Search — Theology Explorer

1 Peter Hebrews 12:3-6 Proverbs on discipline 1 Peter Hebrews 12:3-6 Divine discipline

Divine discipline in Hebrews 12: suffering is God's loving discipline and can be broad — including consequences of sin or trials for character formation.

Question from Jacob Duncan about how God disciplines believers per Hebrews 12.

Genesis Romans 5 Genesis Romans 5 Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve as historical people: consistency as a Christian requires affirming their historicity, but salvation does not depend on this doctrine.

Question from Loretta Taylor about whether Christian faith requires Adam and Eve to be literal historical people.

James 1 Galatians 5 Ephesians 4:26 James 1 Galatians 5 God's wrath

God's jealousy and anger are not sinful because jealousy and anger are not inherently sinful — only their corrupt expressions in fallen humans are.

Question from A.D. Chan about how God can be jealous or angry if these are listed as sins of the flesh in Galatians 5.

John 20:23 Apostolic authority John 20:23 Forgiveness of sins

John 20:23 — the authority to forgive or retain sins: the disciples are declaring what heaven has already determined, not independently granting forgiveness.

Question from Thomas Brownlee about interpreting John 20:23.

Prayer for the dead Purgatory God's relationship to time

Praying for the salvation of the deceased: not immoral as described, but lacks biblical authorization and is questionable in effect.

Question from "Nothing Much" about retroactive prayer for someone who has already died.

Paul the Apostle church authority baptism

Q11: Who can perform baptism? Scripture gives no explicit rule but establishes community precedent; a parent can baptize a child

Viewer 'Skirt Bobcat' asks who is authorized to perform baptism and whether a parent can baptize their children.

1 Corinthians 12 Luke 10 Pentecost spiritual gifts charismatic movement

Q14: Is the authority Jesus gave the 12 and 70 disciples different from spiritual gifts? Mike distinguishes pre-Pentecost authority from post-Pentecost Spirit-enabled gifts

Viewer Silas Bourner asks whether the authority Jesus granted the Twelve and Seventy to heal and cast out demons is different from spiritual gifts.

complementarianism headship marriage

Q16: Is consulting and making decisions cooperatively with your wife permissible? Absolutely yes — the husband's headship is not about excluding his wife's input

Viewer Joel Parks asks whether Mike's past characterization of 'knucklehead' husbands means cooperative decision-making with a wife is wrong.

Romans 8 Exodus 34 Moses Romans 8 Holy Spirit

Q18: Can Christians feel God's presence, or is it just emotion responding to truth? Both are possible — Spirit-generated emotion and ordinary human emotion are both real

Viewer Amelia asks whether feeling God's presence is genuine or just the mind responding emotionally to biblical truth.

Gerasene demoniac Satan spiritual warfare

Demonic activity in first century as messianic confirmation and spiritual battleground

Jesus's authority over demons served as a sign to the Jews confirming his messianic identity; the concentration of demonic opposition is explained by Satan's forces mobilizing against the Son of God.

Gerasene demoniac spiritual warfare salvation history

First century as the ultimate spiritual battleground for all creation

Summary conclusion on demonic activity question: the first century was uniquely intense because it was the decisive battleground of salvation history.

Genesis 3 federal headship curse reversal Genesis 3

Christ as Second Adam — taking on human form to represent all humanity and reverse the curse

Christ's incarnation was not only to die but to serve as the representative of all humanity, reversing the curse of the first Adam.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 Romans 9:20-23 hermeneutics sanctification Calvinism

The two vessel passages should not be conflated — different contexts, different applications

Mike's conclusion: 2 Tim 2:20-21 and Romans 9 use the same metaphor for different purposes and cannot be merged to make a doctrinal argument about total depravity.

sola scriptura apologetics Catholicism

Question: Confused after debate with a Catholic — how to handle doctrinal confusion

Viewer Katie had a debate with a Catholic and now feels confused about core doctrinal differences.

Ecclesiastes 3:21 Ecclesiastes 12:7 death Ecclesiastes 3:21 Ecclesiastes 12:7

Ecclesiastes passage differentiating the spirit of animals (returns to dust) from the spirit of humans (returns to God)

The only biblical text Mike can identify that directly addresses the distinction between animal and human souls at death.

Proverbs Christian ethics fear of God Proverbs

Question: Is there anything Christians should fear apart from God?

