So We Speak

Can We Trust the Bible? The Gospels

How do we know that we really have the words of Jesus in the Bible? Differences in the gospels are often held up as proof that we can't know much about Jesus's earthly life. But is that what the evidence shows? Cole and Terry talk about what the Gospels are, how they were written, and what we should expect as we read them. 

Did the Resurrection Happen?

The resurrection is the center of the Christian faith. Everything depends on the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. So, how do we know that it really happened? Cole and Terry discuss the best arguments for the resurrection and the mountain of evidence that Jesus did exactly what he said he would on Easter morning. 

Defending the Faith in 2025

Apologetics is back... kind of. There are great opportunities for the gospel in today's world, but they're different than they were even 10 years ago. In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss apologetics, evangelism, religious "nones," and ways to reach people with the gospel today. 

Villains of the Bible: The Rest of the List

There are so many villains we couldn't get to in the Bible and so many stories of God's faithfulness. Who didn't make the list? Here are the ones who didn't make it, from Judas to Jezebel to Alexander the Coppersmith. Who did we miss? 

Villains of the Bible: Satan

It comes as no surprise that our number one villain in the Bible is Satan, but what do we actually know about him? He appears only a few times as a character in the Bible, but is referenced dozens of times. And even as his beginning is mysterious, his end is certain. The greatest villain in Scripture will not be able to thwart the plans of God; in fact, he will ensure they come to pass. 

Villains of the Bible: Nebuchadnezzar

The worst event in Israel's history was the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The general in charge of that destruction was Nebuchadnezzar, a king who became an emblem of all those who would elevate themselves against God. Unlike other rulers, we get an up-close look at Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel. There we see God humbling and chastening him for his pride and brutality. 

Villains of the Bible: Herod

When Jesus was proclaimed King of the Jews, there was another King on the throne. Herod the Great was one of the most powerful men in the world at that time. Given a mandate by Caesar himself, Herod accomplished some of the most amazing building projects in antiquity. He is also the arch-villain of the opening chapters of the Gospel. Though he styled himself a king like Solomon, God saved his Son from his grasp, and revealed him to be a king like Pharaoh - and he shared a similar end. 

Villains of the Bible: Sennacherib

The next villain on our list is the Assyrian king Sennacherib. There may be no greater trash-talker in the Bible than the Assyrian kings. Just 20 years after the northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered, Hezekiah faced an enormous army outside the walls of Jerusalem, led by one of the great conquerors of history. Hezekiah turns to God, and once again, God shows himself faithful against the backdrop of evil. 

Villains of the Bible: Haman

He may not be the best-known villain in the Bible, but he certainly makes the list. Haman was a vizier in the Assyrian Empire who tried to eliminate the Jews from the world. God intervened through two very unlikely figures, with a strong dose of irony, and showed himself faithful in the only book of the Bible that doesn't mention his name. 

Tolkien: Eucatastrophe

Why is Tolkien's work so enduring? It's more popular now than it's ever been. There's something about Lord of the Rings that is real. It showcases the real world, true reality, through fantasy. In the final episode of the Tolkien series, Cole and Terry discuss Tolkien's legacy, his life, and why his books are still some of the most popular books ever printed.