EPISODE · Nov 3, 2022 · 27 MIN

Which Spirit?

from The Bible as Literature · host The Ephesus School

When biblical interpreters decide on capitalization when translating Greek or Hebrew to a modern language, they impose two layers of subjectivity. First, they impose their assumption about a word’s elevated or discounted importance, shutting readers out of the text and preventing them from hearing the author’s voice. Second, they create a distinction between words that does not exist in the original text. If there is a difference between the words “spirit,” “spirit,” and “spirit” as they appear in Luke 1, the original text did not use our modern system of capitalization to differentiate between them. Syntax, context, and function are crucial to unlocking a biblical term. In Luke 1:80, an interesting functional connection to the Book of Acts helps shed some light on the importance of John the Baptist and the spirit in which he grows. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 1:80Episode 455; Luke 1:80The following music was used for this media project:Music: Better Times Ahead by Phat SoundsFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10021-better-times-aheadLicense (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseArtist on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhatSounds74 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What this episode covers

When biblical interpreters decide on capitalization when translating Greek or Hebrew to a modern language, they impose two layers of subjectivity. First, they impose their assumption about a word’s elevated or discounted importance, shutting readers out of the text and preventing them from hearing the author’s voice. Second, they create a distinction between words that does not exist in the original text. If there is a difference between the words “spirit,” “spirit,” and “spirit” as they appear in Luke 1, the original text did not use our modern system of capitalization to differentiate between them. Syntax, context, and function are crucial to unlocking a biblical term. In Luke 1:80, an interesting functional connection to the Book of Acts helps shed some light on the importance of John the Baptist and the spirit in which he grows. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 1:80 Episode 455; Luke 1:80 The following music was used for this media project: Music: Better Times Ahead by Phat Sounds Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10021-better-times-ahead License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhatSounds74