Search — Theology Explorer

Galatians 2 Romans 11:6 Genesis 15:6 Galatians 2 Abraham Romans 11:6

Mike's anti-Calvinist argument: faith is not a work regardless of its source; the Calvinist objection tries to smuggle faith into the "works" category

Mike's response to the Calvinist framing of faith as a "good work" that requires prior regeneration

2 Corinthians 12 Paul 2 Corinthians 12 false prophets

Near-death / heaven-visiting accounts: deep skepticism warranted; Paul's 2 Corinthians 12 model shows the right posture is silence, not book tours

Question from S.M. Hart about people selling books on visiting heaven or hell

Galatians 5:23 John 18:6 Anaheim Vineyard self-control charismatic gifts

"Slain in the Spirit" is not taught in the Bible and is inconsistent with the Spirit's fruit of self-control

Question from Steph T about whether being slain in the Spirit is biblical and how to distinguish it from demonic possession

1 Corinthians 14 1 Corinthians 14:32 1 Corinthians 14 1 Corinthians 14:32 prophecy

Paul's instructions on tongues and prophecy require self-control, proving the Spirit does not override the person's will

Continuing the argument against slain in the Spirit using 1 Corinthians 14 as evidence

1 Corinthians 6:12 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 sexual immorality 1 Corinthians 6:12 body as temple

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is about sexual immorality in context, not primarily about diet/exercise/tobacco — but the moderation and mastery principles within the passage do apply broadly

Question from Grayson Fuller about whether 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 establishes a biblical basis for maintaining bodily health

2 Corinthians 5 soul sleep intermediate state 2 Corinthians 5

2 Corinthians 5 — "absent from the body, present with the Lord" is a summary, not a direct quote

Mike addresses the commonly misquoted phrase from 2 Corinthians 5

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 intermediate state 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 walking by faith

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 — walking by faith not by sight, preferring to be with the Lord

Reading and applying 2 Corinthians 5 to the soul sleep question

Philippians 1:19-23 Paul intermediate state Philippians 1:19-23

Philippians 1:19-23 — context of Paul in prison writing about life vs. death

Mike introduces Philippians 1 as the stronger text on immediate post-death presence with Christ

Philippians 1:23 Paul soul sleep intermediate state

Philippians 1:23 — "my desire is to depart and be with Christ" refutes soul sleep

Exegesis of Philippians 1:23 as the strongest argument against soul sleep

Philippians 1 Paul soul sleep intermediate state

Paul's tension between ministry and being with Christ only makes sense if death means immediate presence

Logical argument from Philippians 1 structure

Philippians 1 Roman Catholicism eisegesis intermediate state

Roman Catholic purgatory interpretation uses Paul as an exception case rather than normative

Addressing the Roman Catholic counter-reading of Philippians 1

Colossians Paul Colossians New Age

Colossians — New Testament prohibition against borrowing pagan or Old Covenant practices

New Testament argument against adopting New Age spiritual practices

Ecclesiastes Philippians 1 intermediate state rapture Ecclesiastes

Can raptured believers help loved ones left behind? No biblical basis; Paul implies post-death impact ends

Question from Lassie Clyman about acting for loved ones after the rapture

women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism

Complementarianism vs. chauvinism — Paul's teaching on women roles is not male chauvinism

Question from Proverbs 17:11 about family calling him demon-possessed and a chauvinist for holding Paul's teaching

Galatians 3:23-24 Paul paidagogos covenant theology

Galatians 3:23 — the Law as guardian/nanny: imprisoned under law until Christ

Question from Jesse Jack about Galatians 3:23 and being confined/imprisoned by the law

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Introduction to TULIP as a summary of Calvinist theology

Mike opens the Q&A by addressing a Facebook question from Paul Rem about the five points of Calvinism.

Calvinism R.C. Sproul TULIP

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

How to construct a biblical theology — start with contextual reading plus the doctrine of inspiration

Q from Nick (Quint/Quiet) about building a biblical theological method.

Isaiah 53 Isaiah 52 Isaiah 53 Hermeneutics Isaiah 52

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Old Testament dietary laws — not binding on Christians; Isaiah 66 and Ezekiel future prophecy not a present command

Q from Ashley Koenig about whether Christians must follow OT dietary laws, citing Isaiah 66:16-17.

