Search — Theology Explorer

John 1:1 Jehovah's Witnesses theos John 1:1

Greek grammar of John 1:1 — theos/theon and the definite article (ton)

Mike walks through the Greek text of John 1:1 using Logos Bible Software.

Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation Bible translation

NWT translators' identities were kept secret; a former JW leader revealed they were not qualified

Mike addresses the credibility problem with the NWT's translation committee.

Hebrews 4:16 Ephesians 1 1 John 2:1 prayer assurance of salvation righteousness of Christ

Guilt and shame before God — healthy guilt vs. unhealthy guilt that drives you away from God

Question from Lisa Kaminsky about feeling unworthy to pray or call herself a Christian when she misses daily Bible reading and prayer.

Hebrews 6 Hebrews 6:4-6 Luke 8:4-15 salvation eternal security Hebrews 6

Hebrews 6:4-6 — the most difficult passage in the Bible; three main interpretive options explored

Question from Delante Dingo about whether the Parable of the Sower clarifies Hebrews 6 and whether salvation is eternal.

Bible translation biblical accuracy The Message Bible

The Message Bible — not a legitimate translation; unfaithful to the original languages; should not be recommended

Question from Jonathan Edwards about recommending The Message Bible.

The Passion Translation discernment false teaching

The Mirror Bible by Francois du Toit — described as the worst Bible translation Mike has encountered; announces a dedicated video

Mike previews Monday's upcoming content at the close of the episode.

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Bible study tips for new believers: study Bibles and Blue Letter Bible as foundational resources

Question from Mia Joe, a new Christian of a couple months.

Bible study Blue Letter Bible new believers

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Matthew 8 two demoniacs vs. Mark 5 one demoniac: narrative selectivity, not contradiction

Question from CM (from Germany) about the apparent discrepancy between Matthew 8 and Mark 5.

Matthew 8 Mark 5 inerrancy Matthew 8 Mark 5

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Homosexuality passages: pedophilia reinterpretation refuted — Mike's four-part series using pro-gay Greek scholars

Question from April Stafford about the claim that biblical passages condemning homosexuality are actually about pedophilia.

Romans 1 1 Corinthians 6:9 Leviticus 18:22 biblical interpretation Romans 1 1 Corinthians 6:9

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Mark 16:9-20 (the longer ending) is likely not original to the gospel

Responding to a question from Max Bolser about Mark 16:17-18 and signs following believers

Mark 16:9-20 textual criticism biblical inerrancy longer ending of Mark

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Acts 16:31 does not teach household salvation -- the household's rejoicing proves they individually believed

Responding to Sarah P's report that her Bible teacher taught household salvation from Acts 16:31

Acts 16:31-34 hermeneutics salvation Acts 16:31-34

Bible translation Passion Translation The Message

The Passion Translation — concerns and how to warn others about it

A viewer asks how to lovingly warn people about the Passion Translation without wounding them, and which 2-3 most egregious verses to share.

word of wisdom word of knowledge prophecy

Cessationism vs. continuationism — Mike holds continuationism but respects cessationists

A viewer asks what Mike thinks about cessationists.

1 Corinthians 7 Luke 14:26 1 Corinthians 7 discipleship Luke 14:26

Luke 14:26 — Forsaking family for Christ: hyperbole and ultimate priority, not literal abandonment

A viewer asks what Jesus meant by forsaking family and hating father and mother.

hermeneutics commentaries sermon preparation

How Mike prepares his messages — text-first exegetical process

A viewer asks how Mike prepares for teaching.

Revelation eschatology fulfilled prophecy Revelation

Preterism — all Bible prophecy fulfilled by 70 AD; Mike disagrees and will debate it on Remnant Radio

A viewer asks: if Revelation was all about Rome, what would be the point of it?

Calvary Chapel youth ministry church discipline

How Mike ended up at Calvary Chapel — left previous church over moral compromise in youth ministry

A viewer asks how Mike ended up at Calvary Chapel in Bellflower.

1 Timothy 3 1 Timothy 3 elder qualifications youth ministry

Can a high school student give a sermon? — Giving a message vs. holding the office of elder

A viewer asks whether biblical leadership qualifications prevent a high school student from giving a message at a school Bible study.

1 Corinthians 14:34 1 Timothy 2:12 hermeneutics 1 Corinthians 14:34 gender roles

Women's silence passages in context — likely addressing local disorder, not a universal ban

A viewer asks whether men and women can be in a Bible study together and if women should be silent.

1 Peter Genesis 6 1 Peter Genesis 6 Nephilim

Nephilim in Genesis — Mike directs viewers to his 1 Peter Bible study for treatment

A viewer asks what Mike thinks about the Nephilim mentioned in Genesis.

calling worship leading apologetics

Gaps in vocational ministry — expository preaching, apologetics, archaeology, worship leading

A viewer asks what the church is most lacking in vocational ministry.

eschatology fulfilled prophecy Israel

Israel 1948 prophecy claim — Mike is skeptical; caution about unverified fulfilled prophecy arguments

A viewer asks if Israel becoming a nation in 1948 was prophesied to the day in the Bible.

