A controversy exists in NT scholarship over whether gospel authors used "literary devices" from Greco-Roman biography that allowed them to change facts. Dr. Lydia McGrew argues against this; Mike Licona argues for it.

The theory under debate: gospel authors considered themselves licensed by ancient standards to change facts — time, location, who said what — similar to a movie "based on true events." Mike Licona is the most effective proponent; Lydia McGrew promotes the negative view (reportage model). McGrew's book: "The Mirror or the Mask: Liberating the Gospels from Literary Devices." Winger's position: you can be a faithful Christian holding either view, but there are significant implications. He's not personally decided on all issues but sees McGrew as under-represented in the conversation.