The Debates Over 1 Timothy 2

Response to Mike Winger's Women in Ministry Part 12 on the debates over 1 Timothy 2:11-15

Does God’s drawing mean that He drags people to Himself?

If we are to believe Calvinism, we would have to conclude that God is a “dragger.” Calvinists are quick to point out that in John 6:44 the term “draw” actually means “drag” and this is what God does to His elect who, in their unregenerate state, are both unwilling and unable to respond to Him in fai...

Is Complementarianism Merely Personal Conviction

This post is a response to Randy Stinson’s article titled “ Is Complementarianism a Merely Personal Conviction. “

@MikeWingerii I am still watching your video. At [53:13], you were reading from Belleville’s book and saw the initials “JB” and couldn’t find what Bible translation this was referring to. I hovered over my Logos version and it said “Jerusalem Bible...

@MikeWingerii I am still watching your video. At [53:13], you were reading from Belleville’s book and saw the initials “JB” and couldn’t find what Bible translation this was referring to. I hovered

Translation survey: inclusive vs. exclusive renderings of Romans 16:7

Mike surveys how various English translations handle the phrase.

26+ Bible translations translate kephale as 'head' or 'authority' — only The Passion Translation (2017) used 'source,' later corrected

Mike surveys Bible translations for how they render kephale.

Ancient translations of 1 Tim 2:12: how authenteo was rendered

Mike examines how the earliest Bible translations rendered authenteo, providing important evidence for its meaning.

Q&A — Why didn't God send each country a Bible in their own language to prevent mistranslation?

Follow-up question on biblical reliability and translation

Q&A — King James Version: not the best available today due to language change and manuscript discoveries

Question on Bible translation quality

Idea

Winger identifies the translation's agenda as tied to the NAR/signs-and-wonders theological ecosystem.

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Winger notes the inconsistency of this addition as evidence of agenda-driven translation.

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Winger's overarching critique: Simmons preaches from his own translation, using the text he altered as proof.

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Winger notes anyone can confirm this without knowing Greek by checking multiple English translations.

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Consistency in translating the same word the same way is presented as a basic, non-negotiable translation standard.

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Winger questions whether the title 'Dr.' is meaningful in the context of Simmons's translation claims.

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Winger draws a rough parallel to frame the PT's departure from faithful translation.

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Winger distinguishes the NLT as a legitimate paraphrase-style translation in contrast to the PT.

Winger briefly affirms his critical view of the Passion Translation, calling it 'obviously a distortion' of God's Word, and notes that Bethel Church's promotion of it has increased rather than allayed his concerns about that movement over time.

1 John 3:4 — "sin is lawlessness" — Hebrew Roots argument: lawlessness = breaking Torah, therefore sin = breaking Torah, therefore obeying Torah is mandatory

Mike walks through the Hebrew Roots syllogism built on 1 John 3:4 in step-by-step form.

Greek term anomia (lawlessness) does not exclusively mean violation of the Mosaic law — it has diverse NT usage

Mike makes a focused philological argument about the Greek word anomia.

Bible translation recommendation: Mike favors ESV and NASB, and advises reading multiple translations when a passage turns on a single word

Q&A: questioner asks which Bible translation Mike recommends, especially given the Hebrew/Greek issues discussed.

Anderson is King James Only — his church's statement of faith lists KJV without error as first article

Other theological problems with Anderson beyond homosexuality teaching

Modern translations render ra in Isaiah 45:7 as calamity/disaster, not evil — English has shifted

Mike explains why the KJV uses "evil" and why modern translations differ

Jehovah's Witnesses use the cross-vs-stake argument to undermine Christian Bible translations

The Watchtower organization teaches that Jesus died on a "torture stake" (single upright pole), not a cross. They use the Greek word stauros, which in its classical roots means an upright pole, to argue the Christian Bible mistranslates the word as "cross."

Recommended Bible study resources for non-original-language readers: multiple translations, NET Bible, STEP Bible, Blue Letter Bible

Question from Naomi about where to start studying the Bible verse-by-verse without knowledge of original languages.

The Passion Translation is irresponsible and problematic; a pastor using it is a warning sign but not automatically disqualifying

Response to Chantal asking whether to reconsider joining a church whose pastor quotes the Passion Translation more and more.

Greek grammar does not support moving the comma — nearly universal translation consensus

Technical defense of the standard comma placement in Luke 23:43

NWT translators' identities were kept secret; a former JW leader revealed they were not qualified

Mike addresses the credibility problem with the NWT's translation committee.

The Message Bible — not a legitimate translation; unfaithful to the original languages; should not be recommended

Question from Jonathan Edwards about recommending The Message Bible.

