The Bible Uncut and Unfiltered

Have you ever wondered what the view is like from the other side of the pulpit on Sundays? This week, we crossover with Sarah Heath and Justin Gentry of REVcovery to explore spiritual abuse through the eyes of former pastors. Their experience lends a unique viewpoint on the challenges and systemic issues that create harm within the church. Whether you've experienced spiritual abuse, are curiou...

Every Christmas, pastors dust off obscure Old Testament passages to prove that Jesus’s birth was foretold centuries earlier. Matthew’s Gospel in particular leans heavily on this claim of fulfilling messianic prophecies—but was Matthew uncovering hidden truths or bending ancient texts to fit his narrative? In this episode, we reconsider Matthew’s fulfillment passages through the lens of Frank Heber...

This week, we’re pulling back the curtain on the making of our Bibles! 🕵️‍♂️Did you know there are thousands of manuscript fragments of the Bible—and no two are exactly alike? 🤔That’s where textual criticism comes in. It’s the fascinating process scholars use to uncover which manuscripts best reflect the original message of the authors. Often misunderstood, underappreciated, and even villainized,...

When I was a kid in Sunday school, we’d sing, 'The Bible has 66 books. Of testaments there are 2. 39 books in the Old Testament, and 27 in the New!' But that short children’s song doesn’t tell the whole story—especially when more than half of Christians throughout history and even in the world today have more books in their Bibles than that. This week, we’re covering the complicated process of can...

We talk a lot about the Bible around here, but have you ever wondered how we got the Bible we hold in our hands today? The process is more complex than you might have realized! This week, we’re kicking off a new miniseries on the origins and history of the Bible, exploring how it was written, edited, and developed into the form we recognize today. Join us this week as we begin exploring the surpri...

Everyone believes their belief system is the right one. But have you ever paused to ask why you believe what you do? That’s the thought-provoking question at the heart of A24’s new film, Heretic . The movie's poignant and creatively presented themes inspired us to gather some friends for a deep dive. Join us for our first-ever uncut and unfiltered movie review as we unpack Mr. Reed’s (Hugh Grant)...

Communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist—no matter the name, it’s a core part of Christian practice. Yet in many segments of evangelicalism and fundamentalism today, it’s one of the most exclusionary aspects of church. Is that really how it was meant to be? This week, we start off recapping Theology Beer Camp 2024 and through that story end up back at what communion would have meant for Jesus,...

You asked again, we responded again! This week, we’re wrapping up our Eternal Rest Stops Tour with a deep dive into heaven, hell, and everything in between. Ever wondered about ghosts, soul sleep, people raised from the dead in the Bible, or what happens to children who pass away before knowing Jesus? We’re tackling these tough questions and exploring what the biblical authors believed about the a...

You asked, we responded! Heaven, hell, and the afterlife always spark the best questions. People are eager to know what awaits them beyond this life, so our Eternal Rest Stops Tour isn’t over just yet. Join us as we tackle some of the most common questions we’ve been asked about the good place, the bad place, and everything in between. Website:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheBibleUncut.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

We’re back with the exciting conclusion to our study on heaven! And we’re unpacking 10 more game-changing insights about the good place—starting with a surprising twist on marriage in heaven. This episode explores what parts of our personality carry over into the afterlife and what everyday life might look like in the new heavens and new earth. Get ready for answers that will surprise, challenge,...

Time to burst some spiritual bubbles! Station 2 on our Eternal Rest Stops Tour is heaven, and if you thought last week was controversial (you’re right), this one is going to be even more so. Think you know what the Bible says about heaven? Think again! From the streets of gold to the mansions just over that hilltop, we’re going through 10 Game-Changing Facts about the good place. Everything you’ve...

This ain’t your pastor’s sermon on hell! This week, we’re exploring five game-changing facts that completely shattered my views about the bad place. We’ll unpack the meaning of every mention of hell in the Bible, revealing how the biblical portrayal of hell is nothing like what you’ve always been taught. Plus, we’ll look at how the choices we make today can transport a little piece of heaven or he...

