Search — Theology Explorer

Richard Bauckham Gospel historicity named individuals in Gospels

Introduction of the names-in-the-Gospels phenomenon as historical evidence

Third major line of evidence: the pattern of named vs. unnamed individuals in the Gospels.

Richard Bauckham Gospel historicity Jesus and the Eyewitnesses

Bultmann's theory that names were added to Gospels over time — and why it fails

Engaging with the major opposing theory for why names appear in the Gospels.

Mary Magdalene Richard Bauckham resurrection

Women as named eyewitness sources at the death, burial, and empty tomb of Jesus

The Gospel pattern of naming women at the passion events as eyewitness sourcing.

empty tomb Gospel historicity Gospel of Peter

Second-century legends (Gospel of Peter) feature absurd embellishments absent from canonical Gospels

Contrast between canonical Gospels and known legendary accounts to illustrate the difference.

Mark 15:21 Matthew 27:32 Luke 23:26 named individuals in Gospels legendary name addition theory Mark 15:21

Matthew and Luke drop Alexander and Rufus because their audiences may not know them (or they had died)

Explaining the synoptic variation in Simon of Cyrene accounts.

Richard Bauckham Gospel historicity Jesus and the Eyewitnesses

Tal Ilan's Palestinian name database — confirming Gospel names match authentic first-century Palestinian onomastics

Statistical evidence from Jewish names scholarship supporting Gospel authenticity.

Gospel historicity community tradition view Tal Ilan

Names are geographically and temporally specific — foreign fabricators could not have replicated Palestinian name patterns

Implication of Ilan's name statistics for the community tradition view.

Jesus Seminar Gospel genre demythologization

The genre of the Gospels: from assumed mythology to recognized Greco-Roman biography

Historical shift in scholarly understanding of the literary genre of the Gospels.

Matthew 11:21-24 salvation mental disability and accountability Matthew 11:21-24

Q&A: Salvation of severely mentally handicapped people — accountability proportional to awareness

Q&A segment begins; first question about soteriological edge cases.

Richard Bauckham Jesus Seminar Jesus and the Eyewitnesses

Q&A: The historical-critical method — recommended response is Bauckham's Jesus and the Eyewitnesses

Q&A for a student in an early Christian philosophy course using the historical-critical method.

Markan priority biblical inerrancy Markan priority Q source

Q&A: The Q document — does it matter if Gospel writers used written sources?

Q&A question about the hypothetical Q source document.

Mark 16:8 Mark 16:9-20 textual criticism biblical inerrancy Mark 16:8

Q&A: The ending of Mark 16 — short vs. long ending; not a threat to Gospel reliability

Q&A from an atheist about the ending of Mark and supposed Gospel contradictions.

Bart Ehrman Gospel reliability harmonization

Bart Ehrman's argument that harmonizing the Gospels means writing a new Gospel — Mike's refutation

Q&A addressing Ehrman's specific anti-harmonization argument.

Revelation mark of the beast eschatology Revelation mark of the beast

Q&A: Microchips in hand — not automatically the mark of the beast without beast worship connection

Q&A about prophetic application of Revelation's mark of the beast to modern technology.

1 Timothy 3 Titus 1 1 Timothy 3 husband of one wife Titus 1

Q&A: Titus and 1 Timothy pastoral qualifications — "husband of one wife" and "having children"

Q&A on elder/bishop/pastor qualifications in the Pastoral Epistles.

Christian living hearing from God spiritual discernment

Q&A: How does God speak to new Christians? Live by biblical principles, not impressions

Q&A pastoral advice for new Christians wondering about hearing from God.

Bart Ehrman Gospel reliability harmonization

Q&A: Bart Ehrman's claim that harmonizing Gospels means writing a new Gospel — video reference

Second pass at the harmonization question with a specific resource recommendation.

1 Corinthians 7:14 hermeneutics sanctification 1 Corinthians 7:14

Q&A: 1 Corinthians 7:14 — "sanctified" is a dictionary term, not a theological one; no automatic salvation for unbelieving spouse

Q&A on the meaning of sanctification language in Paul's marriage instruction.

Luke 2:2 fulfilled prophecy apologetics methodology circular reasoning objection

Q&A: Using the Bible to prove the Bible — not circular reasoning when done correctly

Q&A on the epistemological objection to using Scripture to validate Scripture.

Isaiah 53 Psalm 22 Pentecost apologetics fulfilled prophecy

Q&A: Did New Testament writers invent Gospel narratives from OT prophecies? — Refuted by extra-biblical confirmation of historical facts

Q&A from a persistent atheist questioner (Doug) suggesting Gospels were reverse-engineered from OT texts.

Luke 3:8 Acts 26:20 Hebrews 6:1 metanoia Repentance Luke 3:8

Metanoia encompasses both attitudinal and behavioral change; Luke 3:8 and Acts 26:20 illustrate the distinction.

Further nuance on the meaning of repentance.

Contextual reading Bible study methodology Hermeneutics

Bible study tip: spend more time reading the text itself before turning to commentaries.

Joey Fisher asks for study tips for going deeper in the Bible.

Bible study methodology Commentaries Critical thinking in theology

How to use commentaries well: seek their reasoning, not their conclusions; read multiple commentaries.

Continuing Bible study methodology advice.

Blue Letter Bible Bible study resources

Blue Letter Bible (blueletterbible.org) recommended as a free online resource for Bible study.

Practical resource recommendation in the study tips section.

Matthew 27 Apologetics Matthew 27 Saints resurrected at crucifixion

Matthew 27: saints raised from the dead at Jesus's death — why do only Matthew mention it?

Insects Are Cool (an atheist regular on the channel) asks why only Matthew mentions the resurrection of saints in Matthew 27.

Apologetics Gospel reliability Argument from silence

Argument from silence is a poor historical method: uniqueness to one Gospel does not discredit the account.

Responding to the implicit skeptical argument behind the Matthew 27 question.

Kent Hovind BioLogos Young earth creationism

Hovind vs. Falk (BioLogos) debate moderated by Mike: the debaters talked past each other on different topics.

Justin Barnes asks Mike about the debate he moderated between Kent Hovind and a BioLogos evolutionist.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Sexual immorality 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Homosexuality

1 Corinthians 6:9 lists sins (including homosexual practice) that preclude inheriting the kingdom; false teaching on these sins subverts the gospel.

Leanne Waters asks whether those who teach homosexual relations are okay are rejecting the true Jesus and true gospel.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 1 Timothy 2:8-10 1 Timothy 2:11-15 Modesty 1 Timothy 2:8-10

1 Timothy 2:11-15 context: instructions to men (avoid anger/quarreling in prayer) and women (modesty, inner vs. outer beauty).

Lady D asks about 1 Timothy 2:11-15 regarding women being silent and not having authority.

1 Timothy 2:11-12 1 Timothy 2:11-12 Women in ministry Teaching elder role

1 Timothy 2:11-12 — women learning quietly with submission refers to the teaching context, not a prohibition on speaking at all.

Exegeting 1 Timothy 2:11-12.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Complementarianism Overseer

1 Timothy 3 qualifications for overseers (bishops/pastors/elders — synonymous terms) flow directly from 2:11-12 and use masculine language.

Mike shows the literary connection between 1 Timothy 2 and 3.

1 Timothy 2:12 1 Timothy 2:12 Women in ministry Complementarianism

1 Timothy 2:12 — "teach" and "exercise authority" may be two aspects of the same role, not two separate prohibitions.

Exegeting the grammar of 1 Timothy 2:12.

1 Timothy 2 Acts 1 Timothy 2 Acts Women in ministry

Women speaking in Acts and prophesying in church shows 1 Timothy 2 is not a ban on women speaking at all.

Clarifying the scope of the women/quietness prohibition.

Women in ministry Complementarianism Calling vs. capability

Difference between ability/capability and calling: women may be skilled teachers but are not called to the pastoral role.

Addressing the emotional objection that restricting women from pastoral roles implies lesser capability.

1 Timothy 2:15 1 Timothy 2:15 sozo Women in ministry

1 Timothy 2:15 — "saved through childbearing" does not refer to eternal salvation but to restored/elevated status.

Addressing a commonly misunderstood verse.

Galatians 3:28 Genesis Galatians 3:28 Genesis Complementarianism

Genesis establishes equal image-bearing of men and women; Galatians 3:28 establishes equality in salvation — different roles do not imply different value.

Broader biblical framework for gender equality and distinct roles.

Pre-tribulation rapture Early church fathers Brian Brodersen

Pre-trib rapture and early church fathers: Mike acknowledges not knowing the answer and references Brian Brodersen's book.

Ian Connolly asks whether the pre-trib rapture was a recent invention not believed by early church fathers.

Bill Johnson False teachers Bethel Music

Using materials from false teachers: distinction between promoting a false teacher's work vs. using theologically sound songs/content from a problematic source.

Question about whether to stay in a church that uses materials from false teachers.

1 Corinthians 14 Acts 2 (Pentecost) 1 Corinthians 13:1 1 Corinthians 14 Tongues Acts 2 (Pentecost)

Tongues in the New Testament: multiple types — tongues with interpretation (public) and tongues without interpretation (private).

Tanya Baltzer asks about tongues — actual languages vs. unknown languages.

Galatians 5:22-23 Ephesians 5:18 Galatians 5:22-23 Ephesians 5:18 Drunk in the Spirit

Ephesians 5:18 — "be filled with the Spirit" is a CONTRAST to being drunk with wine, not a comparison; "drunk in the Spirit" is a misreading.

Mike addresses "drunk in the Spirit" and "slain in the Spirit" claims.

1 Samuel 28 Samuel Demons / evil spirits 1 Samuel 28

Witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28): the appearance of Samuel was an exception, possibly demonic; the medium herself was shocked it worked.

Continuing the ghosts discussion with a biblical example.

1 Timothy 2 1 Timothy 2 Women in ministry Complementarianism

Women teaching men in a pastoral/leadership role: Mike reiterates his complementarian position.

Emily Espinal asks the biblical view on women teaching men in a pastoral role.

1 Timothy 2:5 John 20:17 1 Timothy 2:5 John 20:17 Jesus as mediator

1 Timothy 2:5 mediator concept underlies John 20:17 — Jesus is the one mediator between God and man.

Continuing the John 20:17 discussion.

Hermeneutics Eschatology Preterism

Preterism: all/most Bible prophecy fulfilled by 70 AD — initially appealing but breaks down under scrutiny.

Lindy Z asks about preterism.

1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 11 Head coverings Women in worship

Head coverings for women: Mike holds tentatively that they are not necessary today, but acknowledges he wants to study the passage more.

Riatoon asks whether Christian head coverings are biblical.

Mark's Gospel Early attestation Mark's Gospel

Early attestation - all NT documents are 1st century with sources within 7 years

Arguing for early date of empty tomb testimony

Rudolf Pesch Caiaphas Dating methodology

Rudolf Pesch's argument on Mark's omission of Caiaphas's name

Dating Mark's source material by historical details

Gospel of Peter Literary analysis

Mark's unadorned narrative vs legendary Gospel of Peter's elaborate details

Contrasting early and late accounts of the resurrection

Bart Ehrman Women witnesses Criterion of embarrassment

Women as witnesses - criterion of embarrassment in male-centered culture

Why early Christians would not invent women as the first witnesses