Does human unbelief have the power to limit the all-powerful God? In this episode of What in the Word?, Kirk E. Miller sits down with theologian Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen to tackle the startling claim in Mark 6:1–6 that Jesus “could do no mighty work” in his hometown. They explore the relationship between human faith and divine action and raise the practical question: What does this story mean for someone praying for healing that never comes?

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Outline:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:12) Veli-Matti Karkkainen

(03:55) The narrative arc

(09:00) The different difficulties

(17:00) Couldn't or wouldn't?

(20:55) The function of miracles

(23:33) Healed by faith?

(28:50) Why Jesus heals

(35:02) When healing doesn't come

(39:31) Advice for teaching

Since we no longer have the original manuscripts, is our text of the New Testament reliable? Given the magnitude of variations among manuscripts, can we reliably reconstruct the original? Premier New Testament text critic Daniel B. Wallace joins Kirk E. Miller on What in the Word? to discuss.

Dan provides an overview of discipline of textual criticism and explains the methods text critics use to determine the original text. The interview discusses the most common misconceptions about the New Testament's reliability and why the sheer number of extant manuscripts actually gives us immense confidence.

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Learn more about the episode:

https://www.logos.com/grow/witw-new-testament-reliability?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=show-witw

Outline:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:21) Dan Wallace

(03:52) Defining Reliability

(04:54) Popular Misconceptions

(13:50) An Example Variant

(18:31) Textual Criticism Principles

(19:15) Extant Manuscripts & Variants

(24:32) Final Reflections

Does Paul prefer Christians remain single, despite the rest of the Bible's positive portrayal of marriage? In this episode of What in the Word?, Kirk E. Miller sits down with Dr. Danielle Trewick to walk through numerous difficulties in 1 Corinthians 7.

For instance, does Paul teach that some receive a special Spirit-empowerment to remain single? What is the "present distress"? And what does it mean for married couples to live as though they are not? Trewick seeks to uncover our expose common assumptions about the text to uncover Paul's vision for whole-hearted, Christian devotion, whether single or married.

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Learn more about the episode:

https://www.logos.com/grow/witw-paul-singleness​-1-corinthians-7?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=show-witw

Outline:

(00:00) Why 1 Corinthians 7

(00:55) Meet Dani Treweek

(04:13) Her Singleness Research

(06:59) Reading Paul’s Words

(07:41) Context and Categories

(11:37) Why It’s Difficult

(17:05) Paul’s Preference Explained

(21:13) Rethinking the Gift

(29:49) Better to Marry

(35:48) Present Distress

(41:52) As If Not Married

(46:45) Preaching Pastoral Wisdom

(50:48) Marriage and Singleness Pair

Psalm 137 ends with one of the Bible's most scandalizing lines: a prayer that an enemy's infants would be dashed against rocks. It understandably troubles believers, and for skeptics, it's a classic case against the Bible's goodness.

Does this cry for violence—especially against innocent babies—belong in what is supposed to be a sacred hymn book? On this episode of What in the Word?, Kirk E. Miller brings in Dr. Bruce Waltke to reckon with this troubling passage.

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Learn more about the episode:

https://www.logos.com/grow/witw-psalm137-meaning?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=show-witw

Outline:

(01:27) Bruce Waltke Background

(04:41) Reading Psalm 137

(05:46) Why It Troubles Us

(08:53) Common Interpretations

(12:56) Imprecations and Justice

(17:32) Law Justice and Mercy

(25:13) Exile Context and Vengeance

(27:44) God’s Enemies, Not Personal

(31:01) Hyperbole or Literal

(35:34) Blessed or Rewarded

(38:11) Eschatology and Revelation

(42:41) Messianic Reading in Psalms

(44:21) Preaching and Application

Kirk E. Miller welcomes New Testament scholar Patrick Schreiner on to What in the Word? to tackle the question: Why was Jesus baptized? John’s baptism was for repentant sinners, yet Jesus was without sin.

