The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast

Sunday Series-Episode 15: When You "Just Know": Everyday Encounters with God

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: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Miller, J. S. (2016). Faith That’s Not Blind: A Practical Guide to Evaluating Spiritual Beliefs. Wisdom Creek Press. Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/gTR0odd 
Nagel, T. (2012). The Philosopher Defends Religion. The New York Review of Books. Available at: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2012/09/27/philosopher-defends-religion/
Plantinga, A. (1993, 2000). Warrant: The Current Debate, Warrant and Proper Function, and Warranted Christian Belief. Oxford University Press.
Alston, W. P. (1991). Perceiving God: The Epistemology of Religious Experience. Cornell University Press. 

Exodus 24:9-11--Mount Sinai Mystery: How Did Moses and the Elders 'See' God and Live?

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: 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  
MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 1997.
Wyckoff, Eric John. "When Does Translation Become Exegesis? Exodus 24:9-11 in the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint." The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, vol. 74, no. 4, 2012, pp. 675-693.
"How did the Elders of Israel see God and live?" Verse By Verse Ministry International. https://versebyverseministry.org/bible-answers/how-did-the-elders-of-israel-see-god-and-live
"Exodus Chapter 24." Enduring Word Bible Commentary. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/exodus-24/
"Can humans see God and live? (Exodus 33:20 vs. Exodus 24:9-11)." Bible Hub. https://biblehub.com/q/can_humans_see_god_and_survive.htm
"If Exodus 33:11 says Moses spoke with God 'face to face,' how do we reconcile this with Exodus 33:20 where God says no one can see His face and live?" Bible Hub. https://biblehub.com/q/how_does_exodus_33_11_align_with_33_20.htm
"Elders Seeing God." Christian Study Library. https://www.christianstudylibrary.org/article/elders-seeing-god
"Vision of God of Exodus 24:10-11." Aish.com. https://aish.com/vision-of-god-of-exodus-2410-11/
"Did Moses Literally See the Face of God?" Robert Bowman Jr. https://robertbowman.net/2019/06/24/did-moses-literally-see-the-face-of-god/

Tuesday Contradictions: Matthew 9:9 – Matthew or Levi? Unraveling the Tax Collector Mystery

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: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Skeptics Annotated Bible. https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/levi.html 
Barreto, E. D. (2018). The Apostle Matthew. Bible Odyssey. Available at: https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/the-apostle-matthew/ 
Wilson, R. F. (2004). Jesus Calls Levi. JesusWalk Bible Study Series. Available at: https://www.jesuswalk.com/luke/013-levi.htm 
Trigger Man. (2023). What’s in a Name? Matthew, Levi, and the Tension in the Text – Part 1. Trigger Man Blog. Available at: https://triggermanblog.wordpress.com/2023/10/10/whats-in-a-name-matthew-levi-and-the-tension-in-the-text-part-1/ 
Hawk, B. W. (2020). The Recovery of St. Matthew. Word on Fire. Available at: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/fellows/the-recovery-of-st-matthew/ 
Grant, R. M. (2007). Patristic Traditions About the Evangelist Matthew. The Bible Interpreter. Available at: https://bibleinterp.arizona.edu/articles/patristic-traditions-about-evangelist-matthew 
Hansen, C. (2023). Stephen Boyce on Levi/Matthew. Amateur Exegete. Available at: https://amateurexegete.com/2023/08/07/stephen-boyce-on-levi-matthew-guest-post-by-chrissy-hansen/ 

Sunday Series-Episode 14: Why Our Conscience Points to God: The Case for Objective Morality

