What are biblical manuscripts, and why do they matter for Christians today?

In this episode of Word Nerd, Lily sits down with Noah Hawkins for a conversation about biblical manuscripts, textual transmission, papyrus fragments, and how the New Testament was preserved throughout history. Together, they discuss what manuscripts actually are, how scribes copied Scripture, why textual variants exist, and why these topics don’t have to shake our confidence in the Bible.

Along the way, they explore common misconceptions about textual criticism, look at real manuscript evidence like Papyrus 48 (𝔓⁴⁸), and talk about why understanding the history behind your Bible can actually strengthen your faith rather than weaken it.

If you’ve ever wondered how the New Testament survived for nearly two thousand years, what biblical manuscripts really are, or why scholars care so much about tiny fragments of papyrus, this episode is for you.

During parts of the episode, we reference details visible on Papyrus 48 (𝔓⁴⁸), so you may want to pull up the image from the episode post while listening for the full Word Nerd experience. You can see it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x5Bow0BOj9KWxA--GeD3WllZKK0tzZ4h/view?usp=sharing

Buy one of Noah's awesome replicas here!

https://sacredtextreplicas.com/

Free Hesed study pages below!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ptVmXaXrrpLtIMaHDk5T4CMiLpexI1hL/view?usp=sharing

What if one of the most important words in the Bible doesn’t have a direct English translation?

In this episode, we’re diving into hesed, a Hebrew word often translated as love, but that barely scratches the surface. Hesed is loyal love, steadfast love, covenant love… it’s the kind of love that stays, gives, forgives, and acts even when it’s hard.

We’ll break down what hesed really means, where we see it in Scripture, and what it looks like lived out in everyday life—from simple acts of kindness to costly obedience.

Because this kind of love isn’t just something we understand, it’s something we live.

Because, the Bible isn’t just something we read, it’s something we listen to and obey.

“You can either learn from your own mistakes or learn from other people’s.”

In this episode, I sat down with my dad to talk about Proverbs and why it’s one of the most practical books of the Bible.

We talked about wisdom, applying what you learn, and how to avoid mistakes instead of repeating them, and about the fear of the Lord and what it actually means to grow in your relationship with God because knowing isn’t the goal, living it is. And Proverbs shows you how to actually do that in everyday life.

Click below for a free download comparing the 3 types of fools in Proverbs!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gm7Dbnd9tTf9dUvPrEDI7ejYYevu6ME_/view?usp=sharing

Why should Christians evangelize—and how should we actually do it?

In this episode of Word Nerds, Lily and Silas talk about the biblical foundation for evangelism and what it really looks like in everyday life. Starting with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20) and passages like Ezekiel 2–3, they discuss why sharing the gospel isn’t optional for believers, it’s a responsibility.

But evangelism isn’t just about arguments or debates. It’s about character, wisdom, and truth. Lily and Silas explore how Christians should act while witnessing to others, including the importance of the fruit of the Spirit, balancing love with logic, and knowing when to emphasize kindness, evidence, or discussion depending on the person you’re talking to.

They also talk about the difference between being nice and being kind, why it’s important to focus on the core truths of the gospel rather than secondary issues, and how passages like 1 Corinthians 9, James 2, and Matthew 10:16 guide the way Christians interact with people who believe differently.

Whether you’re talking to a close friend, someone at school, or even a stranger you might only meet once, this episode looks at how love, wisdom, actions, and truth work together when sharing your faith.

Challenge for the week: Talk about Jesus with someone—and ask yourself two questions: What would Jesus do? and How would I want to be treated?

Referenced in Podcast:

Tactics- Gregory Koukl

Matthew 28:19–20
Ezekiel 2:1–3
Ezekiel 2:8
Ezekiel 3:17
James 2:14
James 2:2–4
James 2:16
James 3:1–2
Matthew 10:16
1 Corinthians 9:19–23
1 Corinthians 9:27
1 Corinthians 10:23–33

What does it actually mean to “hear” God?

In Deuteronomy 6, the Bible uses the Hebrew word shema — a word that doesn’t just mean listening, but responding with obedience. In this episode, we explore the Shema, one of the most important prayers in Scripture, and see how its meaning carries from the Old Testament all the way to Jesus’ teaching.

We’ll look at what shema means in Hebrew, how it’s used across the Bible, and why real hearing always leads to action. This isn’t just about understanding a word — it’s about learning to live it.

Here is a free Shema Cheat Sheet that goes along with this episode to help you study and remember what we covered:

⁠https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WTlK7u15eRRcvLZElWn-5bpxXMBKKd17/view?usp=sharing⁠

How do you actually understand the Bible — not just read it?

In this episode of Word Nerds, Lily and Silas dive into the words behind the Word. They talk about why context matters, how people can read the same verse and walk away with totally different meanings, and why the Bible wasn’t written in English in the first place.

They break down what “context” really means, explain the difference between reading Scripture carefully versus reading it casually, and introduce beginner-friendly tools for studying Greek and Hebrew without feeling overwhelmed. Along the way, they look at verses that sound strange (or even funny) when taken out of context — and show why meaning changes when you slow down and read responsibly.

If you’ve ever felt confused by the Bible, frustrated by conflicting interpretations, or curious about original languages and word studies, this episode is for you.

If you want to go deeper, here's a list of Lily's favorite resources:

• How to Read the Bible for All its Worth- Gordon D Fee

• No More Boring Bible Study – Faith Womack

• Bible Knowledge Commentary Walvood & Zuch ( kinda expensive so just use free commentaries on Bible hub)

• Tyndale Bible Dictionary 

• New Ungers Bible Dictionary

• Faith Womack’s YouTube channel (Bible nerd)

Free Word Study PDF
We made a word study on shalom to go along with this episode.
You can view or download it here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wKgS5YNCM1wLYdkPjjdTrmlwGRbkez9N/view?usp=sharing

Word Nerds is a podcast for teens who want to understand what the Bible actually says. In this episode, Lily explores the Hebrew word shalom—a word often translated as peace, but one that carries a much deeper meaning in Scripture.

By looking at the original Hebrew, multiple biblical examples, and the context surrounding each passage, this episode shows why shalom is about more than calm or quiet. It points to wholeness, completeness, restoration, and the way God orders the world. From the Aaronic blessing in Numbers to stories in Genesis and 1 Samuel, Lily walks through how shalom functions in different contexts and why English translations can sometimes flatten meaning.

The episode also introduces basic word-study tools, explains why context matters when reading the Bible, and highlights common mistakes people make when studying Hebrew and Greek words. Along the way, listeners are encouraged to engage Scripture thoughtfully, start small in their studies, and see how God’s peace is active—not passive—in both Scripture and everyday life.