In this episode of the Biblical Languages Podcast, Kevin Grasso interviews Dr. Matthew Bates regarding his book, “Gospel Allegiance” (Brazos Press, 2019).
Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect:
- Investigating the meaning of the Greek word πίστις (“faith”) through linguistic analysis
- Understanding the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (“gospel”) in light of both the Septuagint and an ancient Roman inscription
- Bates’ 10-point summary of the New Testament’s statements on the Gospel
- And more!
Show notes
The following books are referenced in this episode:
“Gospel Allegiance” by Matthew Bates (Brazos Press, 2019)
“The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited” by Scot McKnight (Zondervan, 2011)
The following inscription, commonly referred to as “The Calendar Inscription of Priene” (Inscr. Priene, 105, 40, a calendar inscription, 9 BC, Priene, Asia Minor), is discussed:
Transcription:
Εδοξεν τοις επι της Ασιας Ελλησιν, γνωμη του αρχιερεως Απολλωνιου του Μηνοφιλου Αζανιτου· Επειδη η παντα διαταξασα του βιου ημων προνοια σπουδην εισενενκαμενη και φιλοτιμιαν το τεληοτατον τω βιω διεκοσμησεν ενενκαμενη τον Σεβαστον, ον εις ευεργεσιαν ανθρωπων επληρωσεν αρετης, ωσπερ ημειν και τοις μεθ ημας σωτηρα πεμψασα τον παυσοντα μεν πολεμον, κοσμησοντα δε παντα, επιφανεις δε ο Καισαρ τας ελπιδας των προλαβοντων ευανγελια παντων υπερεθηκεν, ου μονον τους προ αυτου γεγονοτας ευεργετας υπερβαλομενος, αλλ ουδ εν τοις εσομενοις ελπιδα υπολιπων υπερβολης, ηρξεν δε τω κοσμω των δι αυτον ευανγελιων η γενεθλιος ημερα του θεου· της δε Ασιας εψηφισμενης εν Σμυρνη.
Translation:
It seemed good to the Greeks of Asia, in the opinion of the high priest Apollonius of Menophilus Azanitus: “Since Providence, which has ordered all things and is deeply interested in our life, has set in most perfect order by giving us Augustus [τὸν Σεβαστόν], whom she filled with virtue that he might benefit humankind, sending him as a savior [σωτῆρα], both for us and for our descendants, that he might end war and arrange all things, and since he, Caesar, by his appearance [ἐπιφανεῖς] (excelled even our anticipations), surpassing all previous benefactors, and not even leaving to posterity any hope of surpassing what he has done, and since the birthday of the god Augustus was the beginning of the good tidings for the world that came by reason of him [ἦρξεν δὲ τῶι κόσμωι τῶν δι’ αὐτὸν εὐανγελίων ἡ γενέθλιος ἡμέρα τοῦ θεοῦ],” which Asia resolved in Smyrna.
(From from Craig Evans, “Mark’s Incipit and the Priene Calendar Inscription: From Jewish Gospel to Greco-Roman Gospel,” Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism, 1 (2000): 68–69).
Where to listen
You can listen and subscribe for updates here: https://biblingo.org/podcast/
You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Overcast.
Listen to the full episode, share your feedback, and let us know topics you’d like to hear on future episodes!
The Biblical Languages Podcast hosts discussions and interviews related to learning the biblical languages and issues relevant to biblical exegesis. Episodes cover topics in 4 major categories: language acquisition, linguistics, cultural backgrounds, and exegesis.
Listen & subscribe here: https://biblingo.org/podcast/