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

No single biblical form of government; Christianity fits any system through principles

Question about biblical support for monarchy and the Christian attitude toward it.

Romans 13 theocracy justice Romans 13

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Upcoming Passion Translation critique project with scholarly interviews

Mike previews December content plans.

textual criticism Bill Johnson Bible translation

epistemology aliens and Christianity biblical silence

The Bible neither affirms nor denies the existence of aliens; Christians can follow the evidence without a presuppositional commitment either way.

Does the Bible say anything about aliens?

women in ministry egalitarianism gender roles

Women speaking in Bible study (reading, praying, giving commentary but not teaching) - Mike's short answer is that none of those things are prohibited; the restriction relates to formal teaching authority.

Question about women speaking during Bible study

hermeneutics discernment commentaries

For new Christians evaluating commentaries: trust your Bible more than commentators; blueletterbible.org is recommended as a generally reliable free resource.

Question from a new Christian about evaluating Bible teachers and commentaries

Revelation Song of Solomon Brian Simmons textual criticism Revelation

Update on the Passion Translation review project: four interviews done with scholars, more coming; Brian Simmons took unusual liberties especially in Revelation and Song of Solomon.

Passion project update - Passion Translation review series

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's claim that the NT contains anti-Semitic propaganda and forged passages is theologically foolish — it substitutes his personal agenda for textual criticism and makes him the effective authority over Scripture.

Q: What do you think of Shmuley Boteach's claim that the NT has anti-Semitic propaganda Christians should reject as forgeries?

Romans 9-11 Shmuley Boteach Anti-Semitism and the New Testament Romans 9-11

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

In times of psychological doubt, stop requiring emotional confirmation from Bible reading, worship, and prayer — treat spiritual disciplines as objectively worth doing regardless of how they feel.

Practical strategies for overcoming psychological/emotional doubt.

Prayer Doubt and Faith Trust in God vs. Feelings

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Passion Translation project update: Mike has hired multiple scholars to review the Passion Translation — Tremper Longman (Song of Songs, already published), Nijay Gupta (Galatians, days away), Darrell Bock, Douglas Moo, Craig Blomberg are upcoming.

Closing ministry update on the Passion Translation evaluation project.

Craig Blomberg Douglas Moo Brian Simmons

thinking biblically BibleThinker ministry

Introduction and ministry update for 2021

Opening of first livestream of 2021 (New Year's Day)

divorce and remarriage biblical research methodology

Divorce and remarriage study as model for deep-topic research projects

Ministry methodology

BibleThinker ministry open theism

BibleThinker.org website improvements: searchable timestamp database

Website and ministry infrastructure plans for 2021

Matthew Vines biblical authority apologetics homosexuality

Diagnosing the root belief driving a gay-identifying Christian friend — four possible positions

Continuing Q8 — strategy for engaging friend

1 Corinthians 11 John 14:6 John 1:1-14 hermeneutics Craig Blomberg Douglas Moo

Many ways to interpret the Bible — but the most important truths are plainly clear

Continuing Q14 on Bible interpretation and despair

Bible translation Bible study methods New Living Translation

When reading Scripture, consult a second translation when you genuinely do not understand a passage

First question / tip of the stream: when to reference secondary Bible translations

hermeneutics Bible translation Blue Letter Bible

Consult additional translations when your interpretation hangs on the nuance of a specific wording

Second tip on when to consult secondary Bible translations; practical advice for teachers

prayer Bible study methods Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer is an excellent structured guide for prayer when used as a launch pad, not as a rote formula to repeat

Positive application of the Lord's Prayer and recommendation for daily devotional practice

perspective Christian worldview kingdom of God

The Hobbit analogy: getting into the Word is like climbing above the fog to regain vision and direction

Transition into the bonus questions — encouragement for the viewers

Michael Brown Bible translation Passion Translation

Mike intends to discuss the Passion Translation with Dr. Michael Brown on Brown's program once his research is more complete

Question from Two Messianic Jews about whether Mike has reached out to Dr. Michael Brown regarding the Passion Translation

Proverbs Craig Blomberg wisdom Proverbs

Proverbs recommended as the antidote to the lack of wisdom on both political extremes

Closing remarks

1 Timothy 2:5 1 Timothy 2:5 Temple theology Ark of the Covenant

The temple's empty space at the center of worship is the model for where all prayer and worship must be directed — God alone, with no mediating object

Continued answer on icons/images, drawing on the temple design.

Leviticus 25:44-46 Anachronism in biblical interpretation Leviticus 25:44-46 Slavery in the Old Testament

Leviticus 25:44-46 must be read within a full survey of Old Testament slave laws — anachronism of projecting chattel slavery onto the text is the core hermeneutical error

Question from James W. about Leviticus 25:44-46 and whether the Bible endorses slavery.

Philemon Paul Philemon Slavery in the New Testament

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.

James 5:14 Spiritual warfare Anointing with oil James 5:14

Anointing a home with oil is not taught in the NT but is permissible as an extra-biblical tradition if not turned into a formula or power-grab

Question from Kate about anointing a home with oil for spiritual warfare.