Digging Deeper: Recent Episodes
Rob Buckingham
"Digging Deeper" is a brand new, weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into a theme or subject and explores what the Bible has to say about it.
To celebrate the one-hundredth episode of Digging Deeper, Rob is joined by Shane Willard and Tal Sprinrad. Shane is Christian, and Tal is Jewish. Both men are rabbinically trained and offer an incredibly fresh perspective on the Scriptures.
The Bible doesn’t speak about Hypnotherapy, but many Christians are wary of such practices. Is it okay for a Christian to be hypnotised? Rob also does a deep dive into the sheep and goats parable in Matthew 25.
John 14:6 is often quoted in isolation to prove that Jesus is the only way to God. But is that interpretation supported by the context?
It’s easy to take sides in the Israel-Palestine conflict, and many people do, but the truth is far more nuanced as my guests Mercy Aiken and Tim Costello discuss.
The world’s 2.4 billion Christians are divided into more than 45,000 denominations and groups. So, a search for a good church can be a complex task. What are some of the things we should consider when selecting a church to join?
Some churches emphasise the scriptures while others accentuate the Spirit. But what would happen if both were highlighted? Also, Rob looks at the broader setting of 1 Peter 2:24, a verse often taken out of context by prosperity preachers.
More answers to your questions about healing. Is it a lack of faith for a Christian to see a doctor? Why isn’t everyone healed? And more.
There are many questions surrounding the subject of supernatural healing. In this episode, Ps Rob addresses four of them, including whether God really heals people.
In Deuteronomy and Exodus, the Scriptures state that God will punish children for their parents’ sins. This seems unjust and contradicts the rest of Scripture and what we know of God’s nature. How are we to understand these assertions?
Ecclesiastes is a book that is very easy to misunderstand if you don’t realise why it was written. It is confusing and appears to contradict some other part of Scripture. So, what’s the answer?
Some people talk about feelings of trauma from their interactions with the Bible. It may be what is taught or how the Scriptures are communicated. How do people experience trauma from the Bible, and how should we respond?
In this episode, we explore the topic of superstitions. What are they, where did they originate, and how should Christians respond to them?
When it comes to Halloween, we often witness Christians express fear or outrage. But is there a better way for Christian people to respond to festivals with which we disagree?
In this episode, Rob’s guest, Shane Willard, continues the exploration of a healthier understanding of human sexuality. Shane looks at six tensions in Scripture that help us navigate sex.
Some Bible teaching on sex has done great harm to people. Consider Purity Culture as one example. In this episode, Rob’s guest, Shane Willard, explores a healthier understanding of human sexuality from the Scriptures.
Professor Richard Dawkins describes the God of the Old Testament as a "bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser", and some Bible stories agree with that assessment. What are we to make of the Bible's genocide stories and the times God commands the obliteration of entire people groups?
The Bible has much to say about Jesus. But what about ancient documents beyond the Bible? Do they offer proof of the existence of Jesus Christ?
While ultimately, one cannot either prove or disprove the existence of God, the Scriptures show four ways that we can know that there is a God. Also, what does it mean to “Turn the other cheek?”
One of the Divine signatures on the Scriptures is numerology, the use of specific numbers for symbolic reasons in Scripture. This episode explores the meaning and application of the more common numbers in the Bible.
There has been much conjecture about the nature of Paul’s thorn in the flesh. But a careful investigation of the context clearly shows what it actually was. More importantly, how does Paul’s experience relate to our Christian journey?
While we are fascinated by the book of Revelation, we also find it confusing. This episode unpacks some keys to understanding this captivating book with a special focus on The New Jerusalem (Rev. 21). We also discuss Jesus’ teaching about not swearing oaths (Matt. 5).
Many people struggle with maintaining a healthy weight. So, what help and inspiration can we find in the Scriptures? This episode also explores the ancient belief that the four faces of the Cherubim represent the four Gospels and the character of Jesus
This episode of Digging Deeper explores the identity of the Twelve Apostles, especially the lesser-known ones. What were they like, what did they achieve, and how did they die?
Why was Jesus born as a man? Was his maleness essential to complete redemption? If so, why? Also, we investigate the “I AM” statements of Jesus and ask, did Jesus’ family witness any of his miracles before he was crucified?
