Search — Theology Explorer

About the 2nd Temple’s Construction: Given that Ezekiel's temple prophecy with its strict measurements was written before the second temple was built, why didn't the second temple get built to those specifications?

Q&A question: About the 2nd Temple’s Construction

Ezekiel prophecy Ezekiel

Are Crop-Tops Appropriate?: Most of the older girls and young women at our church are wearing crop tops to church. I find this obviously inappropriate for church and in general, but I don't want to be legalistic. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Are Crop-Tops Appropriate?

Forgiving Others: Jesus said forgive others so that God will forgive us, but Paul says we forgive BECAUSE God has forgiven us. How do you reconcile those statements?

Q&A question: Forgiving Others

Does God Use Verses Out of Context?: Does God still communicate through verses taken out of context? Some say “yes” due to His unique ways, but I'm unsure.

Q&A question: Does God Use Verses Out of Context?

Mike Winger idea 2023-09-15

Greater Works than Jesus?: In John 14: 12, Jesus said we would do even greater things than Him. That’s a tough pill to swallow since He died for our sins and created everything. How do I process Jesus’ statement?

Q&A question: Greater Works than Jesus?

Mike Winger idea 2023-09-15

Exploring the Different Words for God’s Law: Every verse in Psalm 119 refers to God's Law, and ten different words are used, including: commandments, precepts, law, testimonies, ways, etc. Why? Does each word have a different meaning?

Q&A question: Exploring the Different Words for God’s Law

Psalm 119 Psalm 119

Mike Winger idea 2023-09-15

How to Prepare Large Study Projects: How do you go about a project like the Women in Ministry series? I want to do something similar with Genesis 1-2 but I don't even know where to begin or what tools to use (other than Logos, of course).

Q&A question: How to Prepare Large Study Projects

Genesis Genesis 1 Genesis women in ministry Genesis 1

Mike Winger idea 2023-09-29

Recovering from Works Based Thinking: I left the Hebrew Israelite movement 3 years ago, and since then, I’ve been struggling with my walk. I know we have God’s grace, but I was so used to doing works that I feel lost now. Any suggestions?

Q&A question: Recovering from Works Based Thinking

Israel

Mike Winger idea 2023-09-29

Laws, Islam & Executing Apostates: Looking at Deuteronomy 13:6-10, is the apostasy law similar to Muslims? And is it inherently immoral for an apostate to be put to death because of their beliefs, according to the Old Testament?

Q&A question: Laws, Islam & Executing Apostates

Islam apostasy

Mike Winger idea 2023-10-17

Are the Mentally Disabled Saved?: What happens to autistic people or mentally disabled people? Do they go to Heaven?

Q&A question: Are the Mentally Disabled Saved?

heaven

Mike Winger idea 2023-10-17

Congregational Votes – Sometimes Sinful?: Is it against the Bible to have your congregation vote on whether or not to have women as elders?

Q&A question: Congregational Votes – Sometimes Sinful?

elder qualifications

Mike Winger idea 2023-10-17

The Day of The Lord & His Second Coming: How do the ideas of "The Day of The Lord" in the Old Testament and Jesus' second coming in the New Testament intersect? I've been studying this, but I'd like some of your opinions.

Q&A question: The Day of The Lord & His Second Coming

Jesus second coming

Mike Winger idea 2023-11-17

Women & Men – Distinct Attire?: I heard you teach it’s a biblical principle for girls to make sure they wear only girl clothes and guys, guy clothes. I'm a girl but I sometimes wear zip hoodies or T-shirts that are technically from the men’s section (but with other women's items). I didn’t think that was wrong, but is my attitude wrong?

Q&A question: Women & Men – Distinct Attire?

Mike Winger idea 2023-11-17

How to Truly Trust God: How do I truly trust God? I've been struggling with fear of dying and judgment; fear that I don't have enough faith or that salvation isn't really by grace alone.

Q&A question: How to Truly Trust God

salvation

Mike Winger idea 2023-12-01

Uphold the Constitution vs. Obey Government?: In general, Christians should not rebel against the government without biblical reason, but as one in the military, should I keep my oath to defend the Constitution if the government violates it?

Q&A question: Uphold the Constitution vs. Obey Government?

Genesis 22 Genesis Abraham Isaac Genesis 22

Did God Command Sin?: In Genesis 22:2, God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. How can God ask men to do something that is sinful, and how could Abraham obey God’s direction to sin?

Q&A question: Did God Command Sin?

Deuteronomy 22 Deuteronomy 22

Proof of Virginity Required?: In Deuteronomy 22: 13-21, why were the women to be stoned to death if they didn’t present proof of virginity? Was it the same for the men?

Q&A question: Proof of Virginity Required?

Keep All but 1 Commandment?: Why do Christians try to keep all 10 commandments except the 4th one? I hope this doesn't sound rude.

