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Welcome! I'm Daniel Mikkelsen (BA, MPhil (Cantab), Cand.theol.), a PhD candidate in New Testament at the University of Edinburgh. Our podcast exists to make gems from biblical studies accessible to everyday Christians, bridging the gap between scholarly discourse and everyday understanding to enrich your personal walk with God and deepen your love for Him and His Word. We aim to demonstrate how the biblical languages help open up Scripture, fostering a desire to learn these languages to deepen your comprehension and appreciation of the Word of God, as well as your participation in His mission.
34 Episodes
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Why does it matter that 1 Peter consistently uses the Greek Old Testament — the Septuagint — and how does that shape the message of the letter? In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen speaks with New Testament scholar Ed Glenny about how the author of 1 Peter reads and uses Scripture. Ed Glenny shows why Peter’s use of the Greek Scriptures is not incidental, but central to understanding the theology and argument of the letter. Much of 1 Peter is shaped by care...
Galatians 2:15–21 is one of the most debated passages in Paul — but why is it so difficult to interpret, and what exactly is Paul arguing? In this episode, we walk step-by-step through the flow of thought in Galatians 2, showing how the Greek text reveals Paul’s logic regarding justification, faith, the law, and Christian identity. Daniel Mikkelsen speaks with Nicolai Techow (Lecturer at Fjellhaug International University College, Copenhagen), a scholar of Paul and the Greek New Testament, a...
Reading Leviticus this way makes it deeper. Many readers approach Leviticus as a dense book of rules and obscure laws — difficult to read, difficult to understand, and seemingly far removed from everyday Christian life. But what if the problem isn’t Leviticus, but the way we read it? In this episode, I’m joined by Christian Canu Højgaard — pastor, Hebrew scholar, and specialist in Leviticus — to explore how the book functions as carefully crafted literature rather than a random collection of...
Did the first readers of Genesis see creation as a temple? In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Professor of Old Testament Jens Bruun Kofoed joins me to explore how ancient Israelites understood the creation account in Genesis 1–11 — and why seeing Eden as a sanctuary and humanity as God’s image-bearers transforms the way we read Scripture. We dive into temple imagery, ancient Near Eastern context, Hebrew language insights, and how the earliest audience would have heard th...
Some scholars within the Paul within Judaism school (PWJ) argue that Paul taught two distinct paths to salvation—one for Jews through the Law and another for Gentiles through Christ. But is that really what Paul says? In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen is joined by Josh Ip Cho-suen (pastor and biblical scholar) to examine how Paul actually speaks about salvation for Jews and Gentiles. We trace the development of the PWJ view (including influences from E. ...
How did early Christians understand the Kingdom of God—and how did their view move beyond the Gospels into Paul, Acts, and the Apostolic Fathers? In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen speaks with Tyler Hoagland, independent scholar of early Christianity, about how the Kingdom of God was conceived in the first 150 years after Christ. Drawing on his doctoral research, Tyler shows how the Greek terms βασιλεία (basileia) —kingdom—and βασιλεύω (basileuō) —to reig...