Rob is joined by his Jewish friend, Tal, to chat about the scriptures from a Hebrew perspective.
Paul encourages believers to be kind to their enemies to “heap burning coals on their head.” This sounds vindictive and contradictory to the gospel, so what does this mean? This episode also explores why Jesus was baptised and what Jesus meant by the gates of hell.
Continuing from episode 71, we investigate the Bible’s revelation on rewards at the believers’ judgement. Also, why did Jesus build his church? Was the Temple insufficient? And how can you share your faith simply when theology is so complex
What are we to make of the mentions in the New Testament to the wrath of God? And how do we reconcile God’s anger with God’s love?
This episode investigates the judgement seat of Christ. Do believers in Jesus still face judgement? And, if a person’s sins are forgiven by Jesus what is there left to judge?
How should we understand the New Testament scriptures that have been used to justify anti-Semitism throughout church history? Also, what are we to make of the many, sometimes contradictory, mentions of judging and judgement in the New Testament?
Jesus told his disciples to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves." What was he teaching them? We also investigate what Jesus meant when he said to his disciples "you will all eat and drink with me in my kingdom, and you will each sit on a throne to judge the Twelve tribes of Israel." Judas was present but was he included in the promise?
The apostle Paul appears to be very definite about women not speaking or teaching in church gatherings. But, in other places he mentions women who preach, pray, and lead. What are we to make of these apparent contradictions? This episode also discusses the identity of the Angel of the Lord, and Rob gives his thoughts on the God and gun culture in the USA.
In this episode, Ps Rob does a deep dive into complementarian theology. What is it and how is it taught and abused within churches? We also look at the submission of women and male headship.
In this episode, Ps Rob talks about prehistorical animals and why they aren’t mentioned in the Bible? Or are they? Also, does God have favourites and what did Isaiah 53 mean to the original audience?
In this episode, Ps Rob chats with his Jewish friend, Tal, about faith and the Bible from a Hebrew perspective.
There are several occasions in the Scriptures where people are supernaturally transported by the Holy Spirit. Are these literal events or are they visions? Also, why was Jesus born when he was? What made that time the perfect time?
In Acts 5, Luke tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira, a couple who conspired to defraud the church of finance. Things didn’t end well for the duo. But what are we to make of this in the light of God’s loving nature?
The Trinity is a difficult concept to grasp and so it’s been one of the most widely- questioned Christian doctrines over the centuries. In this episode, Rob Buckingham explores what the Bible says about God being ONE and also THREE.
What did Jesus mean by binding and loosing and what are the keys to the kingdom of heaven? Join Rob Buckingham for some fascinating insights into Jesus’ statements to Peter in Matthew 16.
The Bible has much to say about angels, but are they real? In this episode, we'll explore what or who angels are and their purpose. We'll also answer the question, what is sin?
From stickers to stationery, Christians can buy all kinds of merchandise. But should they purchase it to share their faith? This episode also answers the question, “are people broken?” There are a couple of questions about Adam and Eve and why God selected Israel as his chosen people.
Sometimes, Christians fixate on all the evil in the world and what bad people do and surmise that people are essentially evil. But the Bible says much about people's inherent goodness. This episode also explores what the Bible teaches us when we know we have sinned.
Much is good in Reformed Theology, but some things should concern us. In this episode, Rob Buckingham reviews six areas of Reformed belief that run contrary to a healthy understanding of the Bible.
The story of the cursing (killing) of a fig tree is interspersed with Jesus expelling the merchants from the Jerusalem Temple. Both events are linked but what message was Jesus communicating? Also, why did Jesus instruct people not to tell anyone that he had healed them?
Can a Christian be cursed or curse someone? What does the Bible say about curses? Also, what do we make of supposed appearances and special powers of Mary? And, was John the Baptist born sinless?
There’s a fascinating story in the gospels where Jesus delivers a demon-possessed man by casting the demons into pigs. Why did Jesus do this and how powerful is Satan?
Shane Willard joins Rob Buckingham for a fascinating discussion on the Bible’s literary devices ~ Polyphony, Phenomenology, Rhetoric, Diatribe, and Light and heavy. Understanding these can provide a better idea as to the authors’ original intent.
