Test Your Score: Bible Trivia | Michael Knowles Vs. Matt Fradd

Summary

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

Transcript

[Announcer]

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[Professor Jacob]

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[Host]

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[Host]

It's getting real. Okay, I've played the Bible trivia with Protestants. I've played the Bible trivia with a Jew. Now I'm squaring off on Bible trivia with a fellow Catholic. And of course, neither of us ever read the Bible, so I don't even know what it is. Right. The blind leading the blind. Mr. Frad, thank you for coming on the show.

[Professor Jacob]

Honor.

[Host]

Okay, so the way it works, Professor Jacob Jew has given us all of the he is. He's given us all of these prompts. He leans a little Old Testament, and then we have to come up with the answer. When I have a lady on, then I say, ladies first. But since you are a man, then.

[Professor Jacob]

I will go first.

[Host]

Okay, which king in the Bible? Look at this. They lowercase the Bible.

[Professor Jacob]

What kind of nonsense is this?

[Host]

Which king in the Bible was approached by two women who both claimed they were the mother of the same baby. The king threatened to cut the baby in half. To which the real mother begged him to give it to the lying woman. I think it's Solomon.

[Mr. Frad]

And then do I respond, yes, yes, I also think it's Solomon.

[Host]

It is Solomon. Yes. All right, well, that's a good start. It was Kind of an easy one, though.

[Mr. Frad]

And now I read it. Do I.

[Host]

Now you read it. All right.

[Mr. Frad]

Number two. The prophet Ezekiel was instructed by God to cook food over a fire fueled by something odd for symbolic reasons. What was the fire fueled by? Oh, my God.

[Host]

Goodness. That's so.

[Professor Jacob]

I'm so happy. You have to go first on that.

[Mr. Frad]

Oh, my goodness.

[Host]

Not that it'll matter. Neither of us is going to get it.

[Mr. Frad]

I'm going to, I guess. I guess. I don't know. Some oil. Some kind of weird oil. Is it tallow? It was tallow. Definitely tallow.

[Host]

It was canola, I think it was canola the pro. No, that's actually fuel from hell. I'm gonna. Some kind of fat, but not necessarily tallow, but some kind of fat. The answer? Human excrement. Gross. That's like, what they do in India.

[Mr. Frad]

Is there fat in excrement? You may have been right. I don't know.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Mr. Frad]

Is that.

[Host]

I'm sure excrement is somewhat fatty, but I don't. Yeah. Was Ezekiel, like, Punjabi or something? That's very interesting.

[Mr. Frad]

This was just his way to shame Catholics for not knowing the scriptures, I think.

[Host]

Okay, now this one's gonna test how honest I am. Which apostle raised Eutychus from the dead after he fell from a window? Professor Jacob. Did not. He didn't tape a cover on this. So I actually can see the answer.

[Mr. Frad]

I can't.

[Host]

You can't. So should you go first?

[Mr. Frad]

I don't know.

[Host]

It's your game. You tell me.

[Professor Jacob]

It's kind of cheating.

[Host]

It's my turn. You know, it's a real problem, though.

[Mr. Frad]

Just take it.

[Host]

I'll take it. And then you. All right. What if I trick you? What if I say it's one and then we both get it wrong? I guess that wouldn't benefit me at all.

[Professor Jacob]

It's Paul.

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[Host]

Okay. What food did Esau trade Jacob for? His birthright? Me.

[Mr. Frad]

Yeah. So it's sometimes translated porridge, sometimes translated stew, Isn't it?

[Host]

I always think of it as porridge, but. Yeah. Right. It's a little. I say porridge. Lentil stew.

[Mr. Frad]

Hey.

[Host]

All right. Is it a lentil porridge? Do we get half credit? I think that counts.

[Mr. Frad]

I think we both get half a point.

[Host]

What body of water dried up so Israel could cross into the Promised Land?

[Mr. Frad]

This is your one, isn't it?

[Host]

That's right. I think it is a porridge colored sea. I believe it's the Red Sea. Is that right? Yep, that's the Red. Okay.

[Mr. Frad]

I Agree.

[Host]

It says the Jordan River. Really?

[Mr. Frad]

No.

[Host]

This is the Red Sea, isn't it? That's the Red Sea.

[Mr. Frad]

That's what I thought.

[Host]

Is it the Jordan? Can we get. Mr. Davies, can we get a Protestant fact check in here? Hold on. I'm bringing the expert.

[Mr. Frad]

Although you got a Jew. This is one of his main books. How could he be wrong? Yeah, now I'm doubting everything.

[Host]

Hold on.

[Announcer]

Moses parted the Red Sea. That's correct. So that the Hebrews could escape the Egyptians. But Joshua, him. When they carried the ark through the Jordan river, it dried up so they could cross into the promised land.