Episode 14 examines pages 79–84 of J. Steve Miller's Faith That's Not Blind, arguing that our strong sense of objective right and wrong—illustrated by Kant, Romans 2, and modern thinkers—best fits a theistic lawgiver rather than naturalistic evolution. Lance Smith walks through Miller's use of intuition, Alvin Plantinga-style inference, and William Lane Craig's moral argument.
The episode contrasts naturalism's inability to ground objective morals with theism's explanation rooted in God's unchanging nature, referencing examples from history and scripture (Psalm 19) to explain why our moral experience points beyond mere survival instincts.
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: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Miller, J. S. (2016). Faith That’s Not Blind: A Practical Guide to Evaluating Spiritual Beliefs. Wisdom Creek Press. Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/gTR0odd 
Lewis, C. S. (1952). Mere Christianity. Geoffrey Bles.
Rosenberg, A. (2011). The Atheist’s Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life without Illusions. W. W. Norton & Company.
Moral Arguments for the Existence of God. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-arguments-god/ 
Reasonable Faith Animated Video on the Moral Argument. Available at: http://www.reasonablefaith.org/moral 

Exodus 24:4 – Did Moses Write the Torah? Exodus 24 vs. the JEPD Theory

Host Lance Smith examines Exodus 24 and the modern JEPD/documentary hypothesis, weighing scholarly claims of multiple authors against evidence for Mosaic authorship.
The episode reviews historical, linguistic, and biblical arguments and explains why the host leans toward Moses as the primary author while encouraging listeners to investigate with curiosity.
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: 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  
Heiser, Michael. “Mosaic Authorship of the Torah: Problems with the Documentary Hypothesis (JEPD), Part 3.” https://drmsh.com/mosaic-authorship-torah-problems-documentary-hypothesis-jedp-part-3/ 
“The JEPD Theory.” Saint Mary’s Press. https://www.smp.org/dynamicmedia/files/9f86f9ff327c4e2eb3a9f985b135a6ff/TX001002_1-content-The_JEPD_Theory.pdf 
“Exodus.” Society for Old Testament Study. https://www.sots.ac.uk/wiki/exodus/ 
“Authorship of the Pentateuch.” Evidence Unseen. https://evidenceunseen.com/authorship-of-the-pentateuch 
“Evidence for Mosaic Authorship of the Torah.” Answers in Genesis. https://answersingenesis.org/bible-characters/moses/evidence-mosaic-authorship-of-torah/ 
Ehrman, Bart. “Exodus: How Archaeology Challenges the Biblical Account.” https://www.bartehrman.com/exodus/ 
Ehrman, Bart. “How to Study the Bible.” https://www.bartehrman.com/how-to-study-the-bible/ 

Tuesday Contradictions: Matthew 9:2 – Unraveling the Divine Mystery: Is Jesus Truly God?

Join host Lance Smith in this engaging episode of the Bible Difficulties and Answers podcast as he navigates through the complex question: Is Jesus God? Exploring Matthew 9 and various biblical passages, Lance addresses skeptical claims that highlight the paradox of Jesus being both divine and human. With insights from scholarly works and theological perspectives, discover how the Trinity and hypostatic union reconcile these contradictions, unveiling a comprehensive understanding of Jesus as Emmanuel, God with us.
Dive deep into scripture, drawing on expert analyses and thought-provoking arguments to grasp the essence of the dual nature of Christ. Whether you're a believer seeking clarity or a skeptic in search of answers, this episode offers a balanced exploration of one of Christianity's foundational beliefs. Get ready to question, learn, and be inspired to delve further into the Word.
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: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Skeptics Annotated Bible. https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/found.html 
Carpenter, Cody J. E. Matthew’s Jesus: The Divine Exposed. Master’s thesis, Mercer University, James & Carolyn McAfee School of Theology, Atlanta, GA, 2018.
GotQuestions.org. “Is Jesus God?” https://www.gotquestions.org/is-Jesus-God.html
BiblicalUnitarian.com. “One God, One Lord: Reconsidering the Cornerstone of the Christian Faith.” https://www.biblicalunitarian.com/articles/jesus-christ/one-god-one-lord-reconsidering-the-cornerstone-of-the-christian-faith
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. “Trinity.” https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/trinity/
ReasonableFaith.org. “Was Christ a Divine-Human Person?” https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/was-christ-a-divine-human-person
CARM.org. “Is Jesus God?” https://carm.org/about-jesus/is-jesus-god/
Mercer University Embedded Certificates: https://theology.mercer.edu/academics/degree-programs/master-of-divinity/embedded-certificates/ 