Q&A question: Keep All but 1 Commandment?

Rejecting the Message due to Credentials: Any advice for lay people doing public ministry that get attacked by non-believers on the basis of their credentials? I feel I am capable of interpretation and ministry despite never having been to seminary.

Q&A question: Rejecting the Message due to Credentials

Does the Devil Know Our Thoughts?: Can the Devil interpret what a non-believer may be thinking or what's on their mind? Can he understand what a person is thinking?

Q&A question: Does the Devil Know Our Thoughts?

Couldn’t the Bible be More Clear?: Do you honestly think the Bible couldn't have been more clear about important moral issues where the church has been very wrong (treatment of gays, etc.)? What does that say about authorship?

Q&A question: Couldn’t the Bible be More Clear?

homosexuality

Was Jesus Only Condemning the Religious?: I often hear people saying that Jesus was speaking to and condemning the religious only, not speaking to the world. How would you respond to this sentiment?

Q&A question: Was Jesus Only Condemning the Religious?

Is God Deterministic?: If Jesus in the Old Testament was intentional by God, does that mean that God is sometimes deterministic? For example, did God orchestrate Joseph’s life?

Q&A question: Is God Deterministic?

Joseph Jesus

How to “Build Up” One Another: What does “building others up” with your words really mean? Does it mean that you should compliment people and just say nice things to them? Does it mean more, or something entirely different?

Q&A question: How to “Build Up” One Another

1 Corinthians 8 1 Corinthians 8

Has the HS Been Left Out?: Why is the Holy Spirit not mentioned in the greetings of Paul, and why He is left out in such statements like 1 Corinthians 8:6?

Q&A question: Has the HS Been Left Out?

Mike Winger idea 2024-01-26

The Granville Sharp’s Rule: How reliable is the Granville Sharp's rule? Is it implemented outside of New Testament writings?

Q&A question: The Granville Sharp’s Rule

Interpreting the Book of Acts: How do we interpret the book of Acts? Is it a reasonable interpretation that it’s merely a transitional period and that we have to be careful how much doctrine we take from it?

Q&A question: Interpreting the Book of Acts

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-09

Where is the 2nd Coming in Scripture?: Where does it say in the Bible that the Messiah will have a second coming? Does Jesus tell His disciples that He won’t be fulfilling all of the Old Testament prophecies just yet?

Q&A question: Where is the 2nd Coming in Scripture?

Jesus second coming prophecy

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-16

Removing Shoes on Holy Ground?: What is the significance of people taking their shoes off in the presence of God in the Old Testament?

Q&A question: Removing Shoes on Holy Ground?

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-16

Overcoming the Pressure of Comparison: How do I stop comparing myself to others? As a college student, I’m surrounded by a highly competitive environment and I find myself comparing my grades and career to others. How do I overcome this?

Q&A question: Overcoming the Pressure of Comparison

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-16

(Just for fun!) BONUS Q: In LOTR Return of the King, it is mentioned that 3 days are needed to gather more forces. Before Aragorn leaves. However, only 1 day seems to pass. How do you reconcile this?

Q&A question

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-23

Strategic Evangelism to Strangers: How do you initiate sharing the Gospel with a stranger? Is it best to be direct (e.g., “Can I share the Gospel with you?”), or would you recommend a more gradual approach?

Q&A question: Strategic Evangelism to Strangers

angels

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-23

Winger affirms the Father has authority over the Son but attributes this to the Incarnation (Phil 2:5-8), not necessarily to the eternal nature of the Trinity. He's open to but not convinced by Eternal Functional Subordination (EFS). Explicitly says he does NOT use EFS to defend complementarianism.

Q: Do many scriptures showing different authority levels between Father and Jesus mean the Father has higher authority? (John 14:28, 1 Cor 11:3, Matt 28:18)

1 Corinthians 11:3 Philippians 2:5-8 John 14:28 complementarianism headship Trinity

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-23

Living Productively & Overcoming Bad Habits: My apartment is a mess, I wake up late, I eat junk food, I'm too lazy to read the Bible and I feel like I know a lot about God, but I don't feel like His daughter. How can I turn my life around?

Q&A question: Living Productively & Overcoming Bad Habits

Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

Godly Womanhood/Biblical Femininity: How does godly womanhood differ from godly manhood outside of marriage? How do we define biblical femininity, especially for the unmarried woman? Does discipleship look different for women?

Q&A question: Godly Womanhood/Biblical Femininity

marriage

Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

The LXX More Reliable for Typology?: Is the Septuagint more reliable for finding Jesus in the Old Testament? S. Douglas Woodward & others say that messianic passages & timelines in the Masoretic Text were altered in 2nd century to keep Jews from converting to Christianity.

Q&A question: The LXX More Reliable for Typology?