What could be easier to understand than the 10 Commandments, right? They’ve been the bedrock of Judeo-Christian society for generations, but what if we've been interpreting them wrong all along? This episode takes a deep dive into the ancient Near Eastern context of these famous laws, revealing that they were never called the 10 Commandments in the Bible—and that there may not even be 10 of th...

Abortion will be a core issue for many Christians in the upcoming election, with convictions often shaped by beliefs about the Bible. But what does the Bible actually say about abortion—if anything at all? And can we find a better way forward for more productive and respectful discussion in the future? It’s time to distill down a Christian perspective on abortion. Content Warning for discussion of...

Nothing screams stereotypical fundamentalist preacher like a fiery Sunday morning rant against alcohol. But does the Bible really condemn booze as much as some of its loudest adherents suggest? This week, we distill down the Bible’s perspective on alcohol in a new one-off systematic study. No matter what side of the debate you’re on, this one is sure to surprise you! Website:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheBi...

For over 4 months, we’ve explored the unorthodox wisdom of Qoheleth. Now it’s time to ask: how do his views relate to the rest of the Bible? Many commentators and preachers have used these final verses to dismiss Qoheleth as a heretic, arguing that his words serve only as a negative example. But nothing could be further from the truth. While his teachings may diverge from traditional Judeo-Christi...

After 12 chapters of raw, honest life advice, Qoheleth weaves his assorted threads of thought into one captivating extended metaphor. But what is the imagery truly portraying? Is it about aging? An abandoned house? Or maybe Israel's fall to Babylon? Unravel this poetic riddle with us and discover how these reflections on death and mortality speak volumes about how to live the good life now. Ga...

One year ago, we launched a Bible podcast for a few friends from our old Sunday school class. Today, we have 50 episodes, 40 shorts, several guest appearances and crossovers, and new followers joining us every week! Hundreds of people we've never met have listened to and watched our content, and we want to say a heartfelt thank you. Your likes, ratings, shares, and interactions help us reach n...

In your church service today, you probably won’t hear advice to live it up while you’re young and follow your heart. If anything, you might just hear preaching against that. But that’s exactly the wisdom Qoheleth shares as he begins wrapping up Ecclesiastes. This passage has stirred controversy since it was written, with some translations even altering its intended meaning completely. However, if...

Is it true that "one bad apple spoils the whole bunch"? This week, we consider and critique Qoheleth’s advice for communal living. We also tackle the convention wisdom to "keep your head down and don’t make waves," exploring whether staying silent in the face of authority is always the best approach. Additionally, we discuss opposing takes on political upheaval and the mysterio...

“Follow your heart” is just some modern anti-Christian belief, right? Not quite! This week, we discover that Qoheleth himself shares this wisdom, echoing ancient Egyptian wisdom literature from over 2,000 years before Jesus! Join us as we compare living dogs to dead lions, consider the validity of human emotions, and even get some timeless fashion advice. This is Ecclesiastes 9, uncut and unfilter...

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Ecclesiastes series to bring you an interview episode with special guest Eric Seibert! Eric has written several books on the topic of divine violence in the Bible, and he has quite a bit to say about how we’re not giving those tough passages the careful attention they deserve. Together, we contrast the violence of certain verses with the love and forgiveness f...

How does one truly win at life? So far, Qoheleth has critiqued money, power, relationships, and even religiosity; but now he reveals a surprisingly simple path to the best possible life. This week's episode covers a how-to manual on the good life, unique Hebrew idioms, hypocrisy in religion, and redefining what it means to fear God. And it all caps off with a meditation on how savoring life&#3...

Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. So what can you do when people in authority over you misuse and abuse their power? This week, Qoheleth addresses a new audience — the denizens of a king's royal court. And he offers them traditional wisdom about deferring to those in authority. Or does he? Beneath the surface reading of the text lies a radical third option between conformity...

This week, we tackle some of the most shocking and misunderstood content in Ecclesiastes. What does it mean to be "too righteous," and how can it lead to self-destruction? Is wisdom actually more practical than money? And does Qoheleth truly believe it’s impossible to find a good woman, or is this a misinterpretation by misogynistic translators? Join us this week as we wade in the waters...