The Mirror Bible by Francois du Toit — described as the worst Bible translation Mike has encountered; announces a dedicated video

Mike previews Monday's upcoming content at the close of the episode.

The Passion Translation — concerns and how to warn others about it

A viewer asks how to lovingly warn people about the Passion Translation without wounding them, and which 2-3 most egregious verses to share.

Upcoming Passion Translation critique project with scholarly interviews

Mike previews December content plans.

Update on the Passion Translation review project: four interviews done with scholars, more coming; Brian Simmons took unusual liberties especially in Revelation and Song of Solomon.

Passion project update - Passion Translation review series

Passion Translation project update: Mike has hired multiple scholars to review the Passion Translation — Tremper Longman (Song of Songs, already published), Nijay Gupta (Galatians, days away), Darrell Bock, Douglas Moo, Craig Blomberg are upcoming.

Closing ministry update on the Passion Translation evaluation project.

When reading Scripture, consult a second translation when you genuinely do not understand a passage

First question / tip of the stream: when to reference secondary Bible translations

Consult additional translations when your interpretation hangs on the nuance of a specific wording

Second tip on when to consult secondary Bible translations; practical advice for teachers

Mike intends to discuss the Passion Translation with Dr. Michael Brown on Brown's program once his research is more complete

Question from Two Messianic Jews about whether Mike has reached out to Dr. Michael Brown regarding the Passion Translation

Bible translation taxonomy: word-for-word and thought-for-thought are both valuable; paraphrases (Amplified, The Message) are tools, not translations, and are misused when read as straight Bible

Bonus question from Constant (Australia) about the New Century Version, Amplified Bible, and Contemporary English Version.

The Passion Translation is not a real translation — scholars hired by Winger unanimously agree it contains fabrications and mistakes, not genuine Hebrew/Greek insights.

Responding to a Twitter question from Jeff Gaitzens about a pastor using the Passion Translation.

The Message Bible is a very loose paraphrase — idiomatic, interpretive, and potentially misleading, but not heretical; inadvisable as a primary study Bible.

Question from Jeanette Perry about the Message Bible and Nicky Gumbel/Alpha.

Mike announces his "passion project": hiring 5+ well-respected scholars (Craig Blomberg, Mark Strauss, Darrell Bock, Tremper Longman, Nijay Gupta) to each evaluate different books of the Passion Translation by Brian Simmons, producing free 5-page papers and video interviews. Goal: provide definitive scholarly assessment showing pervasive (not just isolated) problems with the translation.

Passion Translation scholarly project announcement

The Mirror Bible by François Du Toit is the worst Bible translation Winger has ever seen — not just inaccurate but anti-gospel, inverting Scripture to teach that humans are already divine and don't need to be born again.

Introduction to review of the Mirror Bible translation

Du Toit systematically changes key gospel texts: John 1:12 ("become children of God" → you're already God's offspring), John 3:3 (born again → you were already born from above), John 3:18 (condemned already → under your own self-judgment).

Specific examples of the Mirror Bible inverting gospel texts

Du Toit redefines sin itself (hamartia) through the etymological fallacy — deriving fake "root meanings" to avoid the actual meaning. Sin becomes "living out of context with your blueprint" instead of moral rebellion against God.

The etymological fallacy and the Mirror Bible's abuse of Greek

Du Toit changes "forgiveness" to "I am-ness" and teaches that the Trinity has four circles (Father, Son, you/me, Holy Spirit). Jesus didn't die to save us from sin but from a wrong mindset. Hell is "just a pathway to heaven."

The Mirror Bible's broader theological distortions

The Mirror Bible is endorsed by John Crowder ("toking the holy ghost") and William Paul Young (author of The Shack, later a universalist). It's part of a broader movement: progressive Christianity, hyper-charismatic theology, and universal salvation all pushing the same direction.

Endorsers and broader context of the Mirror Bible

About the Greek in Bible Translations: Pastors often say, "what the Greek REALLY says is…" Why don't translators use the Greek that pastors cite in sermons then? (Like how Peter is akin to pebble but is translated as rock.)

Q&A question: About the Greek in Bible Translations

About the Fear of God and Dinosaurs: Does the "fear" of the Lord mean "scared"? If not, why is "fear” still used in today’s Bibles? Translation problem? Confused here! And were dinosaur bones/fossils created by the devil to cast doubt?

Q&A question: About the Fear of God and Dinosaurs

Was the Bible Written w/Chapters & Verses?: Since the Bible wasn't written with chapters and verses, how should that impact our reading of the current translations?

Q&A question: Was the Bible Written w/Chapters & Verses?

About the Geneva Bible: In your study of Bible translations, have you ever looked at the Geneva Bible that I believe the pilgrims used? What is its textual basis? Do you think Christians should read it?

Q&A question: About the Geneva Bible