Bible Threads With Dr. Bruce Becker

What was the most tragic crime ever committed and by whom? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the murder of our first parents, Adam and Eve by the Devil himself. The Devil lied to the first couple about what God had said. They believed the lie and disobeyed God. Their disobedience destroyed the perfect life and relationship God had intended for them when he created them in his own imag...

Who was responsible for Jesus' murder? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the murder of Jesus by identifying all the perpetrators—Judas Iscariot, the Jewish religious leaders, Governor Pontius Pilate, the Roman soldiers, and two others. Jesus' murder was predicted by the prophet Isaiah seven hundred years before Jesus lived. Isaiah described both Jesus' death and those responsible for...

Jesus and Barabbas—the innocent for the guilty. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the circumstances involving Jesus and Barabbas. Barabbas was a bandit, a murderer, and an insurrectionist who tried to overthrow the Roman government in Judea. He was sentenced to death by crucifixion. Yet he was set free. In contrast, the innocent Jesus was sentenced to death and not set free—the innoce...

There are three Bible threads that link Judas Iscariot back to the Old Testament: two in the book of Psalms and one from the prophet Zechariah.  In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the multiple crimes committed by Judas, a man from Kerioth. Judas Iscariot spent three years with Jesus, hearing his teaching, seeing his miracles, and learning about God's grace and mercy and forgiveness. De...

Despite Samson's unfaithfulness in his life, the Lord God shows his faithfulness and grace to Samson. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the crimes of both Samson, who was the most undisciplined and reckless of all the judges, and Delilah, who is the Bible's most famous "femme fatale."   If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us wi...

The big takeaway for this episode is: "God’s wrath against us is satisfied because of God’s love for us." In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the crime committed by Achan at the battle for Jericho and the resulting justice of the Lord God. Dr. Becker recommends a book authored by J.I. Packer, Knowing God . If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your day, would you consi...

Espionage, prostitution, lies, and deception are at the heart of this story. Yet it has a happy ending. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the crimes committed by Rahab and some spies from Israel. The actions of the prostitute Rahab turned out to be amazing! Dr. Becker mentions Josephus’ account of Rahab. That can be found at https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/ant-5.html. If you en...

In today’s episode, the story of Joseph is interrupted with a complicated and sordid tale of broken promises, deception, prostitution, and immorality. Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the crimes committed by Jacob's son Judah and Judah's daughter-in-law, Tamar. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your day, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you! Check out all o...

Jealousy in the heart can lead to outward deadly actions - lying, human trafficking, and potentially murder.  In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker examines the crime committed by Jacob's ten oldest sons against their little brother, Joseph. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your day, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you! Check out all our resources to help...

Back by popular demand! Another series on true crimes in the Bible.  In this first episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates a complicated crime involving multiple people. It's not one of the more familiar crimes in the Bible, but it is one that shows the total depravity of the heart, both among pagans and believers in the Lord God. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your day, wo...

There are different kinds of apathy, and they show up in different ways. Apathy in others can be annoying and frustrating, but there is one kind of apathy that is deadly for each of us. It is spiritual apathy. Dr. Bruce Becker explores the Bible's examples of the deadly sin of spiritual apathy and its preventative cure—zeal for our God and other people. "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins"...

Do you ever worry, experience anxiety, or fear what you can't control? The Bible is filled with examples and encouragements not to worry but, rather, to trust in our amazing, powerful, and loving God.  Dr. Bruce Becker unravels the thread of worry in today's episode. "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that can turn us into actual traitors—when we end up betraying Go...

What do lying, bearing false testimony, smooth talk, flattery, and the insidious half-truth have in common? They are all forms of deception. And, who is the master of deception and the ultimate deceiver? Satan of course.  Dr. Bruce Becker addresses both questions in today's episode.  "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that can turn us into actual traitors—when we en...

We explore laziness by also looking at . . . work and rest.  Dr. Bruce Becker reveals the cycle God designed at creation that balances work and rest. Dr. Becker also tells us the next three traitorous attitudes he'll be covering! "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that can turn us into actual traitors—when we can end up betraying God, others, and ourselves. Included...

There isn't a single passage in the Bible that explicitly calls gluttony a sin. So why is it considered one of the deadly sins? Dr. Bruce Becker looks at this traitorous attitude through the seven passages in the Bible that address gluttony. "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that can turn us into actual traitors—when we can end up betraying God, others, and ourselv...

Lust. The Bible speaks of it in two ways: as an overwhelming desire, and as unrestrained sexual craving. Additionally, there's a Bible thread that weaves together two major characteristics of lust: sexual immorality, and idolatry. Dr. Bruce Becker explores the traitorous attitude of lust, showing us how destructive it is. "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that can...

Anger in and of itself isn't wrong. The Bible tells us that. What we need to be careful of is letting our rage lead us to act irrationally and immorally, which can have disastrous results. Dr. Bruce Becker drills down into rage, showing us how it leads to resentment and revenge, destroying relationships with others and with God. But there are also two types of anger that aren't bad: righteous ange...

"Envy," "jealousy," and "coveting." We use these words interchangeably, but they are not synonymous. For instance, jealousy can be positive or negative; the Bible speaks of godly jealousy. But envy is never in a good light in the Bible. And what about coveting? Well, the starting point for coveting is envy. Dr. Bruce Becker explores this traitorous attitude of envy by looking at six examples in th...

Greed has a straightforward definition: not being content with what one has. Are we greedy? Do we find ourselves afflicted with this traitorous attitude? And what does the Bible say about greed? Dr. Bruce Becker dives into what the Bible says about greed, looking at its traitorous threats as well as some people whose lives were ruined because of greed. Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins loo...

Lies, betrayal, and double-crossing. There's no shortage of people who did these things in the Bible. But this new series won't be about the people who were traitors. Instead, Dr. Bruce Becker will talk about the ATTITUDES that can turn us into actual traitors—when we can end up betraying God, others, and ourselves. Included in these traitorous attitudes are the seven deadly sins—but there are far...

Dr. Bruce Becker wraps up this series by examining the remaining supernatural events in the New Testament! Of these events, all but three of them occur in the book of Acts. Stick around to the end of this episode to get a preview of the next series!  Dr. Becker mentioned his new book, True Crimes of the Bible, which actually originated from one of his series right here on Bible Threads! Just scrol...

Dr. Bruce Becker continues looking at Jesus' miracles in the gospels. This time, we look at Jesus' medical miracles that didn't involve demon possession and Jesus' absolute power over death. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your day, would you consider helping us with your support? We can't do any of this without you! Consider becoming an ongoing supporter through our Grace...

There are more than 70 supernatural events that occur in the gospels. In this first of two parts looking at the miracles in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Dr. Bruce Becker examines some of Jesus' miracles that involved demons, food and beverages, and supernatural events in nature. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your day, would you consider helping us with your...

After the time of the prophets Elisha and Elijah, the number of supernatural events of God stepping into the lives of his people dropped significantly. But that doesn't mean he was absent from their lives. God was and always is still in control, as we see in this episode. Dr. Bruce Becker looks at the supernatural experiences of Isaiah, Daniel, and Jonah. Dr. Becker mentioned the book "When Life H...

Here's the answer to the last episode's pop quiz! The question was: Who witnessed the second-most supernatural events in the Old Testament? . . . The prophet Elisha! Dr. Bruce Becker reviews Elisha's supernatural experiences, including the odd (youths mauled by a bear for making fun of Elisha's baldness!), the healings (raising a boy from the dead; curing a man of leprosy), the inspirational (God'...