The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast

Today we dive into a really interesting verse–Genesis 1:26-why does the Bible use the plural “us” when God refers to himself. And, as you would expect, there are varying interpretations as to what this problematic verse means and its solution. We’ll explore God’s traditional Jewish explanations along with other religious groups, also, we’ll take a look at basic Hebrew grammar to help us interpret this unique way of referring to God and finally, investigate if this is the first foreshadowing of the Holy Trinity. References to items discussed on this podcast may found at the following: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI (The Big Book of Bible Difficulties from Amazon) https://a.co/d/2qtVfm7 (New Revised Standard Version of the Bible) https://crossexamined.org/wisdom-chronicle-6/ (THE WISDOM CHRONICLE) https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/who-is-us-that-god-is-talking-about-genesis1-26/ https://www.tetzetorah.com/excursus-on-genesis-1-26 https://www.equip.org/video/who-is-the-us-in-genesis-126/ https://carm.org/about-bible-verses/does-genesis-126-imply-that-there-were-multiple-gods-involved-in-creation/

Today we discuss Genesis 1:14-How Could There Be Light Before The Sun Was Made? In this episode we discuss how light can appear on one day of creation and the Sun and Moon appear on another day of creation. We discuss three main explanations behind this verse: 1) Astrological, 2) God as light, and 3) Creation finally becoming visible. As always I will give my thoughts on the best explanation at the end. References to items discussed on this podcast may found at the following: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI (The Big Book of Bible Difficulties from Amazon) https://www.icr.org/bible/Genesis/1/14/#:~:text=1:14%20signs.,or%20randomly%20around%20in%20space. https://www.reasonablefaith.org/podcasts/defenders-podcast-series-2/s2-creation-and-evolution/creation-and-evolution-part-2 https://www.reasonablefaith.org/podcasts/defenders-podcast-series-2/s2-creation-and-evolution/creation-and-evolution-part-4 https://www.risenjesus.com/a-refutation-of-acharya-ss-book-the-christ-conspiracy https://apologetics315.com/2014/07/book-review-navigating-genesis-a-scientists-journey-through-genesis-1-11-by-hugh-ross/ https://carm.org/other-questions/what-does-the-bible-say-about-astrology/

Today begins our journey into Bible Difficulties and Answers, discussing Genesis 1:1-How can the universe have a “beginning?” In this episode we discuss two main problems, 1) “According to the First Law of Thermodynamics, ‘Energy can neither be created or destroyed.’ If this is so, then the universe must be eternal, since it is made of indestructible energy. However, the Bible indicates that the universe had a ‘beginning.’ and did not exist before God ‘created’ it. Is this not a contradiction between the Bible and science?” and 2) How could the author of Genesis know what happened at creation before he was even created? What we will do here is let science along with some philosophy make the case for the biblical truth. References to items discussed on this podcast may found at the following: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI (The Big Book of Bible Difficulties from Amazon) https://www.theolatte.com/2019/02/the-genesis-of-apologetics/ (THE GENESIS OF APOLOGETICS) https://christianpublishinghouse.co/2022/11/21/genesis-11-2-the-translation-and-meaning-of-the-opening-words-of-genesis-is-not-so-simple/ https://www.reasonablefaith.org/podcasts/defenders-podcast-series-3/s3-doctrine-of-creation/doctrine-of-creation-part-1 https://crossexamined.org/does-the-big-bang-require-an-absolute-beginning-to-the-universe/

Occasionally, this podcast may go into some different areas besides the biblical timeline we follow each week for Bible Difficulties and Answers. For these types of episodes, we will refer to them as sidebars. Today, I want to give a baseline of how this podcast finished last calendar year by reviewing some numbers.

Show Notes: Today as we prepare to begin our journey into Bible Difficulties and Answers, we discuss the last of our five introductory episodes–is the New Testament reliable? In this episode we discuss the Historical Truth and the Alleged Bible Errors (Divergent Details) of the New Testament. Special thanks to Frank Turek for carrying the Lion’s share of the work for this podcast. We conclude with several stories to help counter common arguments regarding the necessary for a savior and why Christianity is the only way to eternal life. References to items discussed on this podcast may found at the following: https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-reliability-of-the-new-testament-writers/ https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/rules-to-evaluate-alleged-bible-contradictions-and-difficulties-free-bible-insert

