billmounce.com blogs

Really Big News: and a Greek-English Interlinear

Bill Mounce — Mon, 04 May 2026 23:03:33 +0000

After three months of expensive and intensive work, I am pleased to announce that tomorrow the new BillMounce.com website will go live. You will be able to tell it's different although its functionality is basically the same. What's mostly changed is I have updated the infrastructure to a modern environment that will enable me to do things I couldn't do before. I want to especially thank those of you who have been donating to help cover the costs of these kinds of upgrades.

Was Jesus in a lonely, deserted, or uninhabited region? (Mark 1:45)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:12:47 +0000

The sermon yesterday was on the need for solitude, planned margin. Always a good reminder for those of us who tend to define ourselves by what we do — do I hear the amens?

The passage was Mark 1:45. “Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but stayed out in unpopulated areas (ἐρήμοις τόποις; NASB).”

What caught my eye was the NASB’s use of “unpopulated.” For a translation that tends away from excessive interpretation (although all translations are interpretive), their use of “unpopulated” was a good choice.

To Burn or To Boast? (1 Cor 13:3)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:32:11 +0000

A little textual criticism. Paul writes, “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned (καυχήσωμαι), but have not love, I gain nothing” (ESV, KJV). Other translations follow a different variant. “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast (καυχήσωμαι), but do not have love, I gain nothing” (NIV, also CBT, NRSV, NLT, NET).

Did the Israelites Walk or Swim? (Heb 11:29)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:34:56 +0000

Allowing for the fact that we all hear words a little differently, I was surprised to read that in many translations the Israelites really did not cross the Red Sea on dry ground. We’ve been tricked all these years! At least that is how I hear the “as” in Heb 11:29.

When did the Angels Come? (Mark 1:13)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:29:16 +0000

Language is imprecise. It would be great if all of us said exactly what we meant, and meant exactly what we said, but that is neither human nature or the nature of language. That’s why context is king. That’s why a “verse of the day” is the worse exegetical tool there is (sorry). In every class on Bible study methods (“hermeneutics”) that is taught, the central emphasis is context, reading verses in context. I heard a sermon the other day that illustrates the need for this emphasis, using the imperfect tense.

Is the NT Anti-Semitic? (1 Thess 2:14–15)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

We just finished recording Dr. Douglas Moo on 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. He did an excellent job, and the course should be published on BiblicalTraining.org in a few months. He pointed out a fascinating example of how punctuation can change the meaning of a text.

What does Your Face Tell You? (James 1:23-24)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:38:32 +0000

Anyone involved in translation knows that it is almost impossible to hit the nail directly on the head, so to speak. We either say too little, not conveying all the information of the Greek, or we say a little too much, being too interpretive in trying to convey the full meaning of a sentence. Add to that our ignorance of certain constructions, whether they be Greek or Semitic, and it is easy to see why translation is as much an art as it is a science.

Can “or” mean “and”? (1 Thess 2:19)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Paul tells the young Thessalonian church, “For what is our hope or (ἤ) joy or (ἤ) crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?” (ESV; see also the CSB and NRSV). What’s wrong with that?

Paragraphs (Col 2:9 and 4:10)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Lately I have been fascinated by the more subtle methods of translation. One of the problems of first year Greek training is that we have to over-simplify the process. If we don’t, there is simply too much to learn. But somewhere along the process each of us needs to learn to read Greek in larger chunks.

The Peculiar Case of the Inserted “also” (1 Tim 1:9)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 13:04:03 +0000

Paul is combating the false theology of the opponents in Ephesus who put too much emphasis on the law. In verse 8, he's going to agree with them that the law is good, but then qualifies that it has to be used as it is intended.

This is one of Paul's many puns that rarely makes it into translations. "The law (νόμος) is good, but it must be used lawfully (νομίμως)." Since that really doesn't make any sense, most translations need to interpret νομίμως.

Do we entrust God with our soul or with everything? (1 Pet 4:19)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:35:15 +0000

Peter concludes a discussion on suffering with these words. “Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust (παρατιθέσθωσαν) themselves (τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν) to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good” (1 Pet 4:19, NRSV).

Divine Passives and Seminary Education (Eph 3:19)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 18:08:46 +0000

I came across a great “divine passive” that has some interesting implications for how we study the Bible and train our seminarians and preach to our people. “Divine passive” is more of a theological category than grammatical. In form and basic meaning, it is simply a passive, but when God is the author of the verb, we call it a “divine passive.”

When does Generosity become Extravagance? (John 12:7)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000

When Mary anointed Jesus’ feet, Judas objected to the perceived extravagant waste of money. Jesus responds, “‘Leave (ἄφες) her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that (ἵνα) she should save this perfume for the day of my burial’” (NIV). “It was intended” was added to make some sense of Jesus’ statement, but does that mean Mary changed her mind? She had intended to save it for the actual day of his burial, but changed her mind and poured it out in anticipation of his death?

