Q&A#12 The Meaning of Rachel's Tears in Matthew 2
July 19, 2018
Alastair Roberts
Today's Question: "What does the conception of Issachar have to do with Matthew 2:16-18?"
For Rabbi David Fohrman's reading, see https://www.alephbeta.org/course/lecture/tisha-bav-2015.
If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curious Cat account: https://curiouscat.me/zugzwanged.
More From Alastair Roberts
Q&A#13 How Do We Reconcile the Differing Accounts of Judas' Death?
Alastair Roberts
July 21, 2018
Today's Question: "How do you deal with the seemingly contrasted accounts of how Judas dies?"
I've discussed some of this in a recent piece here: htt
Q&A#14 How Does Genesis Anticipate Later History?
Alastair Roberts
July 22, 2018
Today's Question: "I loved your observations on how Gen 12-14 traces out the history of Israel (in advance of that history!). Fascinating stuff! Could
Q&A#15 What Should We Make of Jeremiah's Prophecy of a New Covenant
Alastair Roberts
July 24, 2018
My new Soundcloud account is here: https://soundcloud.com/alastairadversaria.
Today's Question: "As a paedobaptist, I am curious how would you respon
A Must-Read Book!
Alastair Roberts
July 18, 2018
I recommend James Jordan's book 'Through New Eyes: Developing a Biblical View of the World' (https://amzn.to/2NoYVPs). His Reading the Bible series of
Q&A#11 What Should We Make of the Sign Gifts?
Alastair Roberts
July 16, 2018
Today's Question: What is your view of the miraculous gifts (like prophecy and the gifts of tongues) in the New Testament period? Did these discontinu
Unravelling the Mysteries of the Book of Esther
Alastair Roberts
July 15, 2018
An attentive reading of the book of Esther will raise various important questions that most of its readers miss. In this video, I discuss some of the
More on OpenTheo
How Should I Respond to an LGBTQ Person Who Says He Feels Good About Who He Is?
#STRask
March 2, 2026
Questions about responding to an LGBTQ person who says he feels good about who he is, and whether—since we all have sin in our life we don’t consider
Does God Really Need a “Pound of Flesh” to Forgive Sins?
#STRask
January 12, 2026
Questions about how to answer the challenge that God doesn’t need a “pound of flesh” to forgive sins but can simply forgive, and whether the claim in
Why Does the Bible Teach You How to Be a Proper Slave Owner?
#STRask
November 13, 2025
Question about why it seems like the Bible teaches you how to be a proper slave owner rather than than saying, “Stop it. Give them freedom.”
* It s
What Do You Think About Churches Advertising on Social Media?
#STRask
January 19, 2026
Questions about whether there’s an issue with churches advertising on social media, whether it’s weird if we pray along with a YouTuber, and whether C
Does God Hear the Prayers of Non-Believers?
#STRask
February 26, 2026
Questions about whether or not God hears and answers the prayers of non-believers, and thoughts about a church sign that reads (as if from God), “Just
Isn’t the Covenant in Scripture Explicitly with Israel and Not the Gentile Nations?
#STRask
March 12, 2026
Questions about what gives modern Christians confidence that they’ve inherited the Jews’ covenant with God if Scripture explicitly says it was with Is
Could the Writers of Scripture Have Been Influenced by Their Fallen Nature?
#STRask
October 23, 2025
Questions about whether or not it’s reasonable to worry that some of our current doctrines were influenced by the fallen nature of the apostles, and h
How Do We Advocate for Christian Policy Without Making the Government Interfere in Every Area of Life?
#STRask
November 20, 2025
Questions about how to advocate for Christian policy without making the government interfere in every area of life, and the differences between the mo
Why Are So Many Christians Condemning LGB People Just Because of How They Love?
#STRask
January 15, 2026
Questions about Christians condemning LGB people just because of how they love, how God can expect someone to be celibate when others are free to marr
Can You Recommend Good Books with More In-Depth Information and Ideas?
#STRask
January 22, 2026
Questions about good books on Christian apologetics, philosophy, and theology with more in-depth information and ideas, and resources to help an intel
Can Two Logical People Come to Conflicting Conclusions Without Committing a Fallacy?
#STRask
January 8, 2026
Questions about whether two logical people can come to conflicting conclusions on a topic without committing a fallacy, how Greg, as a public figure,
Is This an Argument for Relativism?
#STRask
March 16, 2026
Questions about whether the fact that the truth about one’s age changes over time is an argument for relativism, and how to ground virtues like courag
Does Open-Mindedness Require Studying Other Religions Before Becoming a Christian?
#STRask
February 9, 2026
Questions about the claim that if Christians really want to be open-minded, they need to read and study other religions before committing to Christian
The Resurrection Standoff: Licona vs. Ehrman on the Unbelievable Podcast
Risen Jesus
October 22, 2025
This episode is taken from the Unbelievable podcast with Justin Brierly in 2011 when Dr. Bart Ehrman and Dr. Michael Licona address the question: Is t
Why Is There No Effort Towards a Neutral Interpretation of Scripture?
#STRask
March 9, 2026
Questions about why there is no effort towards a neutral interpretation of Scripture that doesn’t take denominational preferences into account, and ho