Search — Theology Explorer

James (brother of Jesus) Josephus James (brother of Jesus) Antiquities of the Jews

Josephus mentions Jesus twice: Antiquities 18.63 (disputed) and Antiquities 20.200 (virtually undisputed)

Explaining the two Josephus passages

early Christianity dying and rising gods pagan mythology

First-century Christians were pious, Torah-observant Jews who debated minutiae of Jewish law — making wholesale borrowing from pagan myths implausible

Cultural argument against the pagan parallels theory

Mike Licona criteria of authenticity historical methodology

Licona published a critique of the Keith/Le Donne volume in the Bulletin for Biblical Research, arguing scholars are too pessimistic about the criteria

Licona's scholarly engagement with the debate over historical criteria

John Dominic Crossan Mike Licona criteria of authenticity John Dominic Crossan

John Dominic Crossan in debate with Licona affirmed the use of criteria — demonstrating that most historians still rely on them

Licona's debate with Crossan as evidence of continuing scholarly use of criteria

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

1 Corinthians 13:10-12 is the primary cessationist proof-text in the cessationism vs. continuationism debate.

Introduction to the episode. Winger frames the central question: does 1 Cor 13:10-12 teach that tongues, prophecy, and knowledge ceased after the apostolic era?

1 Corinthians 13:10-12 cessationism continuationism spiritual gifts

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-17

Q&A: Distinguishing personal prophecy from adding to Scripture (1 Corinthians 14:30)

Question about how to tell the difference between someone claiming new revelation above the Bible versus a 1 Corinthians 14-style prophecy.

1 Corinthians 14:29-32 Philip's daughters testing prophecy prophecy

James White James White Calvinism soteriology

Introduction: inside-baseball soteriology debate; response to James White on limited atonement

Mike opens the livestream framing the discussion as Calvinist vs. non-Calvinist soteriology, noting this is a response to James White's critique of Mike's earlier limited-atonement video.

James White James White Christian fellowship Calvinism

Brotherly tone: Calvinism debates should not break Christian fellowship

Mike recounts actually meeting James White for lunch; uses this to model gracious disagreement.

Romans 10:9-13 faith unlimited atonement genuine offer of salvation

Romans 10:9-13 — the emphasis of Romans is on faith, not on limiting who Christ died for

Mike applies the theological logic of Romans to the limited atonement debate.

James White hermeneutics James White Scripture authority

Closing: Scripture texts for unlimited atonement still stand; Calvinist trump concepts do not override them

Mike's final assessment of the debate.

Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

False dichotomy: God is either petty or wrathless

Mike challenges a common framing used by progressive Christians and atheists regarding divine wrath.

false dichotomy God's wrath righteous anger

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Atheists (Dan Barker) also use the cross-vs-stake argument to discredit Christianity

Beyond JWs, some atheists promote the idea that Jesus did not die on a cross. Winger specifically names Dan Barker, known in online atheist circles as an authority on New Testament Greek, who argues Christians are wrong about even the basic shape of the cross.

apologetics Dan Barker atheism

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

The Watchtower has more at stake in the cross debate than Christians do

Winger observes that Christians have little theological stake in the physical shape of the cross — if wrong, they can update imagery. But the Watchtower has built an entire theological argument on the shape question, making it a test of apostasy for other Christians.

apologetics cross apostasy

Christian fellowship infant baptism theological triage

Infant baptism is an in-house issue — important but not essential for fellowship

Winger situates the debate as an intra-Christian disagreement, distinguishing it from gospel-level essentials.

Luke 18:15-16 Job 1:1 biblical interpretation infant baptism Luke 18:15-16

Spurgeon's debate anecdote: using an irrelevant text proves nothing

Winger illustrates the Luke 18 exegetical error through the famous Spurgeon debate story.

baptism infant baptism believers baptism

Practical pastoral counsel: baptized as infant → get believers' baptism; already baptized your child → let them choose later

Winger offers pastoral guidance for common situations arising from the infant baptism debate.

Cornelius salvation baptism

Q&A: Baptism represents the remission of sins; it does not save — people are saved before being baptized in Scripture

A final Q&A question asks why we get baptized and whether it is for remission of sins.

epistemology apologetic methodology

Introduction to apologetic methodology and its complexity

Opening remarks framing the episode goal of simplifying a complicated theological debate topic

Living Waters apologetic methodology Emilio Ramos

Background: Winger recently debated Pastor Emilio Ramos on apologetic methodology at Living Waters

Personal context explaining why the topic is fresh, and why the episode was created on short notice

epistemology knowing vs. showing apologetic methodology

Knowing vs. showing: two distinct epistemic tasks

The foundational framework distinction that organizes the whole presentation