Sunday Series-Episode 13: Unveiling the Soul--Consciousness Beyond Materialism

Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of "Bible Difficulties and Answers" with your host, Lance Smith. This week, we delve into the profound discussion about consciousness and free will, pondering whether they hint at a soul beyond our physical brain. Exploring pages 76 to 78 of J. Steve Miller’s Faith is Not Blind, we challenge the materialistic view that portrays consciousness and free will as mere illusions.
Dive into the paradox of self-awareness and explore near-death experiences, as we seek clues pointing to the existence of a non-material soul. Join the conversation with insights from thinkers like Susan Blackmore and Alvin Plantinga, and discover how free will and rationality might align more closely with a supernatural worldview.
Whether a skeptic or a believer, this episode urges you to consider where you stand on the spectrum of belief in the soul. Don’t forget to check the show notes for in-depth resources and share your reflections with us on our social media pages. Tune in for another exciting exploration next week!
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: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 
Miller, J. S. (2016). Faith That’s Not Blind: A Practical Guide to Evaluating Spiritual Beliefs. Wisdom Creek Press. Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/gTR0odd 
Blackmore, S. (1993). Dying to Live: Near-Death Experiences. Prometheus Books.
Rosenberg, A. (2011). The Atheist’s Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life without Illusions. W. W. Norton & Company.
Nagel, T. (1993). Review of The Rediscovery of the Mind by John Searle. New York Review of Books. Available at: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/1993/03/04/the-mind-wins/ 
Plantinga, A. (2011). Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism. Oxford University Press. 

Exodus 23:19–Cracking the Culinary Code: Unveiling the Mystery of 'Don't Boil a Kid in Its Mother's Milk'

Join host Lance Smith in episode 156 of the Bible Difficulties and Answers podcast as we unravel the intriguing command from Exodus 23:19, "You must not cook a young goat in its mother's milk." This episode delves into the historical, cultural, and spiritual significance of this ancient law that appears three times in the Torah.
Explore the possible reasons behind this divine directive, from promoting compassion and ethical treatment of animals to avoiding pagan rituals. Discover how this law shapes kosher practices and reflects deeper spiritual themes, inviting listeners to live with intention and respect for life's boundaries.
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: 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  
Seeking Scripture. “Do Not Boil a Young Goat in Its Mother’s Milk: Another Possibility.” https://seekingscripture.com/do-not-boil-a-young-goat-in-its-mothers-milk-another-possibility/ 
GotQuestions.org. “Why Does the Bible Forbid Boiling a Young Goat in Its Mother’s Milk?” https://www.gotquestions.org/not-boil-young-goat-mother-milk.html
GotQuestions.org. “Why Can’t Jews Eat Dairy with Meat?” https://www.gotquestions.org/Jews-kosher-dairy-meat.html
Living Faith Blog. “Cooking a Young Goat in Its Mother’s Milk.” 24 May 2018, https://livingfaith.blog/2018/05/24/cooking-a-young-goat-in-its-mothers-milk/
Klein, Yossi. “Metaphors in the Torah: Cooking a Young Goat in Its Mother’s Milk.” The Jerusalem Post, 26 Apr 2016, https://www.jpost.com/blogs/torah-commentaries/metaphors-in-the-torah-cooking-a-young-goat-in-its-mothers-milk-450264
Aish. “Kid in Mother’s Milk: Not Taken Literally?” https://aish.com/kid-in-mothers-milk-not-taken-literally/
TheTorah.com. “Do Not Cook a Kid Still Suckling Its Mother’s Milk.” https://www.thetorah.com/article/do-not-cook-a-kid-still-suckling-its-mothers-milk
Armstrong Institute. “Thou Shalt Not Seethe a Kid in Its Mother’s Milk: Peculiar Scripture Illuminated by Archaeology.” https://armstronginstitute.org/740-thou-shalt-not-seethe-a-kid-in-its-mothers-milk-peculiar-scripture-illuminated-by-archaeology