Who is I?, with Ben Witherington III: Romans 7:7-25

Who is I?, with Ben Witherington III: Romans 7:7-25

Author: Wheaton College March 30, 2026 Duration: 13:29

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 


 

 


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: 50

Exegetically Speaking
Podcast Episodes
Canceling a King, with Oliver Hersey: Exodus 1:8-9 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:52
When the king of Egypt is first introduced in our OT book of Exodus he is not named, nor thereafter. But the book itself in Hebrew is called "Names," and even the midwives are named (Exod. 1:15). Egyptians tended to trea…
What Was From the Beginning, with Elizabeth Mburu: 1 John 1:1-4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:30
John's longer letter begins with a series of clauses headed by neuter relative pronouns without clear antecedents. In particular, the neuter gender draws our attention. To what do they refer and how does this relate to J…
The Messianic Whipper Snapper, with N. Clayton Croy: John 2:15 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:53
The RSV's translation of the "cleansing of the temple" in John 2:15 is in part, "And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple." John's Greek, however, suggests that Jesus was…
At the Doorstep of Nicaea, with Malcolm Yarnell: Colossians 2:9 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:35
The Colossian churches had shifted their attention from Christ to calendrical matters, mediatorial figures, mystical visions, and philosophical notions. Paul is calling them to focus on Christ, who is the center and circ…
Whose Koilia is This?, with Jennifer Houston McNeel: John 7:38 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:17
The NRSV translates John 7:38, "Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water." Behind that stand entangled questions of the punctuation of the Greek sentences (punctuation is lacking in the earliest manu…
This Place, with James Hoffmeier: Jeremiah 7:7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:13
Modern students of biblical Hebrew learn that the "pointing" (symbols for vowels) of the commonly used Masoretic text of the OT was added to the Hebrew consonants in the medieval period, and that the meaning of a passage…