What does “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” actually mean?

In this episode of The Bible Friends, Aria, Cassie, and Sarah dig into 1 Corinthians 8 and the context behind one of the Bible’s frequently quoted verses. Is Paul warning Christians against studying Scripture or growing in biblical knowledge—or is he addressing something much more specific?

We look at the issue of food sacrificed to idols, the differing consciences of believers in the Corinthian church, and Paul’s call to value love for our brothers and sisters above exercising our own rights. We also trace the theme into 1 Corinthians 13 and consider what it looks like for biblical knowledge to produce humility, love, and care for others rather than pride.

Throughout Scripture, believers are encouraged to grow in the knowledge of God. The issue isn’t knowledge itself—it’s what we do with that knowledge and whether it is accompanied by love.

In this conversation we discuss: • 1 Corinthians 8 in context • “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” • Food sacrificed to idols in the early church • Christian freedom and the weaker conscience • Why context matters when interpreting Scripture • The relationship between biblical knowledge, humility, and love • 1 Corinthians 13 and what biblical love looks like

Have you ever discovered that a Bible verse you had heard—or even quoted—meant something different once you read it in context? Let us know in the comments!

📖 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” — 2 Peter 3:18

Welcome to The Bible Friends, where we gather around God’s Word to seek truth together. We believe Scripture is sufficient, authoritative, and living, and that every belief and experience must be tested against it.

#BibleStudy #1Corinthians #BibleContext #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalTruth #BibleFriends

In this episode of The Bible Friends, Aria, Cassie, and Sarah sit down for an honest conversation about what their day-to-day pursuit of God looks like through Bible study, prayer, Scripture reading, audio Bible, theology books, apologetics, and learning to keep their minds focused on truth throughout ordinary life.

We also talk about how our routines can look different depending on the season we are in, what it looks like to pursue God when concentration or energy is limited, and how resources like the Psalms and The Valley of Vision can help redirect our hearts toward the character and faithfulness of God. Our conversation also takes a few Bible Friends rabbit trails into theology, apologetics, the doctrine of sin, discernment within the church, and why Christians should be equipped to know what they believe, recognize error, and give an answer for the hope that is within them.

There is no one perfect Christian routine, but believers are called to continually seek the Lord, grow in the knowledge of His Word, pray, learn, and encourage one another in the faith.

We would love to hear from you: What does pursuing God look like in your everyday life? What areas of Scripture or theology are you especially passionate about studying right now?

Subscribe to The Bible Friends for biblical conversations centered on Scripture, theology, Christian living, discipleship, discernment, and growing together in the truth of God’s Word.

You don’t have to be a perfect mom to disciple your kids.

In this episode of The Bible Friends, Aria, Cassie, and Sarah have an honest conversation about Christian motherhood, discipling our children, and what it looks like to faithfully point our kids to Jesus in everyday life.

We talk about the hard days when patience runs thin, the importance of prayer and repentance, and how even our mistakes can become opportunities to model humility and dependence on God for our children. We also share what discipleship looks like in our homes—from reading the Bible together and family devotions to everyday conversations, prayer throughout the day, and simply allowing our children to see that God is at the center of our lives.

Discipling our children doesn’t always have to look formal or perfectly structured. Sometimes it looks like opening the Bible together, answering a question in the car, praying through a difficult moment, talking about God on a walk, or apologizing when we have responded sinfully.

Our children are watching us, and one of the greatest ways we can disciple them is by continuing to grow in our own love for God and His Word and faithfully pointing them back to Christ.

If you’re a Christian mom who sometimes feels overwhelmed by the responsibility of discipling your children, we hope this conversation encourages you to remain faithful, keep going, and trust God to work through the ordinary moments of motherhood.

Check out our website here for more information and to connect with us: www.thebiblefriendspodcast.com

Meet Sarah, the newest member of The Bible Friends! 🤍

In today’s episode, we’re sitting down for a casual conversation so you can get to know Sarah, hear how our friendship began, and learn more about her passion for studying Scripture faithfully and helping other women grow in their understanding of God’s Word.

We talk about learning how to study the Bible for ourselves, passages we once misunderstood, changing our theological views after studying Scripture more carefully, handling disagreements with other Christians, and some of the challenges women face when they genuinely want to grow deeper in biblical truth.

We also talk about the importance of discipleship, Titus 2 relationships, raising and discipling our children, and why Christian friendship centered around the Word of God is such a gift.

We’re so thankful to have Sarah joining The Bible Friends, and we’re excited for the conversations ahead as the three of us continue learning, studying, and growing together.

