The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast

In this episode, Lance Smith walks through Chapter 9 of C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, exploring charity as Christian love — a matter of the will rather than emotion. Lewis explains why we shouldn't wait until we feel loving before we act lovingly, but instead should “act as if” we loved others and God, because right actions can lead to genuine affection.
Lance examines the difference between natural liking and Christian charity, why even small daily choices can compound into greater good or evil, and why our love for God is not dependent on constantly having strong religious feelings.
The episode closes with a reminder that while our feelings may fluctuate, God's love for us does not.
Next week, the Sunday Series continues with Lewis's discussion of Hope.
References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:
buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith 
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page
Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. HarperOne, 2001. Available at: https://a.co/d/0eXcvERk

Why does Exodus connect the Sabbath to God’s rest at creation, while Deuteronomy connects it to Israel’s redemption from slavery in Egypt? Is this a contradiction—or are both passages giving legitimate reasons for observing the same command?
In this episode, Lance Smith examines Deuteronomy 5:15 alongside Exodus 20:8–11 and explores how the Sabbath can have a creation-based foundation while also serving as a reminder of Israel’s freedom from Egypt. The command remains the same, but Deuteronomy emphasizes what Israel’s redemption should mean for the way they treat others.
One command. Two complementary reasons: creation and redemption.
References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:
buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith 
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page
Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI 
Mueller, Ekkehardt. “The Sabbath Commandment in Deuteronomy 5:12–15.” Biblical Research Institute. https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/articles/the-sabbath-commandment-in-deuteronomy-5-12-15
Haynes, Matthew, and P. Paul Krüger. “Creation Rest: Exodus 20:8–11 and the First Creation Account.” Old Testament Essays 31, no. 1 (2018). https://scielo.org.za/pdf/ote/v31n1/05.pdf
Jančovič, Jozef. “Semantics of the Concentric Sabbath Commandments in Two Decalogue Versions.” Central European Theological Review. https://cetr.hu/semantics-of-the-concentric-sabbath-commandments-in-two-decalogue-versions/
Sivan, Ezra W. Zuckerman. “Three in One: Creation, Exodus, and Equality.” The Lehrhaus, August 3, 2017. https://thelehrhaus.com/scholarship/three-in-one-creation-exodus-and-equality/
Roberts, Alastair. “The Sabbath as a Key to Understanding Biblical Law, Part 1.” The Biblical Mind. https://thebiblicalmind.org/article/sabbath-understanding-biblical-law/
Schachterle, Joshua. “The Two Versions of 10 Commandments: Deuteronomy vs Exodus.” BartEhrman.com. https://www.bartehrman.com/two-versions-of-10-commandments/ 

When was heaven created? The Skeptic’s Annotated Bible points to Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:6–8, Matthew 25:34, and John 14:2 as giving different answers. But are these passages actually talking about the same thing?
In Episode 305, Lance Smith examines the biblical words for “heaven,” including Hebrew shamayim and raqia and Greek ouranos. He looks at the different interpretations of the Genesis creation account, including the ancient Near Eastern view of the firmament, and explains why “prepared” does not mean “created.”
The result is four passages addressing four different questions—not four contradictory dates for when heaven was created.
References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:
buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith 
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page
Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Skeptic’s Annotated Bible – “When was heaven created?”  https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/heaven.html  
SlimJim, “Bible Contradiction? When was heaven created?” The Domain for Truth, April 21, 2017. https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/bible-contradiction-when-was-heaven-created/
Simon Turpin, “Heaven? Was Heaven created, if so why and where is it?” Ask John Mackay. https://askjohnmackay.com/heaven-was-heaven-created-if-so-why-and-where-is-it/
Danny R. Faulkner, “The Firmament: What Did God Create on Day 2?” Answers Research Journal 13 (2020): 113–133. https://answersresearchjournal.org/firmament-what-did-god-create-day-2/
GotQuestions, “What did God create on the second day of creation?” https://www.gotquestions.org/what-did-God-create-on-the-second-day.html
Rick Lanser, “Genesis 1 and the Raqia,” Associates for Biblical Research. https://biblearchaeology.org/research-articles/genesis-1-and-the-raqia/
William Lane Craig, “Dealing with Spurious Claims about the Firmament,” Reasonable Faith. https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/dealing-with-spurious-claims-about-the-firmament
Thomas L. Constable, Notes on Genesis. https://soniclight.com/tcon/notes/html/genesis/genesis.htm
BibleAsk, “Are there three heavens?” https://bibleask.org/are-there-three-heavens/
Pete Enns, “The Firmament of Genesis 1 Is Solid but That’s Not the Point,” BioLogos, January 14, 2010. https://biologos.org/articles/the-firmament-of-genesis-1-is-solid-but-thats-not-the-point
Randall W. Younker and Richard M. Davidson, “The Myth of the Solid Heavenly Dome: Another Look at the Hebrew Rāqîaʿ,” Andrews University Seminary Studies 49.1 (2011): 125–147. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3130&context=auss
James-Michael Smith, “Firmament or Expanse? Two Ways to Interpret Genesis 1:6,” Logos. https://www.logos.com/grow/hall-firmament/
John R. Roberts, “The Cosmos Created in Genesis 1,” SIL International.

Episode 304 examines C.S. Lewis’ claim that pride is the central Christian vice: the “Great Sin.” Lewis explains why pride is fundamentally competitive, how it creates enemies, and why it ultimately puts us in opposition to God.
Lance Smith walks through Lewis’ practical test for recognizing pride, the difference between healthy pleasure in praise and sinful self-exaltation, and the danger of using religion to convince ourselves that we are better than others.
The episode closes with Lewis’ surprisingly simple first step toward humility: recognize that we are proud. True humility isn't constantly thinking less of yourself: it’s learning to stop making yourself the center of the universe.
Next week, the discussion continues with Lewis’s treatment of charity, the opposite of the Great Sin.
References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:
buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith 
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page
Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. HarperOne, 2001. Available at: https://a.co/d/0eXcvERk

Why don't the Ten Commandments sound exactly the same in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5? Did Moses change what God originally commanded—or is something else going on?
Host Lance Smith examines the differences between the two passages, including the Sabbath command, the reasons given for keeping it, and the wording of the command against coveting. The episode also considers critical scholarship, manuscript variations, and traditional Jewish and Christian explanations.
The conclusion: Moses wasn't changing God's law. He was faithfully restating and applying the same commandments to a new generation preparing to enter the Promised Land.
References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:
buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith 
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page
Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI 
DeRouchie, Jason S. “Which is the Real Ten Commandments?” jasonderouchie.com, January 10, 2014. https://jasonderouchie.com/derouchie-which-is-the-real-ten-commandments/
Lockshin, Marty. “The Existence of Two Versions of the Decalogue.” TheTorah.com. https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-existence-of-two-versions-of-the-decalogue
Lockshin, Marty. “Two Versions of the Decalogue: Ibn Ezra’s Non-Explanation.” TheTorah.com, 2019. https://www.thetorah.com/article/two-versions-of-the-decalogue-ibn-ezras-non-explanation
Crawford, Sidnie White. “The Many Recensions of the Ten Commandments.” TheTorah.com, 2019. https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-many-recensions-of-the-ten-commandments
Edenburg, Cynthia. “The Origins of the Decalogue.” TheTorah.com, 2023. https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-origins-of-the-decalogue
Shurpin, Yehuda. “Why Two Versions of the Ten Commandments?” Beit Ariel, August 15, 2019. https://www.beitariel.org/single-post/2019/08/15/why-two-versions-of-the-ten-commandments
Gnuse, Robert. “Deuteronomic Redaction and the Evolution of the Decalogues in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.” Qeios, 2024. https://www.qeios.com/read/715VDN.2/pdf
Schachterle, Joshua. “The Two Versions of 10 Commandments: Deuteronomy vs Exodus.” bartehrman.com. https://www.bartehrman.com/two-versions-of-10-commandments/

This episode examines alleged contradictions between Old Testament laws forbidding interest on loans to the needy and Jesus’ parable about earning interest.
By defining terms, reviewing context, and distinguishing subsistence loans from commercial lending, the host shows how Scripture protects the vulnerable while encouraging faithful stewardship, resolving the apparent conflict.
References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:
buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith 
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page
Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Skeptic’s Annotated Bible – “Is usury wrong?” https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/usury.html 
Klaus Issler, “What Does the Old Testament Say About Loans and Interest? Part 1,” The Good Book Blog, Biola University https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2017/what-does-the-old-testament-say-about-loans-and-interest-part-1
Klaus Issler, “What Does the Old Testament Say About Loans and Interest? Part 2,” The Good Book Blog, Biola niversity https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2017/what-does-the-old-testament-say-about-loans-and-interest-part-2
Klaus Issler, “What Does the Old Testament Say About Loans and Interest? Part 4,” The Good Book Blog, Biola niversity https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2018/what-does-the-old-testament-say-about-loans-and-interest-part-4
Dr. Chad Brand, “Understanding What God Commanded Moses About Usury,” Institute for Faith and Culture / IFWE https://institutefc.org/understanding-what-god-commanded-moses-about-usury/
Michael L. Satlow, “What Is Wrong with Charging Interest?” TheTorah.com (2018) https://www.thetorah.com/article/what-is-wrong-with-charging-interest
Dr. Chad Brand, “Usury in the Gospels,” Institute for Faith and Culture / IFWE https://institutefc.org/usury-in-the-gospels/

Episode 301 explores C.S. Lewis’ challenging reflections on forgiveness in Chapter Seven of Mere Christianity. Lewis argues that forgiveness is not optional for Christians, even when the person who has wronged us may seem completely undeserving of it.
Lance Smith examines Lewis’ practical advice: start with the small offenses close to home, understand what it really means to love your neighbor as yourself, and learn to separate hatred of evil from hatred of the person who committed it. Forgiveness doesn't mean pretending wrongdoing isn't wrong, or refusing appropriate justice. It means refusing to enjoy hatred and continuing to desire the good of the person who has done wrong.
Lewis ultimately points us back to God’s love as the model: we are not loved because we are always lovable, but because we are His creation.
References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:
buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith 
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page
Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. HarperOne, 2001. Available at: https://a.co/d/0eXcvERk

Episode 300 marks another milestone for Bible Difficulties and Answers as host Lance Smith examines an apparent contradiction in Deuteronomy 4:10–15. Why does Deuteronomy refer to the mountain where God gave Israel His covenant as Horeb, while Exodus commonly calls it Sinai?
The episode explains why Horeb and Sinai are understood as two names for the same sacred location, examines scholarly and Jewish perspectives, and considers why different biblical books use different names. Lance also explains why some English translations retain “Horeb” while others, such as the NLT, render it “Mount Sinai.”
The episode closes with a broader lesson: apparent difficulties in Scripture often invite us to look more closely rather than lose faith. Lance also previews the next episode, which examines why the wording of the Ten Commandments differs between Exodus and Deuteronomy.
References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:
buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith 
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website
The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page
Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI 
“What is the significance of Mount Horeb in the Bible?” GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/mount-Horeb.html
Imes, Carmen. “Biblical Contradiction: Mt. Sinai or Mt. Horeb?” BiblicalTraining, May 14, 2024. https://www.biblicaltraining.org/blog/biblical-contradiction-mt-sinai-or-mt-horeb
Wood, Bryant G. “What Do Mt. Horeb, the Mountain of God, Mt. Paran and Mt. Seir Have to Do with Mt. Sinai?” Associates for Biblical Research, November 17, 2008. https://biblearchaeology.org/what-do-mt-horeb-the-mountain-of-god-mt-paran-and-mt-seir-have-to-do-with-mt-sinai/
Turpin, Simon. “Searching for Sinai.” Answers in Genesis, November 9, 2022. https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/searching-for-sinai/
Block, Daniel I. “‘A Place for My Name’: Horeb and Zion in the Mosaic Vision of Israelite Worship.” JETS 58/2 (2015): 221–47. https://etsjets.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/files_JETS-PDFs_58_58-2_JETS_58-2_221-47_Block.pdf
Mattison, Kevin. “Anchored in the Authority of Sinai.” TheTorah.com, February 5, 2023. https://www.thetorah.com/article/anchored-in-the-authority-of-sinai
“Sinai, Mount.” Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13766-sinai-mount
Olson, Dennis T. “Mount Sinai.” Ministry Matters, March 1, 2012. https://ministrymatters.com/2012-03-01_mount_sinai/