What in the Word?

Is Jesus really less than the Father? In this What in the Word? episode, Kirk E. Miller is joined by theologian Michael Horton to tackle John 14:28, where Jesus says, “The Father is greater than I.” Does this verse contradict Jesus divinity and equality with the Father? What did Jesus mean in context—and what have Christians historically believed about this passage? Together, Kirk and Mike explore...

Does Romans 7 describe the experience of a believer struggling with sin, or is Paul referring to something else entirely? Many in Protestant traditions assume that Paul’s use of “I” in this passage reflects the believer’s ongoing struggle with sin. But others challenge this view with strong exegetical arguments. In this episode of What in the Word? , host Kirk E. Miller is joined by Joseph (Joey)...

1 Peter 3:18–22 is one of the most challenging passages in all of the New Testament. What does it mean that Jesus “preached to the spirits in prison”? Did he descend into hell? Was he speaking through Noah in the past, offering the deceased a second chance at offering salvation, or something else? In this episode of What in the Word? , Kirk E. Miller sits down with renown New Testament scholar Tho...

What does Paul mean when he says that “All Israel will be saved” in Romans 11:26? Does this refer to a restoration of the nation of Israel, the salvation of the church (i.e., “spiritual Israel”), or something else? In this episode of What in the Word? , Richard Lucas joins Kirk E. Miller to explore the various interpretations of this passage, weigh their strengths and weaknesses, and discuss how t...

In Mark 13:32 (and Matthew 24:36), Jesus states that He does not know the day or hour of His return—only the Father does. But how can that be? If Jesus is fully God, wouldn’t He be omniscient? In this episode of What in the Word?, Kirk E. Miller is joined by Brandon Crowe to explore this challenging passage. They discuss different possible explanations—including bad ones!—and the importance of dis...

What does it really mean to take God’s name in vain? Is it just about using God’s name irreverently, or is there more to it? In this episode of What in the Word?, Kirk E. Miller is joined by Carmen Joy Imes, an expert in Old Testament studies, to explore Exodus 20:7 (cf. Deut 5:11). They examine the historical, linguistic, and theological dimensions of this command, including how it relates to bea...

The Olivet Discourse (Mark 13; Matt 24; Luke 21) has puzzled interpreters for centuries. Is Jesus predicting the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, his future return, or both? Dr. Mark Strauss joins Kirk E. Miller on What in the Word? to explore this complex passage. They examine its structure, exegetical issues, and interpretive options—futurist (dispensationalist), preterist, and telescoping vie...

What did Jesus mean when he said, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (cf. Matt 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:20–26)? Was he endorsing government authority, drawing a line between politics and faith, or making a more subversive statement? In this episode of What in the Word?, Kirk E. Miller sits down with Michael Bird to unpack this complex passage. They exp...

In this episode, Jonathan Leeman joins Kirk E. Miller to discuss the theologically complex passage of Matthew 16:19 and its mention of the “keys of the kingdom.” Together, they unpack the meaning of “binding and loosing,” parallel passages like Matthew 18:18, and how different interpretations have yielded competing conceptions of church authority. Join us as we explore how church participates in C...

In Romans 13:1–7, Paul tells Christians to submit to governing authorities, even calling these authorities “ministers of God.” But does this mean we must always submit? Or, if there are exceptions, what are they and how do we know? Kaitlyn Schiess joins us to talk about this frequently debated text. Disclaimer: Logos values thoughtful and engaging discussions on important biblical topics. However,...

Did God command genocide in the Old Testament? Join Kirk E. Miller and Tremper Longman as they explore the challenging passages, such as Deuteronomy 7:1-6 and Joshua, examining the Canaanite conquest. Discover how to address the moral and theological concerns raised by these texts, including divine judgment, violence, and the question of religious warfare. Learn how these accounts fit into God’s p...

In this episode of What in the Word?, we dive into one of the most puzzling verses in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 15:29 and its reference to “baptism for the dead.” Host, Kirk E. Miller, is joined by biblical scholar, B. J. Oropeza, to explore various interpretations as well as key exegetical insights that unlock the meaning of this cryptic passage. Tune in to gain practical insights for inte...

In this inaugural episode of What in the Word?, James M. Hamilton Jr., a professor of biblical theology and a pastor, joins Kirk to talk about one of Scripture’s most notorious passages: Genesis 6:1–4. Together, they explore the possible identities of the “sons of God” and the Nephilim. They discuss different interpretations, including the possibilities of angelic beings or the godly line of Seth,...

​​Introducing: What in the Word?— a new show doing in-depth study of the hardest Bible verses. Join host Kirk E. Miller for “What in the Word?” as he navigates some of the Bible's toughest texts with expert guests. Whether you're a pastor, Bible teacher, or just a curious Christian, this show aims to boost your biblical understanding. Learn how to make sense of difficult sections of Script...

What in the Word? tackles the hardest Bible verses. On this show, host Kirk E. Miller interviews expert scholars, and together they do in-depth study of the Bible's strangest and hardest verses. By the end, they land on a solid interpretation of the verses and discuss its implications for believers. Watch or listen on Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms. Learn more: https://bit.l...