In this episode, we examine the various views of the human soul. What is it? What and how is it made? And how does it function? Also, can a person sell their soul for worldly gain? And what did Paul mean by saying he handed a person over to Satan?
In Luke chapter 9, three people ask to follow Jesus. But each time, Jesus rebuffs them. What’s going on? Why is Jesus so blunt with these guys? We’ll also investigate what happened to Enoch and Elijah’s bodies and discover who the Eunuchs are in Matthew 19.
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul makes a big deal about head coverings and hair length. Why is that and do these things apply to believers today? We’ll also discuss grief and loss, and find out why Moses wasn’t allowed into the Promised Land.
It’s hard to believe in this day and age that there are still people that believe the earth is flat. Rob discusses this topic plus why was Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt? And, is there a difference between being in God’s love and choosing to accept salvation?
Have you ever wondered what your body will be like when resurrected to eternal life? This episode explores this fascinating topic. Also, did ancient people really live for over 900 years. And Rob shares some thoughts on euthanasia and voluntary assisted dying.
Many people are fascinated by what happens after death. Do we go to heaven or does our soul sleep? And does the human soul become immortal at death or at the resurrection of the dead? Plus, burial or cremation?
In this episode, Rob shares some wisdom on how best to have Bible discussions with Christians that come from a fundamentalist perspective.
Why did the apostle Paul leave the women out of his resurrection account? After all, the women were the first to witness the resurrected Jesus. But Paul completely ignores the, Was Paul a misogynist?
This episode deep dives into prayer, specifically why some prayers go unanswered. To what degree does God intervene in our lives? How do we deal with the disappointment from unanswered prayer?
We explore the rites of circumcision and baptism and whether baptism replaces circumcision under the New Covenant. And, we investigate the meaning of the parable of the sower.
In the Bible, God is often referred to by male pronouns. Is God male and what about people who find God hard to relate to in male terms? We’ll also look at the diversity of human gender that was revealed in the first chapters of the Bible.
There’s a statement in the Psalms that has been taken out of context by some Christian sects. The Psalmist declares, “I said, ‘you are gods.” But are we? We’ll also tackle what is meant by God being jealous, and look at why wisdom is feminised by the Bible.
A casual reading of Romans 13 suggests that God is responsible for placing people in authority even if they do despicable evil. Is this right or was Paul addressing something else in his letter?
The early chapters of Genesis contain some early campfire stories that teach life lessons that are very pertinent today. Join Rob as he digs up some amazing truth from ancient text.
In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus taught a short parable about binding the strong man. Some Christians have taken that as encouragement to bind Satan in prayer. But, is that what Jesus intended by telling this story?
In recent years, we’ve witnessed numerous abuses of what should be a very special spiritual gift. So-called prophets have predicted all kinds of things from the re-election of Donald Trump to the end of the Covid-19 Pandemic. This episode explores various questions about prophets and prophecy and seeks answers from the Bible.
There’s a strange character in Genesis named Melchizedek. He appears pop up out of nowhere. So, who was he and how does he prefigure Jesus? Rob will also unpack Jesus’ teaching about the narrow and wide gates.
The book of Hebrews contains several rather sobering warnings against slipping away from faith in Jesus. One of these is found in chapter six. How should we understand this warning and should it make us fearful?
When Jesus died on the cross, his body was placed in a tomb for three days. But his spirit was alive, active, and accomplishing amazing things. In this episode, Ps Rob explores what Jesus was doing during this time.
In this episode, Ps Rob explores what the Bible says about divorce and remarriage, especially to help people who feel guilty for being divorced. Plus, the age-old question, Can I lose my salvation?
What about people who never hear of Jesus, or who are raised in another faith? Are they lost just because they were born in the “wrong” place? Or is God and the gospel bigger than that?
Some people interpret Romans 9 to mean that God deliberately prepares some people for salvation and others for destruction. Is this a fair understanding of Paul’s writing and, if so, what does this say about God’s nature?
This is the final 'Digging Deeper' podcast episode for 2021. Stay tuned for new episodes in February 2022.
In the beginning, God made people in his image and likeness. But what does this mean to us in everyday life?
A continuation of last week’s podcast on why some Christians are terrified or obsessed by the return of Jesus.