🌿 Find more Bible study resources: thebiblefriendspodcast.com

Subscribe for conversations about Bible study, theology, Christian living, discipleship, biblical discernment, and learning to read Scripture faithfully, carefully, and in context.

Does 1 Timothy 6:4 mean Christians should stop calling out false teachers? In this episode of The Bible Friends, we sit down with our Bibles and study 1 Timothy 6:3–5 in context to better understand what Paul is actually warning Timothy about.

Paul describes false teachers as conceited, lacking understanding, and having an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words. But does that mean identifying false teaching or contending for biblical truth makes someone quarrelsome or divisive?

Together, we look at the surrounding context of 1 Timothy, Paul’s instructions to Timothy, the seriousness of false doctrine, and the difference between biblical discernment and unnecessary controversy.

Grab your Bible and study along with us as we talk about:

• 1 Timothy 6:3–5 in context • How Scripture describes false teachers • The difference between contending and quarrelling • Why sound doctrine matters • How false teaching affects the church • The importance of examining ourselves while standing for truth • Pursuing godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness

Our desire at The Bible Friends is to gather around God’s Word, seek truth together, and learn to read Scripture faithfully, carefully, and in context.

#BibleStudy #1Timothy #FalseTeachers #BiblicalDiscernment #SoundDoctrine #ChristianPodcast #BibleFriends #BibleTeaching #ChristianDiscernment

In this episode of The Bible Friends, we’re talking about why defining theological terms matters so much in Christian conversations. Sometimes two people can use the exact same word while meaning completely different things—and that can lead to confusion, unnecessary disagreement, or even serious theological misunderstanding.

We discuss examples like contemplative prayer, atonement, orthodoxy, condemnation, salvation, election, and predestination, and why it’s helpful to simply ask, “What do you mean by that?” before assuming we understand someone’s position.

Defining our terms doesn’t just help us communicate better with other believers—it also helps us examine our own understanding and compare what we believe with Scripture. Ultimately, our goal isn’t simply to win theological discussions, but to pursue truth, sharpen one another, and test everything against the Word of God.

Have you ever realized you were using a theological term incorrectly? Or have you had a conversation go sideways because you and someone else were using the same word differently? Let us know in the comments!

The Bible Friends is a Christian podcast where we gather around God’s Word to seek truth together. We believe Scripture is sufficient, authoritative, and living, and that every belief and experience should be tested against it.

Looking for a Bible commentary that is helpful for beginners but still offers enough depth for more experienced Bible students? In this video, we sit down for a casual conversation about one of our most-used Bible study resources: the ESV Expository Commentary. We share why we believe this 12-volume Bible commentary set works for so many different stages of Bible study. Each volume includes helpful book introductions, clear explanations of Scripture, section-by-section commentary, occasional word studies, and response sections that connect the passage to Christian faith and daily life. We also discuss the readability and affordability of the ESV Expository Commentary, the benefits of having contributions from multiple trusted authors, and ways to access the set physically or digitally through an ESV subscription. We also mention several free or affordable Bible commentary options, including Enduring Word, Bible Hub, Blue Letter Bible, and Logos. Whether you have never used a Bible commentary before or you are looking to add a reliable commentary set to your theological library, we hope this conversation helps you decide whether the ESV Expository Commentary would be a good fit for your Bible study. Let us know in the comments: What Bible commentaries or study resources do you use most often? May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Westminster Book store often has the set on a great deal: https://www.wtsbooks.com/products/esv-expository-commentary-12-volume-set-9781433546761

In John 10, Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice.” But does this passage teach that Christians should expect to hear an audible or personal voice from God?

In this episode, we carefully examine John 10 in its wider context, beginning with the themes of belief and unbelief, sight and blindness, and the growing conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees in John 7–9. We explore how Jesus’ words about hearing His voice point to recognizing who He is, receiving His teaching, following Him in faith, and receiving eternal life—not seeking additional revelation outside of Scripture.

We also discuss Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the contrast between Christ and false shepherds, the connection to Ezekiel 34, and the security believers have in His hands. John 10 is ultimately a beautiful passage about salvation, Christ’s care for His sheep, and the assurance that no one can snatch them away from Him.

Join us as we slow down, zoom out, and read “My sheep hear My voice” faithfully and in context.

📖 Download our free guide for understanding a Bible passage in context: https://tr.ee/sLJVJy1BQ-

Aria's John 1:1-5 Bible study video: https://youtu.be/hyCak9ReSPs?si=fewkWV3LNKrcfcKR