The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast

Host Lance Smith examines Leviticus 18.22, comparing ceremonial laws like dietary restrictions with moral laws about sexual ethics. The episode surveys conservative and progressive scholarly views, New Testament passages on law and fulfillment, and the pastoral implications for same-sex–attracted Christians Listeners are offered practical takeaways about how to balance conviction with compassion,...

Host Lance Smith examines Matthew 12:1-2 in episode 194 of the Bible Difficulties and Answers podcast, exploring whether Jesus rescinded the Sabbath or fulfilled its purpose. The episode weighs Old Testament commands, New Testament examples, and recent scholarship (including David Wilber) to show the Sabbath as covenant context and Jesus as the fulfiller who deepens its meaning—concluding it’s not...

Host Lance Smith walks through Leviticus 16:6–22, explaining the Day of Atonement ritual, the roles of the slaughtered goat and the live scapegoat, and how the rites purified the sanctuary and the people. The episode explores ancient Near Eastern context and competing views of Azazel, addresses a classic objection about two goats versus one sacrifice, and connects the ritual’s meaning to Jesus as...

In this episode Lance Smith examines the apparent contradiction between Jesus calling John the Baptist “Elijah” (Matthew 11, 17) and John’s own denial when asked if he was Elijah (John 1). The conclusion: John is not Elijah literally, but he fulfills Elijah’s mission in spirit and power — a typological fulfillment rooted in Malachi and explained across Matthew, Luke, and John. Listeners will hear...

Hey there, truth seekers. Ever cracked open your Bible and hit something that makes you stop and go, wait, huh? Leprosy in clothes? That's gotta be a translation glitch or some ancient superstition, right? Or maybe you've wondered, if the Bible's inspired, why would God tell priests to quarantine wool sweaters like they're biohazards? And here's the big one. Does this mean Scripture's just recycli...

Episode 190 examines Matthew 11:2–3 and John the Baptist’s shift from boldly declaring Jesus the Messiah to sending a question from prison. Lance Smith weighs interpretations—doubt, discipleship, or a mix—and shows how Jesus meets the struggle with evidence and mercy. Key takeaways: doubt doesn’t disqualify you; bring others into your questions; and Jesus answers with presence and proof rather tha...

Episode 189 unpacks Leviticus 12:5–7 to explain why new mothers brought purification offerings, why the waiting period differs for sons and daughters, and how ancient ritual, medical ideas, and theology interacted. Host Lance Smith shows the difference between ceremonial impurity and moral guilt, highlights the protective rest the law provided, and points to Mary and Jesus as the ultimate fulfillm...

In this episode Lance Smith examines Jesus' warnings about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit alongside New Testament promises of complete forgiveness, explaining how the “unforgivable” sin relates to persistent, willful rejection of the Spirit rather than a momentary doubt or mistake. With scripture, scholarly perspectives, and pastoral sensitivity, the episode offers clarity and comfort for liste...

Host Lance Smith examines Leviticus 11:5-6 and the charge that the Bible wrongly says rabbits and hyraxes “chew the cud.” The episode explains the Hebrew wording, observable animal behaviors (like re‑ingestion and jaw motion), and how ancient descriptive language differs from modern anatomical terms. By viewing the passage from the original cultural perspective, the apparent conflict with biology...

In episode 186 of the Bible Difficulties and Answers podcast, host Lance Smith unpacks Matthew 10:28 and explores the Bible's two-fold teaching on fear: reverential awe of God that motivates holiness, and the New Testament's assurance that perfect love casts out paralyzing fear. Drawing on Old and New Testament passages and contemporary scholars, this episode reframes fear as awe that empowers fai...

Episode 185 examines the apparent contradiction in Leviticus 5 about bringing a guilt offering "to the Lord" versus "to the priest," showing how the priest functions as God’s appointed representative who facilitates atonement, restitution, and reconciliation. The episode traces the ritual’s purpose, its theological meaning, and its fulfillment in Christ, and offers practical takeaways about restor...

In this episode of The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast, host Lance Smith tackles a fascinating tension in the Gospels: When Jesus commissions the Twelve for their first mission, did He send them out barefoot and staff-less, as Matthew and Luke suggest, or equipped with sandals and a walking stick, per Mark? Drawing from the New Living Translation, Lance explores the parallel accounts in Mat...