Colossians Romans 14 Acts Colossians Romans 14 Mosaic Law

Jeremiah 31 Matthew 5:17 Galatians 3 Jeremiah 31 New Covenant fulfillment of the law

The Old Covenant is "eternal" in the sense that Christ fulfilled it — fulfillment, not destruction, transitions to the New Covenant

Question from Jason and Alana about how the Old Covenant can be everlasting yet superseded.

1 Corinthians 3 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 salvation judgment 1 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians 3 — believers are judged at the Bema for their works (gold/silver/precious stones vs. wood/hay/straw), not for salvation

Question from Emily Bain about how forgiveness of sins relates to judgment day.

1 Corinthians 6:12 1 Corinthians 6:13 1 Corinthians 10:22 1 Corinthians 6:12 Christian liberty Mosaic Law

1 Corinthians 6:12 and 10:22 — "all things are lawful" is a Corinthian slogan Paul quotes and then corrects

Question from Wolpak about what Paul means by "all things are lawful" in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 16:20 hermeneutics cultural hermeneutics 1 Corinthians 16:20

1 Corinthians 16:20 — "greet one another with a holy kiss" is a culturally applied principle, not a universal command

Question from Sarah Taytano about whether the holy kiss is a binding commandment.

Galatians 2 Paul Peter Galatians 2

Paul rebuked Peter publicly in Galatians 2 because his behavior impacted the whole community

Mike shows a biblical precedent for public confrontation of a leader

Acts 28 Paul signs and wonders Acts 28

Paul's snakebite in Acts is a fulfillment of divine protection -- validating the gospel message, not a prescription

Mike gives a concrete Acts example for the serpent-handling promise

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Paul paradise 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

2 Corinthians 12:2 -- Paul's reference to the third heaven and its Jewish cosmological background

Responding to a question about levels of heaven and whether this relates to the phrase 'seventh heaven'

Romans Abraham Romans soteriology

Romans teaches that physical descent from Abraham does not save -- only the faith of Abraham counts

Mike extends the Acts 16 argument with a Romans parallel

Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

1 Corinthians 6:3 — We will judge angels: ruling/leading rather than condemning

A viewer asks what Paul meant when he said believers will judge angels.

1 Corinthians 6 1 Corinthians 6:3 judges of Israel 1 Corinthians 6 Gideon 1 Corinthians 6:3

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Hebrews 1:1-2 does not prohibit God from speaking to individuals today

Question about whether God still speaks through a still small voice today, referencing Hebrews 1:2.

Hebrews 1:1-2 1 Timothy 1:18 Revelation of John Hagar charismatic movement prophecy

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

1 Corinthians 14:22 — tongues are a sign for unbelievers only when interpreted; the apparent contradiction explained

Question about the apparent flip in 1 Corinthians 14:22-23 where tongues are a sign for unbelievers yet unbelievers will think speakers are mad.

1 Corinthians 14:22-23 spiritual gifts tongues 1 Corinthians 14:22-23

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Dual covenant theology is unbiblical; Jewish people need Jesus — Romans 10:1-4 and John 5:46

Final question about whether Jews can be saved without believing in Jesus through a special covenant.

Romans 10:1-4 John 5:46 Moses soteriology Messiah

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

1 Corinthians 7:12-14 - Paul says "not the Lord" meaning he gives apostolic instruction without a direct quote from Jesus; believers married to unbelievers should not divorce.

Question about 1 Corinthians 7:14 and sanctification of unbelieving spouse

1 Corinthians 7:12-14 apostolic authority marriage 1 Corinthians 7:12-14

Matthew 19 — Eunuchs for the Kingdom 1 Corinthians 7:32-38 Paul Jesus Marriage and Childbearing

Jesus commends voluntary singleness (making oneself a eunuch for the kingdom) — therefore a blanket command for every person to have children cannot be right.

New Testament witness on the fruitful-and-multiply question.

1 Corinthians 8-10 — Meat Offered to Idols Bethel Music Hillsong Elevation Worship

Refusing to sing Bethel/Hillsong/Elevation music is not legalism, but binding that refusal on others crosses into judgmentalism — this is a conscience matter analogous to Paul's 'meat sold in the marketplace' principle.

