The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast

Join host Lance Smith on the Bible Difficulties and Answers podcast as he delves into the perplexing question of whether anyone can truly be good. This episode navigates through the apparent contradictions found in biblical scriptures, such as Matthew 5:45, to unravel how God’s grace blesses both the righteous and the unrighteous. With humor, analogies, and deep theological insights, discover how faith makes us relatively good and learn to love like Him. Immerse yourself in an engaging exploration of morality, divine grace, and the transformative power of faith.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected]

1. https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/first/contra2_list.html (The Skeptics Annotated Bible)
2. https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/enemies.html
3. https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/5/Matthew-5-45.html
4. https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/why-does-the-lord-send-rain-on-the-righteous-and-the-unrighteous.html
5. https://www.gotquestions.org/rain-just-unjust.html
6. https://milehighhallelujah.wordpress.com/2020/11/14/matthew-543-48-loving-until-it-hurts/
7. https://carm.org/doctrine-and-theology/god-and-evil-a-philosophical-contradiction/

In this thought-provoking episode of the Bible Difficulties and Answers podcast, host Lance Smith delves into a perplexing question that has intrigued Bible readers for centuries: Why is Isaac referred to as Abraham's only son in Genesis 22:2, despite the existence of Ishmael? Is it divine favoritism or a deeper theological truth?

Lance explores this enigma through historical, theological, and spiritual lenses, examining interpretations from Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. He reviews Jewish Midrash and Quranic perspectives on the binding of Isaac, uncovering the theological nuances and implications within each tradition.

The episode presents five key interpretations to resolve this mystery, including theological, legal, source criticism, spiritual, and literary perspectives. Lance concludes that Isaac's designation as Abraham's only son is not a contradiction but a profound theological truth, highlighting Isaac's unique role in God's covenant and foreshadowing Jesus's ultimate promise of salvation.

Join Lance as he unpacks this biblical mystery and invites listeners to explore the deeper meanings within scripture. Tune in next week for another intriguing exploration into the sons of Heth in Genesis 23.

References to items discussed on this podcast may found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

Email Address: [email protected]

1. https://a.co/d/7shn4hI (The Big Book of Bible Difficulties from Amazon)
2. https://www.reasonablefaith.org/media/reasonable-faith-podcast/islam
3. https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/abrahams-great-act-faith
4. https://www.jcstudies.store/the-only-begotten-son/
5. https://answersingenesis.org/bible-characters/contradictions-my-two-sons/
6. https://www.evidenceunseen.com/bible-difficulties-2/ot-difficulties/genesis-deuteronomy/gen-222-why-does-genesis-22-refer-to-isaac-as-abrahams-only-son/
7. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Composition_of_the_Pentateuch/CYW7z9tFHisC?hl=en&gbpv=0
8. https://www.thetorah.com/article/take-your-only-son-isaac-what-happened-to-ishmael

In this episode of the Bible Difficulties and Answers podcast, host Lance Smith delves into the intriguing question of Abraham's ability to father children in his later years. Did Abraham require a miracle every time he had a child, or was Isaac's birth uniquely miraculous? Lance explores the biblical narrative to understand the significance of Isaac's birth and what it reveals about God's promises to Abraham and Sarah.

The discussion highlights several explanations, including the possibility of divine rejuvenation, the miraculous nature of Sarah's conception, and the symbolic importance of Isaac as the son of promise. Lance also touches on Abraham's other children with Keturah, examining how these births fit into the broader context of God's covenant with Abraham.

Join Lance as he addresses common skepticisms about the biblical account and provides insight into the perceived contradictions. This episode sheds light on the deeper meanings behind Abraham's family story and God's continued blessings on his lineage.

References to items discussed on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected]

1. https://a.co/d/7shn4hI (The Big Book of Bible Difficulties from Amazon)
2. https://www.gotquestions.org/Abraham-sons.html
3. https://geoffthomas.org/index.php/gtsermons/the-long-awaited-birth-of-isaac/
4. https://www.bibleref.com/Genesis/25/Genesis-25-1.html
5. https://www.pathofobedience.com/topics/children-of-abraham/

Welcome to another episode of Bible Difficulties and Answers, where we dissect so-called contradictions in the Scriptures to reveal deeper truths. This episode explores the provocative question: should you serve God alone? Host Lance Smith examines the implications of biblical texts like Matthew 4:10 and their relationship with commands for slaves, wives, and children. Through historical context and linguistic analysis, he highlights how these passages align as facets of a life dedicated to God.

Dive into a nuanced analysis of biblical servitude, uncovering the misunderstood practices of indentured servitude in ancient texts. Learn how 'serve' in Matthew 4:10 deepens our understanding of worship and relationship-related instructions.

Finally, we consider how biblical directives for serving earthly figures fit within a broader, God-centered framework. Discover how ultimate allegiance, transformative obedience, and serving as unto the Lord offer a harmonious view of serving God while honoring human relationships.

Join Lance as he equips listeners with the tools to navigate these challenging questions with context and clarity, enhancing your understanding of Scripture.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected]

1. https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/first/contra2_list.html (The Skeptics Annotated Bible)
2. https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Lexicon.show/ID/G3000/latreuo.htm
3. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabiti-anyabwile/reading-the-bible-like-jesus-matthew-41-11/

Welcome to a special episode of the Bible Difficulties and Answers podcast where host Lance Smith takes a look back at the journey throughout 2024. This episode marks a departure from the usual topics as we dive into the numbers, milestones, and the fascinating growth of the podcast over the past year.

From humble beginnings with just 329 downloads for the first six episodes, the podcast has surged to a remarkable 8,476 downloads for the year. October's launch of the Tuesday Contradiction series was a turning point, doubling both the content output and audience engagement.

Discover how listener feedback inspired innovative series ideas and how the community expanded across 41 states and 35 countries. Reflect on the most popular episodes and the listening habits that have shaped the year. Join us in celebrating the milestones and looking forward to even greater achievements in 2025.