The Bible Uncut and Unfiltered

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...

Philosophy fans, this one's for you! In this episode, Qoheleth presents some majorly controversial statements about the value of death's solace over life's stress, and we’re delving deep into his arguments alongside Albert Camus's existentialism. We also cover how the ancient Israelite perception of the afterlife differs from ours and some possible hidden connections to Genesis 1-3...

Word nerds, this episode is for you! This week, we jump back into Ecclesiastes and tackle some of the trickiest verses to translate and interpret in the entire book. And if you're here looking for practical wisdom, Qoheleth delivers applicable insights that resonate deeply with our modern workaholic lives. There's something for everyone in these dense yet profound verses. Let's get stu...

Join us this week as we delve into one of modern Christianity's most hotly debated topics: deconstruction. What does it entail, and how should we respond when those close to us (or maybe even we ourselves) undergo this complicated process? Dr. Thomas Oord is back to unpack his latest collaboration with Tripp Fuller, God After Deconstruction . In this must-listen episode, we explore the implica...

Mother's Day is a time when many communities celebrate the hardworking moms in their midst, but for some, it's also one of the most painful days on the calendar. Stories from the other side of Mother's Day have been shared for years now, but male-led churches continue to push these special services and activities on an overwhelmingly unwilling congregation. It's time we change that...

When I (Colin) was a teenager, I wrote a short book and even had it printed. I was so confident that the church at large was complacent and that it desperately needed my message of revival. Ten years later, Janna and I reevaluate one of the last surviving copies of the book and talk through everything I got wrong. We cover what type of music you should listen to, why just going to church makes you...

Christianity began as a Jewish sect, but its relationship to Judaism since then has been rocky to say the least. As we enter the sixth month of the Israel-Hamas War, Christians find themselves at odds with each other in their stances on the issue. Within the pages of the Bible, we encounter narratives where God commands the utter destruction of Israel's adversaries. Can we assume these ancient...

Christianity began as a Jewish sect, but its relationship to Judaism since then has been rocky to say the least. As we enter the sixth month of the Israel-Hamas War, Christians find themselves at odds with each other in their stances on the issue. Within the pages of the Bible, we encounter narratives where God commands the utter destruction of Israel's adversaries. Can we assume these ancient...

If God is not the author of confusion, how can we listen to and coexist with all these other views of the Bible? How does baptism relate to salvation? Did God kill an animal in the garden in place of Adam and Eve? Could God have coded the creation week to match events throughout human history? And how can someone who has been hurt by the Bible learn to love it again? You asked; we responded! Time...

On this week's episode, we time travel Qoheleth into a modern day pub and sit down for a few drinks with the ancient sage and our friends, Randy and Kyle from the A Pastor and a Philosopher Walk into a Bar podcast. We consider what questions we would ask Qoheleth if we could and philosophize on the meaning of life. Nice, easy topics this week lol. In all seriousness, we loved talking with thes...

What do dreams and prayer have in common? According to Qoheleth, they are both as out of touch with reality as the ramblings of a fool. As our ever-controversial guide through this introspective journey on life's meaning, Qoheleth challenges the significance of our religious rituals. In his world, the gods (including Yahweh) were real, distant, and capricious. Seeking their favor was perilous,...

In the last couple chapters, Qoheleth has urged us to cherish the small joys in life, advocating for meaningful connections with loved ones. This week, he confronts the harsh realities faced by those who are denied such simple pleasures due to injustice and exploitation. Then he shifts his focus to the plight of workaholics trapped in a relentless pursuit of career advancement, as well as the chal...

So many of us long for something more out of life, something that feels just beyond our reach. Qoheleth sympathizes with us, and he thinks he knows who's to blame for our inability to find lasting happiness — God. God has prevented us from finding deeper meaning in life, and what's more, he's done it for the purpose of making us realize our own delusions of grandeur. At the end of the...