Viewer Omar Barr asks whether there are legitimate objects of fear for Christians beyond fearing God.

Ephesians 6:10-18 spiritual warfare Ephesians 6:10-18 armor of God

Question: Run through the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Viewer Spazzy Jazzy asks for an explanation of the full armor of God from Ephesians 6.

1 Kings 19 spiritual disciplines still small voice listening prayer

The still small voice (1 Kings 19) is not a model for seeking God through hints and whispers

Common proof-text for listening prayer misapplied.

Brian Simmons Passion Translation Tremper Longman

The Passion Translation is not a real translation — scholars hired by Winger unanimously agree it contains fabrications and mistakes, not genuine Hebrew/Greek insights.

Responding to a Twitter question from Jeff Gaitzens about a pastor using the Passion Translation.

Genesis 2:24 Genesis 2:24 Honor your parents Leave and cleave

Responding to an abusive parent who weaponizes 'honor your parents': adult children are not obligated to obey parents, and marriage triggers the leave-and-cleave authority shift.

Question from Enoch about an abusive father who uses 'honor your parents' to demand submission.

Women in ministry Women as elders Church leadership

Women serving as elders is not Winger's current biblical position, but he plans a thorough future research project before finalizing his view.

Question from Patience Kachidza about a mother-in-law ordained as an elder in a church.

Proof-texting Hermeneutics Original audience interpretation

Proper Bible study: identify what the text meant to the original audience before asking how to apply it; context prevents proof-texting.

Question from Natural Glory about how to study the Bible properly.

Genesis 1-2 Genesis as history vs. mythology Genesis 1-2 Young earth creationism Old earth creationism

Genesis 1-2 and the age of the earth: Winger is no longer confident in young-earth creationism based on exegesis alone; plans a full research project.

Question from Ethan Tucker about whether early Genesis is mythology or history.

1 Timothy 3 Galatians 3:28 Matthew 23:8-12 servant leadership overseer episkopos

Ministry titles and the clergy-laity distinction: what Jesus really forbade in Matthew 23

Chris Horn asked whether Matthew 23:8-12 prohibits using ministry titles like pastor or elder.

Hebrews 7:7 spiritual authority Levitical priesthood Abraham

Pronouncing a blessing on others: Hebrews 7:7 and mutual blessing in the body of Christ

Andrej asked whether saying "I bless you" to someone implies a hierarchical superiority that is inappropriate between equals.

discernment false teaching church discipline

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young: channeled content, demonic origin, pastoral danger

Rachel joined a church prayer group using the devotional Jesus Calling and found concerning content.

Galatians 1:8-9 2 Corinthians 11:4 Jude 3 sola scriptura Galatians 1:8-9 Kenneth Copeland

Another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4): prioritizing doctrine over teachers

Chip Ludick asked why Paul warned the Corinthians about "another Jesus" in 2 Corinthians 11:4 and how it applies today in light of John 17:3.

James White Trinity baptism church history

Oneness Pentecostalism and baptism: standing firm on Trinitarian faith with grace

Reagen Bechtold's family are Oneness Pentecostals who wanted him/her to be re-baptized in their formula after already being baptized in a Trinitarian church.

eschatology Christian witness kingdom of God

Closing exhortation: Christians bring hope to the world, not from the world

Closing remarks at the end of the 20 Questions livestream.

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Non-negotiable Christian doctrines — essentials vs. secondary issues

DJ Diner asks what doctrines Christians should plant their flag on and never back down from.

Mormonism biblical inerrancy Trinity

Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Christianity has a mountain of evidential support — fulfilled prophecy, unity of Scripture, historical verification

Closing the apologetics discussion by pointing to positive evidence for Christianity

apologetics biblical inspiration fulfilled prophecy

Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Apologetics resources: use general resources (Got Questions) to start, then targeted in-depth resources (books) for specific issues

Recommending starting points for apologetics study

Richard Bauckham apologetics William Lane Craig

Romans 13:4 Romans 13:1 Romans 12:17 Romans 13:4 Romans 13:1 Romans 12:17

Christians can and should serve in government; Romans 13 and Romans 12:17 are not contradictory — private morality and governmental justice operate on different principles.

The Brunette Family asks whether a Christian can be a governing authority given Romans 13:1 alongside Romans 12:17 ("repay no one evil for evil").

