelson: The Scholar Who Studies What Jesus Looked Like 04:06 From Pastor's Kid to Greek Scholar: John's Journey 08:40 How Greek Unlocks Hidden Depths in Scripture 12:04 The "Butterfly Fallacy": Why Greek Isn't a Secret Code 14:48 Was Jesus Actually a Carpenter? What the Greek Really Says 19:58 The Genius Wordplay Hidden in John's Gospel 25:11 The Mystery: Why No One Describes What Jesus Looked Like 30:38 Ancient Biographies Were Obsessed With Looks—But Not the Gospels 34:59 What the Gospel Writers Intentionally Left Out 41:24 What We Actually Know About Jesus' Appearance 47:43 Isaiah 53: Did It Really Predict an Ugly Messiah? 51:41 The Transfiguration: Almost Describing Jesus—But Not Quite 55:26 Why Jesus' Resurrected Body Remains Mysterious 01:01:20 Zacchaeus: Who Was Actually Short in This Story? 01:07:37 Why Jesus' Character Matters More Than His Looks Music Credits: Music from # Please, let us know what you thoughts on the episode. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2392694/fan_mail/new] If you enjoyed this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, please consider becoming an Explorer! Your support helps keep the podcast ad-free, allows us to bring in more guests, and enhances the content we create. By joining our Explorer community, you’ll receive exclusive benefits, including Q&As, priority for Greek tutoring applications, and discounts on tutoring. Explore more and join the Explorer programme here: Become an Explorer [https://podcast.ntgreektutoring.co.uk/enroll].  Podcast Keywords: biblical languages, New Testament, Old Testament, Christ, bible study,  Relationship with God, learn biblical languages, Biblical Theology, Christianity, Covenants, New covenant, old covenant, language acquisition, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew.

Does Jesus Predict His Return in the Gospels? (Mark 8.38) | Murray Smith

Did Jesus predict His second coming — or was He speaking about His ascension in Mark 8:38? In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen — founder of NT Greek Tutoring and PhD candidate in New Testament — sits down with Murray Smith, lecturer in biblical theology at Christ College, Sydney, to examine one of the most debated questions in Gospel scholarship: what did Jesus mean when He spoke about the Son of Man coming in His Father's glory? The traditional interpretation holds that Jesus is prophesying His second coming. But scholars like R.T. France, N.T. Wright, and Michael Bird argue Jesus is speaking about His ascension and heavenly enthronement, not His future return to earth. This reading claims Daniel 7:13 describes the Son of Man going to the Ancient of Days in heaven, not coming from heaven to earth. Murray walks through the Greek text of Mark 8:38, the Old Testament allusions to Daniel 7:13 and Zechariah 14:5, and Mark's Gospel context to show why the traditional interpretation remains compelling. This matters beyond academics. If Jesus didn't prophesy His return, where does the doctrine come from? And what does His promised return mean for how we live today? 📘 Free Greek Guide — 'Why Learning Greek Could Be a Struggle and How to Move Forward' Discover common pitfalls in learning biblical Greek and Daniel's three-step framework to read with confidence. 👉 https://ntgreektutoring.com/why-struggle-with-greek [https://ntgreektutoring.com/why-struggle-with-greek?utm_source=buzzsprout] Don't Miss the Next Episode:  Daniel welcomes John Nelson to discuss Jesus' physical appearance in the Gospels — what can we know, and why does it matter? Chapters 00:00 Coming Up... 01:05 Meet Murray Smith: Gospel Scholar and Pastor 05:37 How Biblical Languages Opened Up Scripture 10:14 The Power of Slowing Down with Greek 15:21 How to Spot Old Testament Allusions 20:25 Finding A Potential Hidden Chiasm in the Greek of Mark 25:57 The Big Debate Explained: Second Coming or Heavenly Enthronement? 34:02 The Advantage of Arguing for An Heavenly Enthronement 43:06 The Importance of Daniel 7 in Acts 1: What Is Going on? 45:32 Unpacking Daniel 7: Heaven to Earth or Earth to Heaven? 53:19 Mark 8.38 in light of Daniel 7 and Zechariah 14 01:00:30 Does "This Generation" Mean Jesus Was Wrong? 01:04:53 What About Mark 9:1? Some Will See the Kingdom 01:10:17 How Does "Coming of the Son of Man" Function Across Mark? 01:12:52 Solving Mark 13: One Or Two Events? 01:19:57 How Matthew and Luke Handle the Same Material 01:25:20 Kingdom of God: Where the King Goes? 01:30:37 Practical Application: Living for His Return Music Credits:  Music from #Uppbeat 🔗 https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/aspire [https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/aspire] Please, let us know what you thoughts on the episode. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2392694/fan_mail/new] If you enjoyed this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, please consider becoming an Explorer! Your support helps keep the podcast ad-free, allows us to bring in more guests, and enhances the content we create. By joining our Explorer community, you’ll receive exclusive benefits, including Q&As, priority for Greek tutoring applications, and discounts on tutoring. Explore more and join the Explorer programme here: Become an Explorer [https://podcast.ntgreektutoring.co.uk/enroll].  Podcast Keywords: biblical languages, New Testament, Old Testament, Christ, bible study,  Relationship with God, learn biblical languages, Biblical Theology, Christianity, Covenants, New covenant, old covenant, language acquisition, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew.