Search — Theology Explorer

Matthew 5 Matthew Jesus Matthew 5 Matthew

Fight sin at its earliest stage — Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount that the beginning state of sin (lust, anger) is already where you've lost the fight. Draw personal boundaries far from the sin, not close.

Q9: How to fight the temptation to lust?

Where was Daniel when the three were thrown into the fire? Unknown — possibly on a trip, ill, or exempt from the order for some reason. The text simply doesn't say.

Q11: Where was Daniel during the fiery furnace?

Daniel Daniel NAR

1 Corinthians 12 Persis spiritual gifts prayer

Intercessory prayer may be connected to the spiritual gift of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9) — a Spirit-given burden to pray persistently for specific people or situations beyond normal prayer discipline.

Q14: Is intercessory prayer a spiritual gift?

Genesis Genesis 1 John 1 Genesis Mormonism Genesis 1

Responding to LDS claims that "in the beginning" (Genesis 1/John 1) only means our world: John 1:3 says "all things were made through him" — a blanket category covering everything in existence, not just Earth.

Q16: How to respond to LDS friends about "in the beginning"?

Romans 5 Romans 5:12 Romans 5 Jesus Romans 5:12

Would Jesus have died of old age if not crucified? Probably yes — physical death entered through the Fall affecting all humanity, not just individual sinners. But Winger acknowledges he hasn't fully worked this out.

Q18: Would sinless Jesus have died of old age?

1 John 3:4 1 John 3 Moses 1 John 3:4 1 John 3

1 John 3:4 ("sin is lawlessness") doesn't mean Christians must keep the Mosaic Law — "lawlessness" means rebellion against God's moral authority, not specifically violating Torah commands. The New Testament redefines how we relate to God's moral standards.

Q19: Does 1 John 3:4 mean the Law of Moses still applies?

Offering Counsel in Difficult Situations: I’m in a master's program with Liberty University for clinical mental health counseling. During our training, we were asked how we would handle certain difficult situations, such as if a LGBTQ couple would request help strengthening their relationship, or request help advocating for adoption rights, or advocating for trans. people. Can you please give me some biblical principles to follow, to help me counsel these people in a caring way without condoning unbiblical behavior?

Q&A question: Offering Counsel in Difficult Situations

homosexuality

Advice for a Difficult Marriage: Any advice on how to help a brother in Christ (who's also a preacher) not leave his marriage because he's miserable and he claims "God doesn't want him miserable"?

Q&A question: Advice for a Difficult Marriage

Romans 1 Romans 1 Jehovah's Witnesses

Refuting JW Theology: A Jehovah’s Witness said that all the letters in the NT addressed to saints are for the 144,000 (example: Romans 1:7). How do I show that a saint is a believer, and that the NT should be applied to everyone?

Q&A question: Refuting JW Theology

Does Modalism Jeopardize Salvation?: Does modalism lead to other fallacies? If someone believes in Christ except they don’t believe that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each distinct, could their salvation be in jeopardy?

Q&A question: Does Modalism Jeopardize Salvation?

salvation

Witnessing to Abuse Victims: A friend was sexually abused by her family including her mother, foster family, the school priests, and her first husband. Understandably, she refuses to believe in any God. How can I witness to her?

Q&A question: Witnessing to Abuse Victims

salvation pastoral ministry

Are man-made Covenants Biblical?: Are man-made covenants for pastoral ordination biblical (specifically, covenants binding oneself to denominational doctrines and principles)? The Salvation Army requires this for their pastors.

Q&A question: Are man-made Covenants Biblical?

Should Believers Expect to Hear/Feel God?: I have never "felt"/"heard" from the Holy Spirit/God. I believe in and follow Jesus, but I feel like I am missing something. Should a Christian be literally hearing/feeling something from God?

Q&A question: Should Believers Expect to Hear/Feel God?

Revelation 3 revelation Jesus Revelation 3 revelation

About the Overcomers in Rev.: What are your thoughts on the overcomers mentioned by Jesus in Revelation 3:5-12? Would you consider these to be believers in general, a specific group of believers, or some other group?

Q&A question: About the Overcomers in Rev.

Do Angels Sing?: Do angels sing? Or is worshipping via singing something unique to humanity? Thank you so much for your ministry. It really is encouraging for me and my wife. How can we be praying for you and your family?

Q&A question: Do Angels Sing?

marriage worship angels

Can we find Proof of Jesus’ Existence?: I heard there are more proofs that Jesus is a real person than there are for people like King Tut, etc. is this true? If so, is there somewhere I can go to find those proofs?

Q&A question: Can we find Proof of Jesus’ Existence?

Is Satan an Actual “being”?: What would you say to the brethren that suggest that Satan is not actually a being? People argue that the OT doesn’t describe him as a singular being but something of the human mind.

Q&A question: Is Satan an Actual “being”?

Satan

Same Spirit but Different Opinions?: Discerning the Spirit: I’m having a hard time understanding how Christians are all supposed to have the same Holy Spirit but we are so divided on so many issues.

Q&A question: Same Spirit but Different Opinions?

Holy Spirit

suffering biblical reliability

Bible Contradiction?: Can you explain the what appears to be contradiction in 1 Kings 7: 26 and 2 Chronicles 4:5, due to the different numbers?

Q&A question: Bible Contradiction?

Matthew David Abraham Jesus

Jesus’ Genealogy/Lineage: How historically plausible is it that the Jesus‘ genealogies in Matthew and Luke authentically trace back to the Exile, Kind David, Abraham, and so on?

Q&A question: Jesus’ Genealogy/Lineage

About Same-Sex Attraction: As a Side B/Celibate same-sex attracted Christian, do you believe God can change my attraction to eventually desire to marry a woman?

Q&A question: About Same-Sex Attraction

Encouragement through Chronic Illness: I’m newly diagnosed with a very debilitating chronic illness. How do I continue to serve the Lord in my role as a wife and mother and serve the body of Christ? I’m very discouraged.

Q&A question: Encouragement through Chronic Illness

Who was Lilith?: Do you know anything about Lilith? I heard some rumors that she was Adam’s first wife. I don’t believe this, but I wanted to hear if you have any thoughts on it.

Q&A question: Who was Lilith?

Matthew 12 Matthew Jesus resurrection Matthew 12

About Jesus’ Death & Resurrection: Why do you think Jesus appealed to His death and resurrection as His messianic sign in Matthew 12: 39-40?

Q&A question: About Jesus’ Death & Resurrection

Are Concentration Meds o.k.?: What do you think about taking medications like Adderall?

Q&A question: Are Concentration Meds o.k.?

Are the Spirit and the “Logos” the Same?: Is there any justification for believing that the Spirit and the Logos aren't the same thing, and that the Logos was made flesh when all (instead of just a part) of God's Spirit was put in one man?

Q&A question: Are the Spirit and the “Logos” the Same?

justification

Adam Buried Beneath where Jesus Crucified?: I heard on a program by the National Geographic that there’s a belief out there that Adam was buried beneath where Jesus was crucified. They say when Jesus died, His blood flowed down into the ground and through some cracks inside a tomb where Adam was buried, and Adam was resurrected from that. I am trying to find out where this belief even started, why it was started, and if there is any Biblical or Historical evidence to suggest that this ever happened. Have you ever heard of this, and do you know of any resources on this subject that might help me?

Q&A question: Adam Buried Beneath where Jesus Crucified?

About Bribery in the book of Proverbs: Can you please help me and my friend understand Proverbs 21: 14 about bribery? We read the references below the verse but still find it hard to understand.

Q&A question: About Bribery in the book of Proverbs

Calvinism pastoral ministry submission in marriage

Should I Attend a Calvinist Church?: The church that I currently attend is in search of a new pastor, and the one that will be voted in is a Calvinist. I don't agree with Calvinism and question if I can submit to his authority/teaching. What do I do? Stay? Go? I don't want to be divisive but want to stand on God's truth in love.

Q&A question: Should I Attend a Calvinist Church?

James James 2 Romans 4 James James 2 Romans 4

Faith vs. Works Contradiction?: I’m confused on two verses, Romans 4:3 and James 2: 21. I don’t believe the Bible has any contradictions, can you please clear up my confusion on this?

Q&A question: Faith vs. Works Contradiction?

Is God Faithful when We’re Faithless?: Is 2 Timothy 2: 13 saying God is faithful to us, or to Himself? I hear people thanking God that when we are faithless, He is faithful to us, but it seems to read the opposite.

Q&A question: Is God Faithful when We’re Faithless?

Timothy

About God’s Will in our Lives: How do I know if I am living in the will of God for my life? Do wrong choices mean we have messed up Gods plan and we’re now living plan B?

Q&A question: About God’s Will in our Lives

About the Age of Accountability: Does Numbers 14: 29 give us any biblical reason to believe the age of accountability to be 20? In Numbers 14: 18-19 Moses pleads with God, and God pardons the sins of the children 19 and younger.

Q&A question: About the Age of Accountability

Moses

About the Wedding Feast/Garments: The man who was at the wedding feast without a wedding garment in Matthew 22: 11, is he like what would called a nominal Christian?

Q&A question: About the Wedding Feast/Garments

Matthew Matthew

About Cohabitation Before Marriage: What Scripture shows that 2 heterosexual Christians who love each other and intend to marry can’t cohabitate if they are celibate?

Q&A question: About Cohabitation Before Marriage

How to Honor an Abusive Parent: My father was physically and mentally abusive when I was a child. Can I stop talking to him and still be honoring him?

Q&A question: How to Honor an Abusive Parent

anxiety and mental health

About Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia: What are your thoughts about assisted suicide and euthanasia?

Q&A question: About Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia

Is the Holy Spirit Jesus’ Father?: Might be a dumb question but if the Holy Spirit came upon Mary so that Jesus could be born, wouldn't that make the Holy Spirit Jesus' father?

Q&A question: Is the Holy Spirit Jesus’ Father?

About “Pascal’s Wager”: What is Pascal’s Wager, and do you believe that it has been refuted?

Q&A question: About “Pascal’s Wager”

revelation Revelation 2 Jesus revelation Revelation 2

About Revelation – New Names/White Stones: What is the "new name" in Revelation 2: 17? Is it the individual's new name that receives the white stone, or is it Jesus' new name?

Q&A question: About Revelation – New Names/White Stones

Should Pro-Life = Immigration Support?: Do you think that being pro-life means that I should also support immigration/refugee resettlement due to the pro-life belief that children should be taken care of regardless of circumstances?

Q&A question: Should Pro-Life = Immigration Support?

abortion

Matthew 12 Matthew Matthew 12 Matthew demons

Can a False Teacher Cast Out Demons?: What is the deeper meaning of Matthew 12:22-28? I’m a little confused. Can a false teacher cast out demons? If so, wouldn't that be a kingdom that is divided against itself?

Q&A question: Can a False Teacher Cast Out Demons?

1 Corinthians 8 Trinity 1 Corinthians 8

Defense of the Trinity: Hi Mike! I fully believe in the Trinity due to ALL of Scripture. But 1 Corinthians 8:6 is a bit problematic and seems Unitarian. What do you make of it?

Q&A question: Defense of the Trinity

Should our Shortcomings Discourage our Callings?: I believe I am called to be a pastor, but I have sin & inconsistencies in my life. Do you think this could mean I’m not called, or do I just need to work on these things before being used in that area?

Q&A question: Should our Shortcomings Discourage our Callings?

pastoral ministry

About our Prayers and Troubling Thoughts: When does God hear my prayers? I am asking you this because my thoughts are barely controllable nowadays, and those thoughts are causing me to pray very weird things and think about things I don’t want to think about.

Q&A question: About our Prayers and Troubling Thoughts

prayer

Infinite Universes?: Is the theory of an infinite amount of universes biblical or unbiblical?

Q&A question: Infinite Universes?

Regrets about Not Sharing the Gospel: My father recently died, and I don’t think he was a true Christian. I’ve been a Christian for 7 months and I didn’t share the Gospel with him. Would things have gone differently if I did?

Q&A question: Regrets about Not Sharing the Gospel

Witnessing to Mormon Family Members: I'm a Christian who is married to a non-practicing Mormon who still bases his beliefs on LDS doctrine. I think I want to go into apologetics (largely inspired by you), but I don't think my husband will approve. I also feel called to evangelize my Mormon in-laws, but I struggle to get past their feelings-based testimony and their beliefs about who Jesus is and salvation. Any advice on my apologetic aspirations in my specific circumstances, and on the best way to surmount these LDS hurdles?

Q&A question: Witnessing to Mormon Family Members

marriage Jesus salvation

meditation and contemplation

How do we Meditate on Scripture?: I was wondering: how do you remember Scripture? I will read in the morning, and by the time night/the next day comes, I forget what I read. I know we’re to meditate on it, but how do we do this?

Q&A question: How do we Meditate on Scripture?