Show Notes: Today as we prepare to begin our journey into Bible Difficulties and Answers, we discuss the third of three philosophical arguments for the existence of God. In this episode we discuss the Moral Argument. Why do we agree certain things are right and wrong? Where does this standard of good and evil arise? And what does CS Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia, say about Moral Law? References to items discussed on this podcast may found at the following: https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/04/world/major-soviet-paper-says-20-million-died-as-victims-of-stalin.html Michael Ruse, "Evolutionary Theory and Christian Ethics," in The Darwinian Paradigm (London: Routledge, 1989), pp. 262-269. https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/popular-writings/existence-nature-of-god/does-god-exist?utm_campaign=youtube-targeting&utm_source=pd-google&utm_medium=search&utm_content=dge-responsive&utm_term=doesgodexist&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsburBhCIARIsAExmsu75Mbl68skYyGgCCV5E7o2_BpP9J2lpbJfdER03HKNP-J-XRkKI-v4aAm71EALw_wcB#notes2 C. S. Lewis (2003). “A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis”, p.37, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/why-do-we-call-it-evil-in-the-first-place-2/ https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/resources-to-help-you-respond-to-the-problem-of-evil-free-bible-insert/ https://www.undergroundthomist.org/whistling-past-the-graveyard http://www.rightreason.org/2010/a-simple-explanation-of-the-moral-argument/

Show Notes: Today as we prepare to begin our journey into Bible Difficulties and Answers, we discuss the third of three philosophical arguments for the existence of God. In this episode we discuss the Moral Argument. Why do we agree certain things are right and wrong? Where does this standard of good and evil arise? And what does CS Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia, say about Moral Law? References to items discussed on this podcast may found at the following: https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/04/world/major-soviet-paper-says-20-million-died-as-victims-of-stalin.html Michael Ruse, "Evolutionary Theory and Christian Ethics," in The Darwinian Paradigm (London: Routledge, 1989), pp. 262-269. https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/popular-writings/existence-nature-of-god/does-god-exist?utm_campaign=youtube-targeting&utm_source=pd-google&utm_medium=search&utm_content=dge-responsive&utm_term=doesgodexist&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsburBhCIARIsAExmsu75Mbl68skYyGgCCV5E7o2_BpP9J2lpbJfdER03HKNP-J-XRkKI-v4aAm71EALw_wcB#notes2 C. S. Lewis (2003). “A Mind Awake: An Anthology of C. S. Lewis”, p.37, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/why-do-we-call-it-evil-in-the-first-place-2/ https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/resources-to-help-you-respond-to-the-problem-of-evil-free-bible-insert/ https://www.undergroundthomist.org/whistling-past-the-graveyard http://www.rightreason.org/2010/a-simple-explanation-of-the-moral-argument/

Show Notes: Today as we prepare to begin our journey into Bible Difficulties and Answers, we discuss the second of three philosophical arguments for the existence of God. In this episode we discuss the Fine Tuning of the Universe or Teleological Argument. And, you probably would not expect to hear references to scientists James Webb, Edwin Hubble or Steven Hawking on a podcast about Christian Philosophy! References to items discussed on this podcast may found at the following: https://hubblesite.org/mission-and-telescope/hubble-30th-anniversary/hubbles-exciting-universe/measuring-the-universes-expansion-rate#:~:text=In%201929%2C%20Edwin%20Hubble%20provided,expanding%20uniformly%20in%20all%20directions. https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/popular-writings/existence-nature-of-god/does-god-exist?utm_campaign=youtube-targeting&utm_source=pd-google&utm_medium=search&utm_content=dge-responsive&utm_term=doesgodexist&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsburBhCIARIsAExmsu75Mbl68skYyGgCCV5E7o2_BpP9J2lpbJfdER03HKNP-J-XRkKI-v4aAm71EALw_wcB#notes2 https://crossexamined.org/the-argument-from-cosmic-fine-tuning/

Show Notes: Today as we prepare to begin our journey into Bible Difficulties and Answers, we discuss the first of three philosophical arguments for the existence of God. In this episode we discuss the Cosmological Argument. And, you probably would not expect to hear references to a “Big Banger” or the Marvel Cinematic Universe on a podcast about Christian Philosophy! References to items discussed on this podcast may found at the following: https://www.shu.edu/documents/Six_Ways_Theology_Uses_Phiosophy.pdf https://crossexamined.org/the-universe-had-a-beginning/ https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/questions-about-the-kca https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse_(Marvel_Comics) https://bigthink.com/13-8/multiverse-religion/

Today as we prepare to begin our journey into Bible Difficulties and Answers, we discuss the term “Christian Apologetics.” What does it really mean? References to items discussed on this podcast may found at the following: https://seminary.grace.edu/what-is-apologetics/ https://crossexamined.org/podcasts/ https://www.str.org/w/why-apologetics- https://www.str.org/w/how-apologetics-can-address-the-six-reasons-why-young-people-leave-the-church#.XBquw_ZKhBw

The who, what, where, when and why of the podcast Bible Difficulties and Answers.