Q: Is it too legalistic to refuse to sing Bethel/Hillsong/Elevation music due to the doctrines of those churches?

Darrell Bock Textual Criticism Pauline Epistles — Authorship

Mike has authorship of the contested Pauline epistles on his list but far down in priority; he recommends Darrell Bock as an existing resource for those who need it now.

Q: Do you ever plan to do a deep dive into the authorship of the contested Pauline epistles?

Seventh-day Adventism Cults and False Religions

Mike leans toward classifying the Seventh-day Adventist church as a cult and plans a full dedicated video on the SDA topic in the coming year.

Q: Do you think the SDA is a cult?

Romans 10:1-4 Galatians — Law as Condemner Paul Romans 10:1-4 Jewish Salvation / Two-Covenant Theology

Romans 10:1-4 refutes the idea that Jews can be saved apart from Jesus: Paul's heart's desire is that his Jewish kinsmen be saved — meaning they currently are not — despite their genuine zeal for God.

Q: How do I respond to family who believe Jews will go to heaven even if not saved by Jesus?

Exodus 32 — Moses Intercession Prayer Divine Sovereignty and Human Free Will Moses — Intercession

Prayer is powerful precisely because God's will can be conditionally contingent on prayer — he may desire to do something but not do it if we do not pray; Moses' intercession for Israel is the paradigmatic example.

Answering the secondary question: what is the point of praying if it is already God's will?

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Experimenting with interviews: open candid dialogue over polished preparation

2021 plans announcement

Galatians Craig Blomberg Galatians New Perspective on Paul

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Gift of singleness: a choice, not only a sovereign assignment

Continuing Q9 on singleness

1 Corinthians 7 1 Corinthians 7 singleness free will

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Trusting man vs. trusting God: the distinction is priority, not binary rejection of human sources

Continuing Q14 on trusting man vs. God

Proverbs 3:5 biblical authority cultural pressure homosexuality

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 establishes mutual bodily authority in marriage and implicitly rules out polygamy

Reading and exposition of 1 Corinthians 7 on conjugal rights

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 Paul 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 conjugal rights

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

The feeling of "not being there yet" in Christian growth is healthy when it motivates pressing on rather than giving up

Question from Derry Draws about how to grow spiritually when the fire feels gone

Philippians 3:13-14 calling Paul discouragement

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Though gifts cannot be taught, believers can grow in their expression and use of already-given gifts

Nuanced development of the spiritual gifts question.

1 Corinthians 14 2 Timothy 1:6 1 Corinthians 14 Elijah Spiritual gifts

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

The Bible's trajectory on slavery moves from regulating and humanizing it in the OT to full abolition ideology in the NT (Philemon)

Closing summary of the slavery question.

Philemon Paul Philemon Slavery in the New Testament

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Paul's conversion is credible because it was Apostolically ratified and his gospel was identical to the Twelve's — Joseph Smith fails both tests

Question from Summer Monsoon about apologetics for Paul's conversion vs. Joseph Smith's claimed vision.

Galatians 2 2 Peter 3:16 Galatians 2 Mormonism Joseph Smith

Matthew 19:12 marriage divorce celibacy

Matthew 19:12 -- Three categories of eunuchs: from birth, made by men, and self-made for the kingdom

Question from 'dat boy' about whether eunuchs from birth in Matthew 19:12 includes intersex people, and whether the verse advises eunuchs not to marry.

Matthew 19 Roman law marriage divorce

Jesus and Paul do not permit divorce for infertility, demonstrating marriage has value beyond procreation

Extension of the Matthew 19:12 discussion, connecting to Jesus's divorce teaching.

Revelation Hebrews warning passages Revelation once saved always saved eternal security

Book of Life: names blotted out -- the phrase is too non-specific to resolve the eternal security debate

Question from Paul Redding about how one is written into or blotted out of the Book of Life.

Jeremiah Exodus 4:10 Jeremiah 1:6 Paul Moses Jeremiah

Preaching with a stutter: accept your limitations, resist performing, and trust God to use you or redirect you

Question from Hudson Hancock, who preaches with a stutter and finds it discouraging.