Do You Contend for the Faith? (Jude 3)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 14:43:14 +0000

It is good to be back. It’s been a busy summer full of friends at our cabin, hand surgery on my right hand, and a full knee replacement for my wife. Needless to say, nothing’s been quite normal so I had to take a break from writing. I’ll be starting up the Greek Verse of the Day and the Greek Word of the Day as well as Monday with Mounce.

Someone wrote about the use of the word “contend” in Jude 1:3. I think this is an interesting example of how a word gets into our translations that probably isn’t the best word. Jude is telling his people that they have to “fight” for the faith. Two problems with the translation “contend.”

Greek Garage Sale

Bill Mounce — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 19:33:57 +0000

In the near future, we are going to start selling only streaming access to our lectures. You will no longer be able to purchase flash drives.

Ellipsis and Jesus' Self-Awareness (Luke 2:49)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 05 May 2025 14:53:30 +0000

Here is a great example of why translation involves interpretation, and why a “word-for-word” approach can often fail. When Jesus’ parents finally find Jesus, he responds, “Didn’t you know I had to be (δεῖ εἶναί με) in my Father’s house (ἐν τοῖς τοῦ πατρός μου)? (NIV).

Who Condemns? (Romans 8:34)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

There is a peculiar change in the 2011 NIV. The 1984 says, “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” The 2011 edition begins the verse, “Who then is the one who condemns? No one.” Where does the “no one” come from? Not the Greek.

What Comes First, Destruction or Handing the Kingdom to the Father?

Bill Mounce — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

1 Corinthians 15:24 presents an unusual problem. Paul’s argument is that Christ’s resurrection is the firstfruits of all who have died (v 20) and that in Christ all will be made alive (v 22). This will happen in a specific order, first Christ and then those who belong to him (23). Then comes the end, εἶτα τὸ τέλος (v 24a).

Who is God’s Temple? (1 Cor 3:16)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Because “you” in English can be singular or plural, translation can become awkward when the Greek is plural. In 1 Cor 3:16, Paul is talking about divisions in the church and warns the Corinthians about the seriousness of their divisiveness. The ESV reads, “Do you not know that you* (ἐστε) are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you (ἐν ὑμῖν)?” Italics added. The footnote on “you” indicates “you” and the other pronouns are plural.

Our Calling, Assurance, and οὕτως (2 Peter 1:11)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

While we understand that words have a range of meaning; nevertheless, there can be precision in the meaning of a word. Case in point is οὕτως. It’s core meaning is “in this manner, thus, so,” referring back to what was said or forward to what will be said (BDAG 1 and 2). It can also function as a “marker of a relatively high degree, so” and can also mean “without further ado, just, simply” (BDAG 3 and 4). What it does not mean is “and.” This is why I was surprised at the NIV’s translation of οὕτως in 2 Peter 1:11. Let me unpack Peter’s argument.

Epexegetical καί and the Power of God in Pain (Phil 3:10)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 19:36:00 +0000

I know. καί and pain in the same title. Strange bedfellows. I still remember a few years back when my family was going through a time of deep pain and sadness. A good friend asked me, “Bill, why are you hanging on to the edge of the pool? Just let go and sink.” A strange idea amid pain, but it has stuck with me, and it was some of the best advice I have ever received. Here’s the exegesis behind it.

Can Women Only Work at Home? (Titus 2:5)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

How you decide on the meaning of a Greek word that rarely occurs?

In Titus 2, Paul gives a list of characteristics and activities for older men (v 2) and then older women (vv 3–5). This later group is to teach the younger women to be “busy at home (οἰκουργούς).” How do you define οἰκουργός? Both it and its variant οἰκουρός occur only here in the New Testament and rarely in secular literature.

Did Jesus Hang on a Pole? (Gal 3:3)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:33:05 +0000

ξύλον is a difficult word to translate, although from its entry in BDAG you wouldn’t think so. It gives three basic meanings: (1) Wood; (2) Something made of wood, such as a pole, club, stocks, cross; (3) Tree.

Gal 3:13 in the NIV reads, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’” The use of “pole” is, shall we say, unexpected since we know the shape of the cross. How could Jesus have been hung on a pole when the wounds in his hands require a cross?

When words mean what they don’t mean (2 John 1:12)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 15:43:46 +0000

Every once in a while I come across a verse that is simply impossible to translate. No matter what you do, you over- or under-translate, or at worst, mistranslate. 2 John 1:12 is one of those verses. “Although I have many other things to write (γράφειν) to you, I do not want to use (οὐκ ἐβουλήθην) paper and ink (διὰ χάρτου καὶ μέλανος); instead, I hope to be with you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”

The Value of the Imperfect in Understanding Satan’s Fall (Luke 10:18)

Bill Mounce — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

My friend is wondering when Satan’s powers were limited. Creation? The cross? The Millennium? What prompted the discussion was that a friend of his thinks that Satan is not limited at all right now, and therefore all limiting has to be during the Millennium.