Episode Overview

Podcast: The Michael Knowles Show
Episode: Test Your Score: Bible Trivia | Michael Knowles Vs. Matt Fradd
Air Date: December 29, 2025
Theme:
This episode centers on light-hearted, competitive Bible trivia between Michael Knowles and fellow Catholic guest Matt Fradd, with prompts supplied by “Professor Jacob.” The discussion is playful yet competitive, highlighting both contestants’ humor and gaps in Biblical knowledge—particularly for Catholics. The episode steers clear of deep theological debate, aiming instead to entertain, gently rib Catholic ignorance of scripture, and create camaraderie in shared successes and failures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage for Catholic Bible Trivia (01:25–02:02)

• Michael Knowles introduces Matt Fradd as his opponent, poking fun at their typical lack of direct Bible reading:

  "Of course, neither of us ever read the Bible, so I don't even know what it is. Right. The blind leading the blind." —Michael Knowles (01:32)

• “Professor Jacob” is noted for crafting questions with an Old Testament skew.

2. Round-by-Round Trivia Battle

Question 1: Solomon’s Wisdom (02:03–02:27)

• Prompt: Which king was asked to resolve the dispute over a baby by two women?
• Both Knowles and Fradd quickly answer Solomon.

• "That's kind of an easy one, though." —Michael Knowles (02:29)

Question 2: Ezekiel’s Strange Command (02:34–03:18)

• Prompt: What material did Ezekiel use to fuel his fire by God's command?
• Matt Fradd guesses oils and fats, Michael jokes about canola.
• Correct answer: Human excrement.
• Knowles jokes,

  "That's like, what they do in India. ... Was Ezekiel, like, Punjabi or something?" —Michael Knowles (03:17)

Question 3: Paul Raises Eutychus (03:31–04:01)

• Prompt: Which apostle raised Eutychus from the dead?
• Knowles has accidentally seen the answer, but they agree on Paul.

Question 4: Esau Trades His Birthright (04:03–04:19)

• Prompt: What food did Esau trade to Jacob for his birthright?
• Both debate between “porridge” and “lentil stew.”

• "Is it a lentil porridge? Do we get half credit? I think that counts." —Michael Knowles (04:19)

Question 5: Crossing into the Promised Land (04:22–05:35)

• Prompt: What body of water dried up so Israel could cross into the Promised Land?
• Both initially say Red Sea. Question card says Jordan River.
• This sparks theological clarification with an interjection by the announcer (05:06–05:18) explaining both the Red Sea (Exodus) and the Jordan (entrance to Canaan under Joshua).
• Knowles concedes,

  "I think we both lose it." —Michael Knowles (05:35)

Question 6: Demons and the Pigs (06:41–06:50)

• Prompt: Into which animals did Jesus cast demons before they drowned?
• Both answer pigs immediately.
• Knowles riffs on Ben Shapiro’s dietary law and fast food history (06:53–07:13).

Question 7: Sign at Pentecost (07:14–07:32)

• Prompt: What sign appeared at Pentecost?
• Quickly agree: Tongues of fire.

Question 8: First Plague of Egypt (07:56–08:18)

• Prompt: What was the first plague in Exodus?
• Fradd: Nile into blood.
• Knowles connects to Jesus’ miracle at Cana:

  "Moses is a figure of Christ, and the Old Testament prefigures the New Testament. And what was the first public miracle of our Lord? ... Water into wine." —Michael Knowles (08:09–08:17)

Question 9: Samson & the Lion's Carcass (08:20–09:10)

• Prompt: What did Samson find inside the lion he killed?
• Knowles jokes: "Probably a bunch of guts and bones."
• Fradd recalls: Honey/honeycomb/bees (correct).
• Knowles playfully asks for partial credit for “guts and bones,” which Fradd denies.

Question 10: The Torn Veil (09:24–09:53)

• Prompt: What tore in two at Jesus’ death?
• Both know: The temple veil.
• Fradd feigns, "I was gonna say a cigar," keeping the mood light.

3. Laughs, Self-Deprecation, & Catholic Camaraderie

• The episode closes with mutual congratulation and self-aware humor about Catholics’ typical lack of trivia prowess:

  "It's good to have Catholics doing Bible trivia with Catholics. We can both feel equally smart or dumb. However you look at it." —Matt Fradd (10:21)

• Michael compliments Fradd for being a good sport and jokes about having his “winning streak” rescued by a generous opponent.

• Professor Jacob commends Fradd’s charity for “throwing the last question,” calling it a “corporal work of mercy.” (10:29–10:34)

• The exchange reinforces the playful, brotherly tone and avoids any actual gloating.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "Of course, neither of us ever read the Bible, so I don't even know what it is. Right. The blind leading the blind."
  —Michael Knowles (01:32)

• "That's like, what they do in India. ... Was Ezekiel, like, Punjabi or something?"
  —Michael Knowles (03:17)

• "I think we both get half a point."
  —Matt Fradd (04:21), on the birthright question

• "I think we both lose it."
  —Michael Knowles (05:35), on confusing the Red Sea and the Jordan River

• "Because, you know, Moses is a figure of Christ, and the Old Testament prefigures the New Testament. And what was the first public miracle of our Lord?... Water into wine."
  —Michael Knowles (08:09–08:17)

• "No, no, no."
  —Matt Fradd (10:10), denying Michael half-credit for "guts and bones" in the Samson question

• "It's good to have Catholics doing Bible trivia with Catholics. We can both feel equally smart or dumb. However you look at it."
  —Matt Fradd (10:21)

• "What you just did was a corporal work of mercy."
  —Michael Knowles (10:27), after Fradd lets him tie the game

Structure and Flow

• Opening & Setup (01:25–02:02): Jokes about Catholic Bible literacy, rules set by Professor Jacob.
• Trivia Rounds (02:03–09:53): Rapid-fire questions with running commentary, jokes, and clarifications.
• Debrief & Banter (09:53–10:46): Self-deprecating reflections and appreciation for playful competition.

Conclusion

This episode delivers a fun and accessible foray into Bible trivia, spotlighting the gaps and shared whimsy of Catholics with biblical knowledge. Both Michael Knowles and Matt Fradd use self-effacing humor, occasionally veering into goofy tangents (like dietary law or partial credit for “guts and bones”). Fans of both will enjoy the friendly rivalry and the episode’s good-natured embrace of spiritual (and trivial) humility.