Digging Deeper

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered…  Are we alone?  With billions of stars, countless galaxies, and new discoveries being made every year, the question of life on other planets is no longer just science fiction. Scientists are searching for habitable worlds. Governments are investigating unexplained aerial phenomena. And many Christians are asking: What would it mean for our fai...

Was Job a real historical person who actually lost everything? Or is this book a work of inspired wisdom literature—a divinely crafted story designed to wrestle with suffering, faith, and the mystery of God?

There’s something powerful about a story. Mark tells us that Jesus didn’t teach anything to the crowds without using a parable. The Bible is full of incredible stories, all of which communicate powerful truths that still resonate today, thousands of years after they were written. In this episode of the Digging Deeper podcast, Rob Buckingham shares his story—how he changed his mind about being an a...

In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul bluntly states that those who don’t obey or know Jesus will suffer eternal destruction. How can we reconcile this vengeance with a loving God who instructs us to love and forgive? Does God not practise what He teaches?

The Bible discusses judgment extensively. Jesus said, “Do not judge,” yet he also said, “Judge correctly.” Paul wrote, “judge nothing,” but later instructed the Corinthians to judge those within the church. How should we interpret these contradictions? Are we allowed to judge or not?  

A fascinating story in John’s Gospel is absent from the earliest handwritten copies of the New Testament. Why was it left out of the original New Testament, and why was it ultimately included?

The word "Regeneration" isn't in the Bible, but the concept is. What it means depends on your Christian tradition. What did Jesus mean when he told Nicodemus he must be born again? Is being born again the same as regeneration?

The Bible is overflowing with music, songs, singing, and instruments, so it’s no wonder the church’s history reflects this. In this episode, Ps Rob digs deeply into music in Scripture and Church History. Plus, what’s the difference between Jesus as the Word and the Bible as the word? And do Christians inherit special privileges and promises

When Jonathan died, David said, “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. Your love for me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.” Some have suggested that David and Jonathan were more than just good friends. Was their love plutonic, or was it something more?

Judas was a thief and a betrayer, so why did Jesus choose him as one of the Twelve? Also, why did Jesus call himself the Son of Man, and what other names was he known by?

Ps Rob is joined by his Jewish mate, Tal, for an enlightening discussion of some themes in the Hebrew scriptures. What is the Jewish understanding of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? What does it mean to be made in God’s image, and how does this affect how we relate to each other and creation?

The gospel writers record a disturbing statement by Jesus about a sin that can never be forgiven. What does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, and why is this sin unforgivable? Also, what did Jesus mean by telling his followers to be perfect as their heavenly father is perfect?

1 Samuel 28 records the story of King Saul consulting a medium and chatting with the departed prophet Samuel. It’s a fascinating story that is troubling and problematic in many ways. This episode also addresses the tearing of the temple curtain and why the Bible shifted its language from Hebrew to Greek

The tech world is growing fast; many people need help staying current. Some may even feel a little scared with all the changes. How can our faith respond to these challenges?

Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian traditions teach their followers to ask departed saints to intercede on their behalf—and they support their doctrine with scripture. But do those scriptures teach that practice? Also, how can I discover God’s will for my life?

The words “saved” and “salvation” appear throughout scripture, and Christians use them regularly. But what do they mean? What is salvation, and what does it mean to be saved?

The Tanakh and the New Testament both refer to people who have been lost, just like sheep, coins, or children. We explore what that means in this episode. Also, Rob looks at the story of the genocide in Numbers 25 and explains why there are similarities between Jesus and some Old Testament characters. 

Jesus is reflected in many ways throughout the Tanakh, even in his similarities with Old Testament characters like Joseph. Plus, Rob answers the question, "are there modern-day apostles?

Jesus was born, the church was started, and the New Testament was written during the Roman Empire. How influential was Rome on the church and scripture? 

While some people may live as victims of their past, must we ignore our past completely? Should it define us or not? 

Jesus accomplished much through his death and resurrection. This episode investigates eleven things that are detailed by the New Testament writers and the Tanakh and rebuts the theory of penal substitution.  

To celebrate the one-hundredth episode of Digging Deeper, Rob is joined by Shane Willard and Tal Sprinrad. Shane is Christian, and Tal is Jewish. Both men are rabbinically trained and offer an incredibly fresh perspective on the Scriptures.

The Bible doesn’t speak about Hypnotherapy, but many Christians are wary of such practices. Is it okay for a Christian to be hypnotised? Rob also does a deep dive into the sheep and goats parable in Matthew 25.

John 14:6 is often quoted in isolation to prove that Jesus is the only way to God. But is that interpretation supported by the context?

It’s easy to take sides in the Israel-Palestine conflict, and many people do, but the truth is far more nuanced as my guests Mercy Aiken and Tim Costello discuss.