The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast

Tuesday Contradictions: Matthew 11:2-3 – Are You the One? John the Baptist’s Prison Question and Jesus’ Reply

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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 than shame.

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

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

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Email Address: [email protected] 

  1. Skeptics Annotated Bible: https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/john-recognize.html 
  2. GotQuestions.org: "Did John the Baptist Lose His Faith While in Prison?" https://www.gotquestions.org/John-the-Baptist-doubt.html
  3. Steven Cole, Bible.org: "Lesson 7: Who is Jesus? (John 1:29-34)" (2013) https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-7-who-jesus-john-129-34
  4. David Platt, Radical.net: "Battling Our Doubt" https://radical.net/article/battling-our-doubt/
  5. John Piper, Desiring God: "John the Baptist's Doubt" https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/john-the-baptists-doubt
  6. Bob Wilkin, FaithAlone.org: "Did John the Baptist Lose His Faith While in Prison? Matthew 11:2-3" https://faithalone.org/grace-in-focus-articles/did-john-the-baptist-lose-his-faith-while-in-prison-matthew-112-3/
  7. Jimmy Akin, Apologia Veritas: "Did John the Baptist Doubt that Jesus was the Messiah?" (2024) https://apologiaveritas.org/2024/06/09/did-john-the-baptist-doubt-that-jesus-was-the-messiah/
  8. Benjamin B. Young, Bethel University: "A Qualitative Study of Doubt in the Evangelical Tradition" (2018) https://spark.bethel.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1673&context=etd
  9. David Rhoads, Augustana College: "The Quest of the Historical Jesus: Problem & Promise" (2009) https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1348&context=intersections
  10. Joel Marcus, Florida International University: "The Christology of Jesus' Disciples" (2010) https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1207&context=etd

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