Episode 170 examines whether Jairus’ daughter was dead or dying when he approached Jesus by comparing Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The hosts walk through the timeline, note Matthew’s summary style versus Mark and Luke’s sequence, and include scholar perspectives and humor.

The conclusion: Mark and Luke show she was dying when Jairus reached Jesus and died en route, while Matthew compresses the account; the episode highlights faith as the central theme of the story.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected] 

In week 17 of the Bible Difficulties and Answers podcast, Lance Smith examines Exhibit 17 from J. Steve Miller’s Faith That's Not Blind and discusses why many respected intellectuals—scientists, historians, and philosophers—find theism more plausible after careful study. Using Henry Schaefer III and other examples, the episode shows how reasoned, evidence-based journeys to faith contribute to a cumulative case for God.

The episode clarifies this is not an argument from authority but an invitation to weigh the evidence: these informed theists challenge the notion that faith is anti-intellectual and encourage listeners to consider the arguments for themselves.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected] 

Episode 168 examines the apparent contradiction between Exodus 20's ban on graven images and Exodus 25's command to make golden cherubim for the Ark of the Covenant. Lance Smith explores context, intent, and biblical examples to show why the prohibition targets idolatry, not divinely authorized symbolism.

The episode surveys scriptural passages, Jewish tradition, archaeological evidence, and related cases (like the bronze serpent and the tabernacle artisans) to explain how the cherubim functioned as God‑ordered symbols pointing to His presence—not objects of worship.

Conclusion: the command demonstrates a distinction between forbidden idols and symbolic representations authorized by God, emphasizing intent and worship rather than a blanket ban on imagery.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected] 

This episode examines the apparent contradiction between Old Testament animal sacrifices and prophetic and New Testament statements that God desires mercy, not blood. Lance Smith traces the biblical trajectory—from prescribed covenantal rituals to prophetic rebukes of hollow offerings and finally to Christ’s fulfillment of atonement.

Listeners will get a clear, concise explanation of why sacrifices were given, why prophets rejected ritual without repentance, and how Jesus transforms sacrifice into mercy and a life offered to God.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected] 

In this episode of Bible Difficulties and Answers, host Lance Smith examines Exhibit 16 from J. Steve Miller’s Faith is Not Blind (pp. 89–91), sharing remarkable firsthand encounters with God that transformed the lives of Mortimer Adler and Bill Wilson. Adler’s intellectual belief becomes personal during a hospital prayer, while Wilson—co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous—experiences a life-changing vision and immediate sobriety. Miller argues these encounters provide empirical, lasting evidence that supports theism over naturalism, challenging skeptics who dismiss such experiences as merely emotional. The episode invites listeners to reflect on where they’d rate such testimony on a scale from 0 to 10 and to share their own transformative encounters.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected] 

Episode 165 examines Exodus 24:10 and the question: can God be seen? Lance Smith walks through the Sinai theophany, the significance of the brilliant blue lapis lazuli pavement, and how partial visions of God’s glory fit with passages that say no one can see God and live.

The episode connects Old Testament visions to the New Testament revelation in Jesus, explains the covenant context of the vision, and offers practical takeaways on recognizing God’s presence in creation, Scripture, and Christ.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected] 

In this episode Lance Smith examines an alleged contradiction about how Jesus treated tax collectors and sinners versus how the church should treat unrepentant believers. Exploring passages from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he explains the difference between Jesus' outreach to outsiders and Matthew 18's call for church discipline, arguing that the two are complementary: radical hospitality toward nonbelievers and loving accountability within the church.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected] 

In this episode Lance Smith unpacks J. Steve Miller's discussion of people who report a direct, non-inferential knowledge that God exists, comparing it to basic beliefs like consciousness and belief in other minds. The episode explores arguments from Alvin Plantinga and William Alston that such religious experiences can be properly basic, addresses skeptical objections, and highlights how these encounters often lead to real transformation.

Smith shares a personal reflection, invites listener responses, and points to further reading for those who want to dive deeper into the philosophy and testimony behind why many people simply 'know' God is real.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected] 

Episode 162 explores the apparent contradiction between Exodus 24:9–11, where Moses and the elders "see the God of Israel" and survive, and Exodus 33:20, which warns that no one can see God’s face and live. The host explains the likely solution: the elders experienced a mediated theophany—a limited, veiled manifestation of God (focusing on the sapphire pavement and divine presence) rather than God’s full, unfiltered essence.

The episode summarizes linguistic, theological, and historical perspectives (Septuagint readings, Hebrew terms, rabbinic and scholarly views) and concludes that God reveals himself in degrees suited to human capacity, offering a coherent way to understand both passages.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected] 

Host Lance Smith explores the apparent name difference in Matthew 9:9 and Mark 2:14/Luke 5:27, explaining how Matthew and Levi likely refer to the same tax collector called by Jesus. The episode examines historical context, naming practices, Gospel parallels, and theological implications, showing how dual names reflect cultural identity rather than contradiction.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: [email protected]