Biblical semantics: applying digital methods for semantic information extraction to current problems in New Testament studies

This study explores the application of computational linguistic methods for the semantic analysis of textual data to the text of the Greek New Testament. After an in-depth discussion of the author's computational application of distributional semantics, he moves on to use these methods to explore three different areas which are of great interest in New Testament studies: lexicography, translation, and exegesis. In terms of lexicography, Munson carefully examines the differences in semantic relationships published in 'The Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains' and those returned by his own methods. He focuses primarily on what the biblical exegete can learn from each of these sources both by themselves and in tandem. The focus then shifts to the translation of the Greek word 'ekklesia', which is normally translated as 'church' in English. His methods here reveal a close relationship between the use of 'ekklesia' in the New Testament and in the writings of Philo of Alexandria. Munson then discusses these findings in relation to the translation of this theologically laden term. And finally, Munson takes up the nearly stagnated debate revolving around the phrase 'pistis Iesou Christou', which can be literally translated as 'faith of Jesus Christ.' The new forms of data produced by computational methods for semantic and syntactic analysis lead Munson to the conclusion that this phrase refers to belief in the trustworthiness of God's promises, a trustworthiness which, for St. Paul, was demonstrated clearly in God's resurrection of the faithful Jesus Christ