Search — Theology Explorer

revelation John 15 Revelation 2 Jesus revelation John 15

Slaves or Friends of Christ?: Does Jesus “call” us His slaves? In John 15: 15 He says He does not, but in Revelation 2: 20 He seems to do so.

Q&A question: Slaves or Friends of Christ?

1 Corinthians 7 1 Corinthians 7 marriage prayer

Does Refusal of Sex Justify Divorce?: Does 1 Corinthians 7 really mean we can never say no to sex except for a season of fasting and prayer? My pastor told my husband that if I deny him for too long then he has biblical grounds for divorce.

Q&A question: Does Refusal of Sex Justify Divorce?

Did Jesus Teach on the Rapture?: A friend doesn’t believe in the Rapture because “Jesus never taught it” and he doesn’t consider Paul (or his writings) to be authoritative. How would you approach something like that?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Teach on the Rapture?

Jesus rapture

Did Jesus ever Make Mistakes at Work?: Do you suppose Jesus was the most skilled carpenter who ever lived? Is it heretical to imagine Him ever making a mistake on the job?

Q&A question: Did Jesus ever Make Mistakes at Work?

Jesus heresy

Defining Inerrancy: How can we biblically define inerrancy? Even the writers of the Chicago Statement seem to hold slightly different views on harmonization (according to Mike Licona).

Q&A question: Defining Inerrancy

Mike Licona

How were Private Events Recorded?: Do you know how biblical authors recorded events, conversations, and moments that transpired despite being in private or in a one-man scenario, perhaps like Judas' death?

Q&A question: How were Private Events Recorded?

Judas

Daniel Jesus prayer Daniel

Why Pray for Others?: If Jesus is our final intercessor, why should we intercede for or pray over other believers' needs? Is this related to the spiritual realm and prayer delays, like in Daniel 10: 12-14?

Q&A question: Why Pray for Others?

1 Timothy 2:12 women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism

Winger says a wife co-teaching an adult Sunday school Bible study IS an elder-type role and would be wrong under his complementarian view. However, co-teaching a topical class (like parenting) is NOT eldership and he'd be fine with it. He warns against creating Pharisaic rules but draws the line at verse-by-verse Bible teaching.

Bonus Q after viewer watched WIM series: Is a woman helping her husband teach a co-ed adult Sunday school class an elder-type role?

Is Salvation Sometimes Unfair?: One of my biggest issues is that you NEED to believe in Jesus to be saved. If someone is born in a Muslim country, they would have to sacrifice way more than the average westerner. How is that fair?

Q&A question: Is Salvation Sometimes Unfair?

Jesus salvation Islam

Historical Jesus & Manuscripts: How can we believe in a historical Jesus if the oldest manuscripts we have are from the second or third century?

Q&A question: Historical Jesus & Manuscripts

Jesus

Did God Create Cancer?: If God created everything, why did He create cancer? As a Christian mother, I still struggle with these sorts of questions.

Q&A question: Did God Create Cancer?

suffering

Does Trusting First Invalidate our Faith?: If you have to believe first in order to experience the reality of Christianity, if the "proof" only comes alive when one chooses to trust it, isn't that "truth" make-believe?

Q&A question: Does Trusting First Invalidate our Faith?

Jesus salvation homosexuality

Unrepentant Heart – Still Saved by Faith?: If I believe in my heart that Jesus rose from the dead and trust in Him alone for salvation, why would God then send me to Hell for being actively gay? Am I not saved by my faith instead of my works?

Q&A question: Unrepentant Heart – Still Saved by Faith?

Mike Winger idea 2024-07-19

Does the Concept of Sin Apply to God?: Is God holy and sinless? Can God do things which, if we did them, would be considered sin? One example is killing the firstborn of Egypt. Does the concept of sin (or being sinless) even APPLY to God?

Q&A question: Does the Concept of Sin Apply to God?

The Bible Doesn’t Exist?: Can you please respond to Abraham Piper’s claim that the Bible doesn’t even exist?

Q&A question: The Bible Doesn’t Exist?

Abraham

Mike Winger idea 2024-07-19

Are Natural Disasters from God?: We recently had a tornado touch down here in upstate New York. How does one explain to a non-believer that the tornado was not from God? Was it man-made?

Q&A question: Are Natural Disasters from God?

Mike Winger idea 2024-07-19

Modalism & Oneness – Truly Saved?: Are people who believe in Modalism or Oneness doctrines truly saved? Should I allow my kids to participate in events at churches that believe in Modalism?

Q&A question: Modalism & Oneness – Truly Saved?

Mike Winger idea 2024-07-26

Prophecy = Preaching the Word?: I hear many Bible teachers say that the New Testament gift of prophecy is merely proclaiming/preaching the Word; it is never predictive or revelatory. That doesn’t seem right to me. Could you give us your take?

Q&A question: Prophecy = Preaching the Word?

prophecy

Mike Winger idea 2024-07-26

Meaning of “To Live Is Christ”: What does it mean when Paul says "For me to live is Christ”? I've never heard someone use a phrase where an action or state of being IS a person.

Q&A question: Meaning of “To Live Is Christ”

Mike Winger idea 2024-07-26

The Sonship of Jesus: A local church believes Jesus was literally the Son of God before the incarnation who "proceeded out of the Father" just like Eve from Adam. Can you help me understand the Sonship of Jesus?

Q&A question: The Sonship of Jesus

Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2024-08-09

Does Satan Have Free Will?: Given what Revelation 20:7-10 says, what is the probability that Satan will NOT deceive the nations when he's released from the abyss? Is it 0 or greater? If it is 0, does Satan have free will?