[Host]

Wow. So hold on. But you would say. I mean, the whole story of the exodus is from Egypt to the promised land. So a body of water that dried up so that they could cross was the Red Sea. But you're saying. Well, but the later body of water more immediately before the promised land. I think we both lose it.

[Mr. Frad]

All right.

[Host]

All right.

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[Mr. Frad]

Do you want me to read this one?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Mr. Frad]

What animals drowned after Jesus cast demons into them?

[Host]

Pigs. Yay, it's pigs. I say it's pigs.

[Mr. Frad]

Do you think Ben Shapiro has ever had bacon?

[Host]

No. But he did have kfc because he wasn't. They weren't always particularly observant Jews. And so I remember, like. I think he. He got into it when he was, like, 12 or something. So he is kind of the worst of all world. I don't think they ever ate bacon, but he does remember, like, good fast food and all. And then they gave it up for religion, which is admirable. So, you know, we gotta make him Catholic, but that's very admirable, I think. Okay, what sign appeared at Pentecost when the Spirit came upon the disciples? Was it tongues of fire? I think it was. All right, these have been pretty decent so far. I feel like we. I feel like less of an idiot than I usually do in this. All right, you're up.

[Mr. Frad]

Yeah, I saw. Who did you have that one with recently? That biblical Protestant scholar?

[Host]

Oh, was that with. Oh, Jeremiah. Oh, Jeremiah. That wasn't fair. Wrecked me.

[Mr. Frad]

He wrecked me with doing this with Dr. Han. It's like me going up against a UFC fighter in a fight. Like, what do you want from me?

[Professor Jacob]

That's bad.

[Host]

It's like me going up against a UFC fighter in Bible trivia. It's not good.

[Mr. Frad]

What was my turn? Okay, what was the first plague that befell Egypt in Exodus? I believe it was the turning of the Nile into blood.

[Host]

Yes. You know why I always remember that?

[Mr. Frad]

No.

[Host]

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?

[Mr. Frad]

Ah, Water into wine.

[Professor Jacob]

Water into wine. Yeah. Okay.

[Mr. Frad]

As a buddy, that'll actually help me in the future.

[Host]

Thanks. Yes. I kind of forget. They all kind of map onto it, but I kind of forget the rest still. Okay, what did Samson find inside the lion's carcass that he previously killed? Probably a bunch of guts and bones, right? No, I don't know. That's too easy an answer. What did he find inside the lion's carcass that he killed?

[Mr. Frad]

I mean, whatever he found, he probably also found guts and carcass, so I.

[Host]

Feel like he could get. So I'm sticking with my answer. Guts and bones. He definitely found guts and bones in there. Do I go first?

[Professor Jacob]

I don't even. Yeah, I do go. What's yours?

[Mr. Frad]

I think honey.

[Host]

Honey.

[Mr. Frad]

Was it honeycomb or a beehive or honey?

[Host]

That sounds like a more of a correct answer than.

[Mr. Frad]

Excrement.

[Host]

No, he probably found that too. Honey and bees. Does that put Mr. Frat? Oh, shoot, man. So I have to get this next one right, and you have to get it wrong.

[Mr. Frad]

All right, you go.

[Host]

What object tore into. What object tore into at the moment of Jesus's death. Come on. I think my winning streak on this game just tore in two. Because you're not serious.

[Mr. Frad]

You know that one.

[Host]

I do, but you have to get it wrong. The problem is you know it too well.

[Mr. Frad]

What if I. You go on, you say it.

[Host]

Okay. The temple veil.

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Ah.

[Mr. Frad]

I was gonna say a cigar.

[Host]

You won. Where you.

[Mr. Frad]

You won.

[Professor Jacob]

Hey.

[Host]

All right. It's a tie. That. Oh, man, what a lucky break for me, huh?

[Mr. Frad]

Yeah, I swore it was a cigar.

[Host]

Wow, that's good. Honey and bees. Do I get. Just a quick point of fact, Do I get partial credit for guts and bones?

[Mr. Frad]

No, no, no.

[Host]

Then you win. Come on.

[Mr. Frad]

I threw the last one for you.

[Host]

Yeah, I wanna be r. Do I get. Absolutely not. No, I don't. Okay. All right. Well, hey, man, I feel a little better.

[Mr. Frad]

It's good to have Catholics doing Bible trivia with Catholics. We can both feel equally smart or dumb. However you look at it.

[Host]

What you just did was a corporal work of mercy.

[Professor Jacob]

By the way, throwing that last question, that was really very nice of you, Mr. Frad.

[Host]

Thank you, Professor Jacob. Thank you for. There was some New testament in there. That was nice. Thank you to all of you.

[Professor Jacob]

See you next time.

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