Does the Book of Acts really preserve accurate eyewitness testimonies? In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen is joined by Steve Walton—pastor, New Testament scholar, and specialist on the Book of Acts—for a wide-ranging conversation about whether Acts contains evidence of eyewitness accounts. From the importance of Greek for reading Acts, to eyewitness testimony, historical accuracy, miracles, and the mysterious “we” sections, Steve Walton explains wha...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture on Revelation, Daniel Mikkelsen is joined by Ian Paul—Anglican minister, New Testament scholar, and author of the Tyndale Commentary on Revelation—for a wide-ranging conversation on the meaning and message of Revelation 12. From the strange imagery of the pregnant woman and the dragon to the central question of the problem of evil, Revelation 12 offers both a cosmic drama and a message of hope. Ian Paul explains why this chapter is often ...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture on Colossians, Daniel Mikkelsen is joined by Professor Paul Foster—New Testament scholar and Daniel’s PhD supervisor—for an in-depth conversation on the theology and message of Colossians, and why it matters who Christ is. From the Christological poem in chapter 1 to warnings against false teachings, angel worship, and spiritual powers, Colossians insists on the supremacy of Christ in every area of life. Paul Foster shares insights from h...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen is joined by Filip Sylwestrowicz—a pastor and New Testament scholar—for a rich and thought-provoking conversation on blessings and curses in Paul’s letters, their ancient background, and their relevance for the Church today. Drawing on passages like Galatians 1, 1 Corinthians 5 and 16, Romans 9 and 12, Filip explores the meaning of anathema, the language of 'handing over to Satan', and the paradox of Paul encouraging bel...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen is joined by Michael Dormandy—a minister, New Testament scholar, and specialist in early Christian manuscripts—for a rich and engaging conversation on the transmission of Scripture, the power of the original languages, and the first complete Bibles. Drawing from his work on the earliest full New Testament manuscripts—known as pandects—Michael reflects on the value of biblical languages for personal faith, the complexity ...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen is joined by James Morgan—a deacon, educator, and biblical scholar—for a wide-ranging conversation on how Luke’s Gospel and the Book of Acts compare to ancient Greek historians like Herodotus. Drawing on years of experience teaching biblical languages across Europe and Africa, James offers a compelling case for reading Luke-Acts as part of the broader tradition of ancient historiography. Together, they explore Luke’s use...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen is joined by Diego Dy Carlos—a researcher in New Testament at Martin Bucer Seminary in Brazil—for a theologically rich conversation on Colossians 1:20 and Paul’s language of peace-making through blood. Drawing on Roman political context, Paul’s Old Testament categories, and a careful reading of the Greek, Diego explains why Paul’s use of eirēnopoiēō (to make peace) is unique and deliberate—and how it helps clarify ...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen is joined by Robert Lane—a missionary, linguist, and PhD candidate in New Testament at the University of Edinburgh—for a deep dive into why Jesus spoke in metaphors and how understanding them helps us read Matthew’s Gospel more faithfully. Drawing on years of cross-cultural mission work and a research focus on metaphor in the Gospel of Matthew, Robert shares how metaphors do far more than illustrate—they shape meaning, r...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen welcomes back Seth Postell—a Messianic Jew, Academic Dean at Israel College of the Bible, and biblical scholar—for a deeper exploration of how the Torah’s eschatology points forward to the Messiah. Building on their earlier conversation, they dive into the Torah’s structure, Israel’s story of exile and restoration, and how both the prophets and the New Testament read Moses with messianic expectation. Together, they uncov...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen sits down with Paul Wilson—PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh and associate lecturer at the Scottish Baptist College—to explore how the Book of Acts comes alive when viewed through the lens of migration. As both a migrant himself and a scholar of ancient texts, Paul brings a unique perspective to the question: Was the early church a migrant church? Together, Daniel and Paul unpack how forced movement, resettlem...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen sits down with Seth Postell—a dedicated scholar, Academic Dean at Israel College of the Bible, and Messianic Jew—to explore how a careful reading of the Torah and the Hebrew Bible transforms our understanding of the Law of Moses and its role in God's plan of salvation through the Messiah. Through a deep dive into biblical languages, Seth shows how nuances in the Hebrew text—from the debate over Psalm 2:12 to the controve...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen sits down with Denis Salgado—a research fellow at the Center for the Study of NT Manuscripts—to delve into the intricate world of Bible translation, common fallacies, and the overlooked realm of Greek lectionaries. Denis shares his journey from theology to textual criticism and reveals how a deep understanding of Greek exposes translation pitfalls (for example, why the Greek word beloved can never refer to the Church in ...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen sits down with Paulus de Jong to explore how John’s Gospel reimagines the creation narrative and introduces the theme of new creation. Together, they reveal how Jesus’ ministry—through his healing miracles, the crown of thorns that echoes Genesis’ account of disobedience, and his portrayal as the new tabernacle—illustrates the restoration of a broken creation. They discuss how the Greek language deepens our understanding...
In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen sits down with Daniel K. Eng, Associate Professor of New Testament at Western Seminary, to explore eschatological approval in James and what it means for faith, works, and final judgement. Together, they discuss how James 1:12 serves as the key to the letter, how James and Paul use the Greek word for justification differently, and why trials, wisdom, and perseverance play a crucial role in James’ theology. From the role ...
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