This episode has an “end times” theme as we explore the parable of the Ten Virgins and begin a discussion on why some Christians are terrified or obsessed by the return of Jesus.
There are all kinds of marriages referred to in the Bible and, on occasions, God seems to endorse polygamy. What are we to make of this?
The book of Revelation can be confusing with so many different and sometimes bizarre interpretations. In this episode, Rob talks with regular guest Shane Willard about the apocalypse, the mark of the beast, one world government, and what the book of Revelation is really designed to communicate.
In episode 21, I spoke about the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and what they believe about unclean food and the Sabbath. Following that podcast I was asked what the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe.
About 20% of the population say they believe in After Death Communication (ADC) and it’s understandable. We miss our loved ones and don’t want to think that this life is all there is to life. So, can the deceased communicate with us? And what does the Bible teach?
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church teaches their adherents to refrain from unclean food and to obey the Sabbath. But is that consistent with New Testament revelation?
Jonah is one of the Minor Prophets but his little book packs a major punch. Join Shane Willard and me as we unpack some wisdom from this ancient story.
One of the challenges of the pandemic has been the strained relationships created by conspiracies and misinformation. How can we keep good relations when the people we love have “gone down the rabbit hole?”
Many of us love our pets. We see a twinkle in their eyes that tells us they’re alive and connecting with us. But do they have an immortal soul or is this life the only one they’ll know? Do our pets go to heaven?
Practices like Yoga are sometimes seen as New Age or Eastern influences that are incompatible with Christianity. Is it okay for a Christian to do Yoga?
There’s been much speculation about the story of Sodom & Gomorrah in Genesis 19. Was it God’s judgement on gay people or is there something else going on here?
The Roman Catholic Church includes extra books in the Bible. What are we to make of these apocryphal books and should we read them? And, while we’re talking about the Bible, Rob will share what he thinks of The Passion Translation (TPT)
Christian Fundamentalism began about 100 years ago, arising from the ashes of WW1 and the Spanish Flu Pandemic. While it has a few things going for it, Christian Fundamentalism can also be toxic, as many Christians are now realising. In this episode, I’ll explore the rise and reach of this modern Christian phenomenon, and discuss some of the pitfalls to be wary of.
There are several wrong ways to read and understand the Bible. In this episode, Rob will explore some of these and, more importantly, investigate the best ways to understand this amazing book. Slavery in the Bible will be used as an example.
Many Christians today are going through a process of faith deconstruction. This can be a very healthy practice as long as a strong and vibrant faith is also reconstructed. In this episode, Ps Rob explains some helpful things to consider if you’re deconstructing.
There are several views of the Bible’s first book. But how do Jewish theologians understand it? Also, what should we make of Jesus’ words in Mark 11, “, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Shane Willard joins me again to further explore the topic of hell. What did ancient Jews believe? What did Jesus teach? And, how should this impact my life today?
Christians usually believe that a decision for Jesus needs to be made in this lifetime in order to be “saved.” But the Bible actually has quite a lot to say about the possibility of forgiveness after death. Join me for this fascinating discussion.
My guest, Shane Willard, tells a wonderful story from the Australian Outback where properties are so big they don’t fence them. Instead, they keep the animals together by digging wells. Shane uses this to illustrate the Gospel message.
There’s a rather strange portion of the Bible found in Genesis chapter 6. The first few verses of this chapter discuss the Nephilim, the sons of god, and giants on earth. What should we make of all this?
For the last few decades, most Christians have been taught that Hell is eternal conscious torment. But that’s not the only view on this topic. In fact, there are four views that can be supported by Scripture.
Parts of the Bible are incredibly violent and have been used to justify wars for centuries. So, is war ever acceptable? Can war be justified from Scripture?
A literal interpretation of Genesis leads to a conflict between science and theology. But that conflict doesn’t need to exist if you understand the ancient text properly.
Amongst other things, Rob explores how an understanding of the culture in Bible days helps us improve our grasp on the Bible.
Some people view progressive Christianity as liberal theology that waters down the faith. But, is that true? What is Progressive Christianity and does it serve a place in the ongoing development of Christianity?
This week, Rob talks through the controversial story of Mary anointing Jesus with oil worth almost $100,000. Was this waste or worship? We also discuss: is it okay to pray to Mary and the saints, and did Mary have other children other than Jesus?