What happened to those who died before Christ’s crucifixion? Scripture says Jesus preached to the “spirits in prison” — but what does that actually mean?

In this episode of Relish, Rowan Miller and Pastor Don Patterson walk through 1 Peter 3, Ephesians 4, Luke 16, and other key passages to examine how the Bible describes salvation before the cross and the sufficiency of Christ’s work across all generations.

The discussion covers:

• the biblical picture of the afterlife before Christ
• Jesus and the “spirits in prison”
• the connection between Noah, baptism, and salvation
• why baptism points beyond outward ritual
• practical habits for growing in biblical understanding

This episode is designed for listeners who want careful biblical reasoning, not clichés or speculation.

Science and Scripture are often framed as opposites—but that assumption deserves to be examined.

In this episode, Rowan Miller and Pastor Don Patterson walk through key questions around origins, including fossil formation, carbon-14 dating, and the claim of a global flood. Rather than dismissing science, they explore how different starting assumptions shape the conclusions people reach.

The conversation also addresses everyday questions about the Bible—some light, some serious—and why clarity matters for both belief and doubt.

This is a focused discussion for anyone trying to sort out whether Christianity can hold up under scientific scrutiny.

00:00:09 Where Do We Find Real Hope Today?

00:03:43 Common Bible Questions (Including “Did Jesus Have a Middle Name?”)

00:12:10 Which Bible Characters Do We Relate To—and Why It Matters

00:17:38 Why Everything Centers on Jesus (Not Just Bible Knowledge)

00:19:34 How to Read the Bible With Clarity (Not Confusion)

00:21:20 Final Takeaways: Faith, Doubt, and What to Do Next

In this episode, Rowan Miller and Don Patterson respond to two common but often misunderstood questions: what happens to pets after they die, and how the Bible actually frames singleness.

First, they address the emotional and theological assumptions people bring to the question of animals in the afterlife. While Scripture offers glimpses of a restored creation, it stops short of giving a definitive answer about individual pets. The discussion focuses on how to think carefully where the Bible is silent—without dismissing the goodness of God.

Second, they walk through 1 Corinthians 7 and Paul’s teaching on singleness. Rather than treating it as a problem to solve, Paul presents singleness as a legitimate and sometimes advantageous calling—while still taking sexual desire and human limitations seriously.

This episode aims to separate biblical teaching from cultural assumptions and help listeners think more clearly about both eternity and everyday life decisions.

00:00:03 Do Pets Go to Heaven? What Scripture Actually Reveals

00:03:44 Singleness in the Bible: Misunderstood or Ignored?

00:10:32 Why Paul Calls Singleness an Advantage (Not a Deficiency)

00:15:29 Where the Bible Is Silent—and How to Respond Honestly