Psalm 139 Genesis 38 (Onan) hermeneutics abortifacient Psalm 139

Birth control and vasectomy: contraception that prevents conception is morally permissible for Christians; abortifacient contraception is morally equivalent to killing a human life.

Lucas Eileen asks for a biblical perspective on birth control and vasectomy, mentioning Genesis 38 and Psalm 139.

Acts 1 Matthew 19:28 Luke 22:28-30 eschatology Judas Iscariot Acts 1

Matthew 19:28 — the promise of 12 thrones for those who followed Jesus does not necessarily include Judas; Matthias' replacement and the symbolic nature of the number 12 both resolve the tension.

Robo King asks whether Judas still has a throne since Jesus promised 12 thrones to the Twelve in Matthew 19:28.

John 15 grace sanctification Christian living

Closing exhortation: the Christian calling is impossibly high but entirely sustained by the oceans of grace in Christ; fruit comes through abiding, not striving.

Final blessing to the live stream audience.

Philippians 4:8 John 13:2 Ephesians 6 Peter Philippians 4:8 Satan

Intrusive/unwanted thoughts: possible demonic origin and the Philippians 4:8 remedy

Question from Turka Orenzova about horrifying thoughts that pop into her head unbidden.

Ecclesiology Church planting Local church

What is a local church and is planting under an existing church a biblical mandate?

Question from Droopy's Dad about church definition and whether church plants must be authorized by an existing church.

2 Corinthians 4:8 Rest in God Christian peace Suffering / trials

Resting in God does not mean absence of anguish — the "bedrock" model of Christian peace

Question from Faith Marie about resting in God's presence and staying connected throughout the day.

Deuteronomy / Joshua conquest texts Theodicy Children and salvation Canaanite conquest

The Canaanite genocide: why God commanded Israel to kill rather than drive out or convert

Question from Lindsey Kelso about the moral difficulty of God commanding Israel to kill thousands of Canaanites.

Mark 8:33 Peter Satan Judas Iscariot

Get Behind Me Satan (Mark 8:33): was Satan working through Peter, or is Jesus using "satan" metaphorically?

Question from Elijah Roman about Mark 8:33 vs. Satan entering Judas — was Satan divided against himself?

Mark 2:10 Mark 8:31 Mark 9:9 Christology Transfiguration Son of Man

Son of Man in Mark's Gospel: Jesus clearly uses the title self-referentially

Question from Skeptic Reviews claiming Jesus used "Son of Man" in the third person to refer to someone other than himself.

Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Hebrews 12:6 uses "scourges" (from the Septuagint of Proverbs 3:12) to describe God's fatherly discipline; the intensified language is contextually appropriate fatherly correction, not brutal punishment.

Q6 from Stephanie: Hebrews 12:5-6 quotes Proverbs 3:11-12 but ends with "scourge" — why does it imply God brutally whips every believer?

Hebrews 12:5-6 Proverbs 3:11-12 Septuagint (LXX) Hebrews 12:5-6 Proverbs 3:11-12

Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Fruits of the Spirit in believers vs. unbelievers: the difference is source (Holy Spirit) and ultimate quality/context, not the complete absence of these qualities in unbelievers.

Q20 from Craig Burnett: what is the difference in gifts/fruits of the Spirit between a Christian and a non-Christian displaying the same qualities (patience, gentleness, peace)?

Galatians 5:22-23 2 Timothy 4:10 Holy Spirit fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23

John 1 Plato Philo of Alexandria John 1

Plato's influence on Christianity: limited and often overstated due to caricatures of ancient thought

Q2 from Tony Oshikonlu: What does Plato have to do with Christianity? Was Plato as influential on Christianity as the Bible?

1 Corinthians 10:19-20 Numbers 33:3-4 Exodus plagues Michael Heiser elohim 1 Corinthians 10:19-20

Are the gods of other religions real? Three views: false polytheism, Heiserian divine council, and Pauline demonic identification

Q6 from Loretta Taylor: Numbers 33:3-4 says Yahweh executed judgments on Egypt's gods — does this mean gods like Allah and Zeus are real?

Proverbs 22:28 Matthew 18:18 church authority spiritual abuse tradition vs Scripture

Mandating church traditions as biblical commands is wrong; Proverbs 22:28 and Matthew 18:18 do not support it

Q8 from John Doe: A church mandates women wear dresses and men be clean-shaven using Proverbs 22:28 and Matthew 18:18 — is it biblical to mandate adherence to tradition?