Ever stared at your Bible and thought, "Sprinkle? Pour? Is this a holy contradiction or just ancient wordplay?" Buckle up, truth-seekers—welcome to Episode 183 of The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast, where we turn Leviticus' ritual riddles into revelations of grace. From The Big Book of Bible Difficulties by Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe comes today's head-scratcher: Leviticus 3:2 commands...

In this episode Lance Smith unpacks the apparent contradiction between Jesus' instruction to limit ministry to Israel (Matthew 10:5–6) and the later Great Commission to all nations (Matthew 28:19). He shows that the difference is one of timing and strategy—not a change of mind—describing Jesus' mission as a staged relay that begins with Israel and expands to the Gentiles. Drawing on examples from...

In the finale of the 20-week series on J. Steve Miller's Faith That's Not Blind, Lance Smith walks through the epilogue and appendices, highlighting Miller’s challenge called the "priority of the search" and the black swan analogy that disrupts naturalistic certainty. The episode emphasizes faith as an active, lifelong pursuit of truth, explains how multiple lines of evidence can stack and mutuall...

Episode 180 unpacks Exodus 34:20 and the curious law about firstborn donkeys—why a lamb can substitute, when the donkey must be killed, and how later law allows monetary redemption. Host Lance Smith explains the theological principle that the firstborn belong to God, explores historical and practical reasons for the changing method from livestock to silver, and connects the ritual to themes of sub...

Hey there, scripture fans! In episode 179 Lance Smith explores apparent discrepancies in the lists of the twelve apostles across Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. He explains why names like Thaddeus, Judas son of James, Simon the Canaanite, and Simon the Zealot actually refer to the same people through nicknames, language shifts, and oral memory, showing these variations confirm authenticity rather t...

In this finale episode of the 20-week series, Lance Smith and J. Steve Miller’s Exhibit 20 unpack Blaise Pascal’s famous wager—why fence-sitters might prudently ‘bet’ on God when the eternal stakes vastly outweigh finite costs. Through vivid analogies, personal stories, and practical steps for exploring faith, the episode treats belief as a reasoned choice, not blind faith, and asks whether living...

Host Lance Smith dives into Exodus 33:3 to tackle whether God really changed His mind about going with the Israelites after the golden calf incident. The episode explains how God’s warning was conditional, how Moses’ intercession led to God’s relenting, and why this is better seen as relational responsiveness—not contradiction. Listeners will come away with a clearer view of prayer’s power, God’s...

This episode examines the question: if people were raised from the dead before Jesus, how can the New Testament call him the "first" to rise? Lance Smith walks through examples from the Old and New Testaments—Saul and Samuel, Elijah and Elisha, Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, and the saints after Jesus—to clarify the difference between temporary resuscitation and Jesus’ unique, permanent resurrection....

In this episode Lance Smith examines pages 98–100 of J. Steve Miller’s Faith is Not Blind, arguing that positive cases for naturalism fall short compared to arguments for God’s existence. Highlighting Thomas Nagel’s critique of naturalism and other skeptical perspectives, the episode explains why natural explanations struggle with consciousness, morality, and the origin of the universe — and sugge...

Host Lance Smith examines Exodus 32:14, wrestling with whether God truly changes his mind or expresses relational responses consistent with his unchanging character. Expect theological perspectives (Calvinist, Arminian, open theism), scholarly insights, and practical takeaways about prayer, intercession, and God’s mercy in Scripture. References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be...

Host Lance Smith examines the story of the woman who touched Jesus' robe (Matthew 9:20–22; Mark 5:25–29; Luke 8:43–45) to determine whether her healing was immediate or delayed. Comparing translations, cultural context, and priestly imagery, he concludes the Gospels agree the cure was instantaneous, explores the theological and social significance of her faith, and invites listeners to reflect on...

In week 18 of the Bible Difficulties and Answers podcast, Lance Smith examines J. Steve Miller's section on why common objections to theism — like the problem of evil and the claim that a complex God is unlikely — are not insurmountable. The episode reviews thinkers such as Marilyn McCord Adams and Paul Draper and critiques Richard Dawkins’ argument from The God Delusion. Through reasoned response...

In this episode, Lance Smith explores Exodus 31:18 and the phrase "written by the finger of God," asking whether it implies a literal digit or serves as a metaphor. He examines anthropomorphism, ancient Near Eastern imagery, and related biblical passages to clarify how language about God conveys theological truth. Drawing on historical and scholarly insights, the episode argues the "finger of God"...