Q&A question: Does Satan Have Free Will?

revelation Revelation 20 Satan revelation free will

Mike Winger idea 2024-08-09

Explaining a Confusing Passage: Can you please explain how you understand Revelation 22: 11? I was super confused the first time I read this verse.

Q&A question: Explaining a Confusing Passage

revelation revelation

Mike Winger idea 2024-08-23

“God Bless You” to Non-Believers?: Is it appropriate to say to a non-believer, “May God bless you,” e.g., in a greeting card or in a new endeavor? It could be perceived as “May God give you good stuff.”

Q&A question: “God Bless You” to Non-Believers?

Mike Winger idea 2024-08-23

Evangelism for the Ineloquent: Everyone seems to have their way of sharing the Gospel: street-preaching, pastoring, etc. How do I know how God has called me to share the Gospel? I'm not good socially, but I want to reach people.

Q&A question: Evangelism for the Ineloquent

pastoral ministry angels

How Does God Reveal Himself Today?: Why did God reveal Himself to ignorant people 2,000 years ago? Why doesn’t God do it for everyone today?

Q&A question: How Does God Reveal Himself Today?

Matthew 16 Psalm 22 revelation Peter Roman Catholicism Matthew 16

More Than One Interpretation?: Can Scripture have more than one correct interpretation? I know Psalm 22 can, but Catholics believe this is so with Peter as the rock in Matthew 16: 18 or Mary in Revelation 12. Is there a good method to test Scripture for this?

Q&A question: More Than One Interpretation?

Daniel 9 2 Peter 3:8 revelation Peter Daniel 9 2 Peter 3:8

Is there Time in Heaven?: Looking at these passages, is there time in Heaven? 2 Peter 3:8, Ephesians 1: 10, Revelation 21, Daniel 9: 13.

Q&A question: Is there Time in Heaven?

Do our Lives Affect our Eternity?: Is our ability to rule and reign with God in His new world forever (Revelation 22:5) dependent on how we serve God in our lifetime for His mission (Luke 19: 17)?

Q&A question: Do our Lives Affect our Eternity?

revelation revelation

How to Pray Without Ceasing: What does it mean to "pray without ceasing" as instructed in 1Thessalonians 5: 17, and how do we practically achieve this?

Q&A question: How to Pray Without Ceasing

Isaiah revelation Isaiah revelation annihilationism

Proof of Annihilationism?: Does Isaiah 66: 24 prove annihilationism? The only counter verse seems to be Revelation 14: 10-11 and most of the Bible talks about Sheol, perishing, or the wages being death.

Q&A question: Proof of Annihilationism?

WHY is Cussing Wrong?: I know I'm "supposed to" believe cuss words are bad to use as a Christian, but can you help me REALLY understand why? Most of them don't "feel" wrong to say in casual settings, especially if I'm by MYSELF (home alone and I trip or something).

Q&A question: WHY is Cussing Wrong?

revelation Luke 16 Revelation 20 revelation Luke 16 Revelation 20

Are We Judged Twice?: Are we judged twice? Luke 16: 19-23 and Revelation 20: 11-13 suggest so.

Q&A question: Are We Judged Twice?

Mike Winger idea 2024-09-14

Are Believers “Priests”?: What are the implications of believers being called to be "A Holy Priesthood" (1 Peter 2:5)? Does this mean we need to view ourselves as priests?

Q&A question: Are Believers “Priests”?

1 Peter 2:5 Peter 1 Peter 2:5

What Did the Pope Say?: Have some of the things Pope Francis has recently said been heretical?

Q&A question: What Did the Pope Say?

heresy Pope Francis

John 9 John 5 John 9 John 5

Does Sin Cause Illness?: Does sinning cause physical illness? Does refraining from sinning stop it? John 9:3 and John 5: 14 seem to say both are true. Is this a contradiction?

Q&A question: Does Sin Cause Illness?

Matthew Matthew 7 Matthew Matthew 7

Casting Pearls before Swine: In what ways or in what situations might Matthew 7:6 be applicable today?

Q&A question: Casting Pearls before Swine

Was David Conceived in Adultery?: In Psalm 51:5, David says that in sin his mother conceived him. Is he saying that he has been in sin since his conception, or that his mother was in sin when she conceived him? Was David born in adultery?

Q&A question: Was David Conceived in Adultery?

Psalm 51 David Psalm 51

Is Calvinism Heresy?: Why isn’t Calvinism more strongly condemned among non-Calvinists? The doctrine essentially teaches that God will punish people for something completely out of their control, which makes God seem unjust.

Q&A question: Is Calvinism Heresy?

Calvinism heresy

Is God Prideful?: Is God prideful? If our purpose in life is to glorify God, does that mean we were created only to praise Him? I know He is worthy of praise, but was He seeking praise by creating us?

Q&A question: Is God Prideful?

Bible Typography: How important is Bible typography? For example, the way the KJV arranges paragraphs makes context harder to understand than in the ESV.

Q&A question: Bible Typography

hermeneutics

Standing With Israel?: With all of the tensions and things going on over in Israel, how should we be responding to those we’re surrounded by who hate Israel? They don’t seem to understand why we stand with Israel.

Q&A question: Standing With Israel?

Israel

Matthew 16 Matthew John 21 Peter Roman Catholicism Jesus

Was Simon Always “Peter”?: Catholics always say Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter. However, previous verses (Matthew 16: 16, John 21: 15, Matthew 4: 18, and Luke 5:8) refer to him as Simon Peter. Jesus says, “You are Peter…” not “From now on, you are Peter.” Was Simon always known as Peter?

Q&A question: Was Simon Always “Peter”?