Relevance Theory

Dr. Gene Green is Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Wheaton College and Graduate School, and Dean of Trinity International University – Florida. In this episode, Dr. Green explains what “Relevance Theory” is, how he became interested in its contribution to biblical interpretation, and how it helps us “mind the gap” between “what is said and what is meant” – whether in our own everyday interactions, contemporary cross-cultural conversations, or our attempts to receive ancient texts with good understanding. For instance, what might Jesus mean by being a “friend” in John 15:15.

To hear the podcast (7 min) click here.

“Exegetically Speaking” is a weekly podcast of the friends and faculty of Wheaton College, IL and The Lanier Theological Library. Hosted by Dr. David Capes, it features language experts who discuss the importance of learning the biblical languages—Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek—and show how reading the Bible in the original languages “pays off.” Each podcast lasts between seven and eleven minutes and covers a different topic for those who want to read the Bible for all it is worth.

If you’re interested in going deeper, learn more about Wheaton’s undergraduate degree in Classical Languages (Greek, Hebrew, and Latin) and our MA in Biblical Exegesis. 

You can hear Exegetically Speaking on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. If you have questions or comments, please contact us at exegetically.speaking@wheaton.edu.