The common element in all my playlists is helping you learn more about the Greek New Testament. Some of the playlists are for memorizing vocabulary, a few are about my books and apps, and other are about Greek exegesis and the translation process. I hope you learn and enjoy.

Bill Mounce

What does it mean to "quench the Spirit"? Do you use the word "quench" other than to quench your thirst? Do you quench a candle? Satan's fiery arrows?

What does it mean to "quench the Spirit"? Do you use the word "quench" other than to quench your thirst? Do you quench a ...

Quench the Spirit? (1 Thess 5:19)

There are a few places where the order of Greek words is really significant, and Paul's instructions for communion are one of those places. If you know the Greek, you will know how to read 1 Corinthians 11:24–26 publically.

When Word Order Makes a Significant Difference (1 Cor 11:24–26)

I heard a popular preacher the other day say that he will not accept any theology that allows for suffering. All suffering, he says, is outside of God’s will and the experiences of an obedient Christian. There are few things that are more wrong than this absurdly non-biblical statement.

God’s Gracious Gift of Suffering (Phil 1:29)

There is a thin line between translation and commentary. All Greek and Hebrew sentences need some level of interpretation to make sense in English, but sometimes translators go past that line and become commentators. Here are a couple examples.

When Translators Cross the Line (Matt 6:13)

We are used to reading that "moth and rust" destroy earthly treasures, but some translations have "vermin" or a "devouring insect" (NET). BDAG says the reading "rust" "finds no support." Apparently, "rust" made its way into English through Tyndale and was made popular by the KJV.<br />
<br />
The footnote in the NET is especially helpful. <br />
<br />
"Traditionally “rust,” literally “eating” or “consuming.” Greek has a specific word for “rust” (James 5:3), whereas the term used here is not used of rust anywhere else. In the present context where moths are mentioned, some interpreters see a reference to some other kind of consuming insect. Mal 3:11 LXX does appear to use the Greek term as a translation of the Hebrew term for some type of grasshopper. Two OT passages (Job 13:28; Hos 5:12) mention “moth” in parallel with “rot” or “wood rot”; the physician Galen used the Greek term in medical texts to refer to the decay of teeth (6.422; 12.879). It is thus possible to see the second term in Matt 6:19 as referring to some type of rot, decay, or corrosion rather than as a specific reference to damage by insects or other pests. However, a surviving fragment by the Greek poet Pindar (fragment 209; Oxford Text = 222) mentions the inability of moths or weevils to destroy gold: “Gold is the child of Zeus; neither moth nor weevil consumes it” (cf. BDAG 922 s.v. σής where the word for “weevil,” κίς, is mistranslated as “rust”). In light of this usage and the context it was decided to render the Greek term as “devouring insect.”

We are used to reading that "moth and rust" destroy earthly treasures, but some translations have "vermin" or a "devouring insect" (NET). BDAG says the reading "rust" "finds no support." Apparently, "rust" made its way into English through Tyndale and was made popular by the KJV.

The footnote in the NET is especially helpful. 

"Traditionally “rust,” literally “eating” or “consuming.” Greek has a specific word for “rust” (James 5:3), whereas the term used here is not used of rust anywhere else. In the present context where moths are mentioned, some interpreters see a reference to some other kind of consuming insect. Mal 3:11 LXX does appear to use the Greek term as a translation of the Hebrew term for some type of grasshopper. Two OT passages (Job 13:28; Hos 5:12) mention “moth” in parallel with “rot” or “wood rot”; the physician Galen used the Greek term in medical texts to refer to the decay of teeth (6.422; 12.879). It is thus possible to see the second term in Matt 6:19 as referri

What Eats our Treasures? Vermin or Rust? (Matt 6:19)

Matthew 5:19 illustrates several aspects of Greek. Perhaps the most interesting is how Greek can drop words out of the second half of a sentence that is parallel in structure. But it also shows the different meanings of οὕτως, and how a long clause can be the subject of the verb and also have it repeated with a demonstrative pronoun. I still remember in second grade a poster of a man with two hats, and the caption said, "The man he." That's poor English, but acceptable Greek, perhaps good Greek.

The Hunt for the Missing Words (Matt 5:19)

There is meaning in Greek word order, but it is normally so nuanced that it can’t come out in translation. Ephesians 2:8–9 is one of the rare exceptions, illustrating how to emphasize a word or phrase by changing its normal position in the sentence.

Greek Word Order and Nuance (Eph 2:8–9)

In one of the greatest verses on salvation, Paul tells Titus that it is God who saved us. It was not because of what we think we did, but rather because of his mercy he saved us through the working of the Holy Spirit.

Who Saved Who? (Titus 3:4–5)

Paul is ending his letter to the Corinthian church and concludes with a general admonition. V 13 illustrates the issue of aspect, and v 14 shows a troubling omission in some translations.

Everything All of You Do Should be Done in Love (1 Corinthians 16:13–14)

Rarely does a translator let his or her theological bias show, but in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 we can see an example. V 2 also is a strange verse to translate with some unusual constructions.

Rarely does a translator let his or her theological bias show, but in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 we can see an example. V 2 also is a ...

Theological Bias in Translation (1 Cor 15:1-2)

When Jesus was sleeping in the boat during the storm, the disciples asked if he even cared that they were about to die. At least that’s what the translations seem to imply. But actually, the Greek is clear that they knew he did care, and they were confused as to why he wasn’t doing something about the storm. Learn more at www.BillMounce.com/BibleStudyGreek

Did the Disciples not Trust Jesus? (Mark 4:38)

The challenge of translating Hebrews 2:6–8 is that the original context (Psalm 8) was talking about people in general (plural), but the author of Hebrews rightly sees that it is messianic (singular) as does the author of Psalm 110:1 (Heb 2:8). So do you keep the original context, or its messianic understanding, and do you try to find a way to represent both?

Hebrews 2:6b–8a

There are two things worth emphasizing in John 3:16. The first is that οὕτως does not mean “so” in the sense of "so much,” but rather points forward or backwards, hence the newer translations such as the CSB say “For God loved the world in this way: He gave.” The second is that πᾶς is indefinite. It is saying all any and every person who believes will be saved. You cannot see the doctrine of election in this verse.

John 3:16

1 Corinthians 15:11 gives us a great example why it is important to know a word’s semantic range, and also my oft-repeated mantra that there is no random translations in any major Bible translation. There always is a reason, even though at times you have to look pretty hard to find it.

What letter was Paul referring to? (1 Cor 5:11)

trying to translate the same Greek word with the same English word is nice in theory, but sometimes it’s not possible and sometimes it even miscommunicated.

Romans 12:3 and the translation of γαρ

Translators have to be comfortable with compromise. Rarely can you hit the nail on the head, and generally you either over- or under-translate. What do you call all the people in your church? Beloved? I think not.

Is “Beloved” Still a Word? (Romans 12:19)

When Paul tells the Romans that Jesus was “appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection,” does that mean he wasn't the Son of God before his resurrection? I thought God never changes?

Did Jesus Become Something He Wasn't? (Romans 1:4)

Sometimes in Greek you can't tell the difference between an indicative and an interrogative, a statement and a question. After Thomas says, "My Lord and My God," does Jesus affirm him, or question him?

Did Jesus Affirm or Question Thomas? (John 20:29)

It is a constant temptation to think that we are our own, that we are in charge of our own lives. But for Christians, we belong to him, and when we walk, even then He directs our steps. This is what the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism is all about.

It is a constant temptation to think that we are our own, that we are in charge of our own lives. But for Christians, we belong to him, ...

I Belong to the Lord, My Very Steps (Jeremiah 10:23)

Titus 3:3 paints a pretty dark picture of who we were before Christ. It may seem like a small point, but does Paul say we were “detestable,” or both being hated and hating others”? Either way, do we really believe this? The ramifications for evangelism are significant.

Bill Mounce Videos