What is Exegesis? (encore), With John Walton

What is Exegesis? (encore), With John Walton

Author: Wheaton College February 16, 2026 Duration: 7:16

This is a repeat of our very first episode: Veteran interpreter Dr. John Walton describes the process of exegesis — from choosing a text, analyzing the genre and background, and grappling with the "linguistic core" — in this step-by-step explanation of how exegesis is done. Dr. John Walton, Old Testament Professor Emeritus at Wheaton Graduate School, has since become a frequent contributor to this podcast. He has many volumes in his "Lost World" series along with many other publications, including (with Andrew Hill), A Survey of the Old Testament (4th ed.). He is currently collaborating with Dr. Aubrey Buster in preparing a major commentary on Daniel (NICOT), of which the first volume (Daniel 1-6) is out.

Check out related programs at Wheaton College:

B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/4kwp8MT 
M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4arsNa2 


Ever wondered what a single Greek word or a subtle Hebrew nuance can reveal about a familiar biblical passage? Exegetically Speaking, from Wheaton College and The Lanier Theological Library, explores exactly that. Host Dr. David Capes guides conversations with scholars who specialize in the biblical languages. Each week, in a concise seven to eleven minutes, these experts unpack a specific text, demonstrating how a knowledge of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek transforms understanding. This isn't about dry grammar lessons; it's about the tangible payoff of seeing scripture through the lens of its native tongue. You'll hear how a verb tense shifts a parable's meaning or how a cultural idiom deepens a prophetic message. The podcast makes scholarly insight accessible, offering listeners a direct line to the foundational tools of biblical interpretation. Whether you're a student, a pastor, or simply curious about the Bible's depth, these focused episodes provide a regular dose of discovery, highlighting why engaging with the original languages remains a vital and enriching practice for anyone interested in the Christian faith. Tune in for a thoughtful, expert-led journey into the text itself.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Exegetically Speaking
Podcast Episodes
Habakkuk and God in Dialogue, with Andrew Abernethy: Habakkuk 1-2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:47
Unlike other prophetic books that directly address an audience, the message of Habakkuk presents itself to listeners by pondering a dialogue between the prophet Habakkuk and God. By paying attention to repetition related…
Amos' Art, with Danny Carroll Rodas: Amos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:17
Amos' Hebrew is rich with rhetorical techniques such as word play and satire, sometimes throwing hard punches. Some of these can be heard in translation, others are difficult to preserve in English. Dr. Danny Carroll Rod…
How Not to Run Amuck, with Richard Schultz: Proverbs 29:18 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:41
The English words, "where there is no vision, the people perish," would seem to commend the need of a good plan for a desired future, but the Hebrew sentence points in a different direction. Dr. Richard Schultz is the Bl…
This God, with Bradley Cameron: Ecclesiastes 3:10 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:16
Is Ecclesiastes 3:10-14 about a despotic, distant god or a benevolent, known God? It depends on whether we recognize the force of a Hebrew definite article. Bradley Cameron (PhD, Wheaton) is Visiting Instructor in Old Te…
The Express Image, with Philip Graham Ryken: Hebrews 1:3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:29
Heb. 1:1-4 is a beautifully rounded Greek sentence in praise of God's Son in and as whom God has spoken. One metaphor conveys the uniqueness of this person as the "express image" of God himself. It is this metaphor that…
He Became Wisdom, with Jon Laansma: 1 Corinthians 1:30 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:58
Beneath the surface of fairly stable English translations of 1 Corinthians 1:30 there flow quite varied interpretations of the Greek language Paul uses. Jon C. Laansma is the Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testamen…
Amen God and He'll Amen You, with Richard Schultz: Isaiah 28:16 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:13
The choice for Israel is between quiet trust and anxious haste in an important prophetic passage. Prof. Schultz explains the background, Hebrew imagery, and the NT's interpretation of Isaiah 28:16. Dr. Richard Schultz is…