They discuss the different interpretations of Matthew 3:13–17, focusing on what it means for Jesus to “fulfill all righteousness.” What is meant by “righteousness,” and how does Jesus’s baptism “fulfill” it? Finally, they consider the significance of the Spirit’s descent and the heavenly voice declaring Jesus “my Son.”

Get a free Mobile Ed course when you start a free trial: https://www.logos.com/show/what-in-the-word?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=show-witw

Learn more about the episode:

https://www.logos.com/grow/witw-jesus-baptism-fulfill-righteousness?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=show-witw

Episode outline:

(00:00) Why Jesus Baptized

(01:06) Meet Patrick Schreiner

(01:55) Patrick's Book on Matthew

(03:44) Reading Matthew 3

(04:52) Matthew's Context and Israel

(09:59) Why Baptism Is Tricky

(12:49) Jesus Identifies With Israel

(17:05) Fulfill All Righteousness

(25:08) Matthew Versus Other Gospels

(30:01) Spirit Descent and Sonship

(37:57) Practical Takeaways

(42:49) Final Wrap Up

Jonathan Akin joins Kirk E. Miller on What in the Word? to discuss one of the Bible's most infamous passages, Elisha's curse that led to two she-bears mauling forty-two "youths" in 2 Kings 2:23-24.

Was Elisha simply an irritable old man who couldn’t take a joke? How old were these “youths”? And what exactly does their jeer, “Go up, baldhead!” mean? This episode examines these matters and more, exploring the passage's meaning and significance even for today.

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Learn more about the episode:

https://www.logos.com/grow/witw-elisha-and-the-bears?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=show-witw

Episode outline:

(00:00) Elisha and the Bears

(00:49) Meet the Guest

(04:05) Setting the Context

(07:07) Why This Text Shocks

(10:25) Who Were the Youths

(18:44) Bethel and Idolatry

(23:40) Sponsor Break

(28:59) Go Up Baldy Explained

(36:56) Covenant Curses and Bears

(43:58) Preaching Christ from Kings

(52:41) Wrap Up and Next Steps

If the Bible teaches that human beings are made in the image of God, why does the Bible seem to allow their enslavement? It’s a question that often troubles believers and serves as an objection for skeptics.

Kirk E. Miller sits down with author and apologist Rebecca McLaughlin to work through the issue historically, biblically, and theologically. As we’ll see, those passages that often seem like roadblocks to faith, when read carefully and in context, turn out to be signposts pointing toward it.

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Learn more about the episode: https://www.logos.com/grow/witw-bible-slavery?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=show-witw

Episode outline:

(00:00) Why Slavery in the Bible?

(01:06) Meet Rebecca McLaughlin

(04:56) Why Understanding Feels Hard

(08:57) Misuse and the Curse Of Ham

(10:31) Old Testament Slavery Context

(19:06) Laws Limit Harm

(22:31) Jesus Upends Power

(26:36) Early Church And Philemon

(33:06) Why Not Condemn Directly

(38:31) Modern Equality From Scripture

(44:04) The Cross and Kingdom Humility

(47:39) Exodus and the Black Church

(49:45) Serving Christ Conclusion

Luke records that the early Jesus followers in Jerusalem “held everything in common” (Acts 2:44–45; 4:32–37). Does this mean the early church abolished private property and embraced a sort of communalism? Luke-Acts scholar Darrell L. Bock joins Kirk E. Miller on this episode of What in the Word? to discuss these texts and what they might mean for us today.

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Learn more about the episode: https://www.logos.com/grow/witw-acts-all-things-in-common⁠? utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=show-witw

Outline:

(0:00) Introduction

(3:32) What's the difficulty?

(5:06) The context of Acts 2

(9:16) The context of Acts 4

(14:00) Elsewhere in Acts & NT

(17:17) What's going on?

(25:54) An exceptional community

(30:03) Descriptive yet persuasive

(36:38) Important details

(43:05) The practical significance

(47:58) Advice for preaching or teaching