Search — Theology Explorer

Philippians 4:2-3 Linda Belleville Euodia Syntyche

Euodia and Syntyche: Belleville claims they were among overseers and deacons at Philippi

Mike moves to examining the case of Euodia and Syntyche in Philippians 4:2-3.

Philippians 1:1 Linda Belleville Two Views on Women in Ministry Euodia

Belleville's logic: Philippians 1:1 lists saints, overseers, deacons -- Euodia/Syntyche must be in one category

Mike reconstructs Belleville's reasoning from Two Views (p. 60).

Philippians 4:2-3 Linda Belleville Euodia Syntyche

Belleville's argument from Paul's public appeal: if they weren't leaders, no need for third-party intervention

Mike evaluates Belleville's second argument for Euodia/Syntyche's leadership.

Romans 16:3 Philippians 4:3 Tom Schreiner Two Views on Women in Ministry Mary

Tom Schreiner's refutation: co-worker/labor terms are too vague to indicate leadership

Mike reads a lengthy quote from Tom Schreiner (Two Views, pp. 280-281).

Philippians 1:1 Romans 16:1 Romans 13:4 Phoebe Cenchreae Philippians 1:1

Is Phoebe a deacon? Analysis of Romans 16:1 and the word diakonos

Mike examines whether Phoebe held the official office of deacon.

Philippians 2:19-30 Linda Belleville Discovering Biblical Equality scholarly methodology

Belleville's third footnote: Philippians 2:19-30 -- all males, no women deacons

Mike checks the third footnoted passage.

Mike Winger idea 2017-12-27

Tip 6: Go higher — set goals rooted in godly, selfless ambition rather than worldly self-interest

Sixth of seven tips. Mike calls believers to transcend secular motivations for self-improvement.

Romans 12:1 Philippians 2:3 Romans 12:1 Philippians 2:3 living sacrifice

Mike Winger idea 2017-12-27

Stopping the inner monologue of complaint through prayer — personal testimony and Philippians 4:8

Mike shares a personal example of applying Tip 7, and ties it to Philippians 4:8.

Philippians 4:7 Philippians 4:8 self-talk Philippians 4:7 Philippians 4:8

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Greek word 'sozo' (saved) does not always carry theological salvation meaning — Philippians 1:19 as example

Illustrating the theological vs. dictionary meaning distinction with 'saved'

Philippians 1:19 semantic range sozo salvation

Mike Winger idea 2019-03-20

Philippians 2:6-8 — Jesus lived a humble, godly life and died by crucifixion

Continuing the biographical details about Jesus that Paul records.

Philippians 2:6-8 kenosis incarnation Philippians 2:6-8

Mike Winger idea 2018-12-19

Philippians 3:4-9 — Paul counts his pre-conversion Jewish credentials as 'rubbish' compared to knowing Christ

Mike reads Philippians 3 as a direct biblical answer to Ben's argument

Philippians 3:4-9 Paul righteousness Philippians 3:4-9

Mike Winger idea 2018-12-19

Philippians 3:10-11 — resurrection is found only through Christ, not through Jewish law-keeping

Continuing the Philippians 3 passage

Philippians 3:10-11 Paul resurrection Philippians 3:10-11

Mike Winger idea 2019-02-13

How a Christian should deal with consuming grief over abortion

Response to a viewer involved in pro-life ministry feeling overwhelmed by abortion rulings

Philippians 4 John 16:33 abortion anxiety and prayer Philippians 4

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

Prison epistles and other NT letters as evidence that suffering was a church-wide reality needing sustained pastoral address

The pervasive theme of persecution across the entire NT corpus

1 Peter Romans 8 Revelation 2-3 1 Peter Romans 8 Revelation 2-3

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

Refutation of Candida Moss's argument that "suffered unto death" in 1 Clement is not a reference to martyrdom, using Polycarp's parallel usage

Addressing a specific scholarly objection to the martyrdom reading of 1 Clement

apostolic martyrdom 1 Clement Candida Moss

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

Philippians — Paul's pastoral management of his congregation's grief over his suffering as evidence that his persecution was a given, publicly known reality

Paul's suffering was so consistent and well-known that he had to repeatedly address the pastoral fallout from it

Philippians Paul the Apostle apostolic martyrdom apostle sincerity

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-08

Matthew 6:14-15 has a direct and uncomfortable application; persistent unwillingness to forgive may be evidence of not being in Christ, not a cause of losing salvation

Response to question about applying Matthew 6:14-15 to life situations

Matthew 6:14-15 Philippians 2:13 assurance of salvation forgiveness Matthew 6:14-15

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Paul's eschatology: 2 Corinthians 5:8 and Philippians 1:20-22 show an intermediate disembodied state after death, before the final bodily resurrection

Paul's two-stage eschatological framework

2 Corinthians 5:8 Philippians 1:20-22 Paul eschatology intermediate state

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Three additional passages show "household" belief language does not imply infants: John 4:53, Acts 18:8, Philippians 4:22

Winger broadens the argument to show that household believing/greeting language consistently excludes passive infants.

John 4:53 Acts 18:8 Philippians 4:22 faith infant baptism John 4:53

Philippians 1:19-23 Paul intermediate state Philippians 1:19-23

Philippians 1:19-23 — context of Paul in prison writing about life vs. death

Mike introduces Philippians 1 as the stronger text on immediate post-death presence with Christ

Philippians 1:23 Paul soul sleep intermediate state

Philippians 1:23 — "my desire is to depart and be with Christ" refutes soul sleep

Exegesis of Philippians 1:23 as the strongest argument against soul sleep

Philippians 1 Paul soul sleep intermediate state

Paul's tension between ministry and being with Christ only makes sense if death means immediate presence

Logical argument from Philippians 1 structure

Philippians 1 Roman Catholicism eisegesis intermediate state

Roman Catholic purgatory interpretation uses Paul as an exception case rather than normative

Addressing the Roman Catholic counter-reading of Philippians 1

Ecclesiastes Philippians 1 intermediate state rapture Ecclesiastes

Can raptured believers help loved ones left behind? No biblical basis; Paul implies post-death impact ends

Question from Lassie Clyman about acting for loved ones after the rapture

Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Scriptures for believers needing deliverance — Romans 6 for sin, Philippians 4 for oppression

A viewer at 3am asks for scriptures for believers needing deliverance.

Philippians 4 Romans 6 Proverbs 11:14 Philippians 4 Romans 6 pastoral counseling

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Q10: Dangers of treating positivity/negativity as moral categories — New Age/New Thought origins

Response to question about "happy church" culture where positivity = moral good

Philippians 4:8 Brian Simmons prosperity gospel Philippians 4:8

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

The feeling of "not being there yet" in Christian growth is healthy when it motivates pressing on rather than giving up

Question from Derry Draws about how to grow spiritually when the fire feels gone

Philippians 3:13-14 calling Paul discouragement

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Jesus currently has a glorified human body in heaven — the localized presence of God is where Christ is embodied, worshipped by angels

Question from Agnes Magnusson about what form Jesus has in heaven.

Acts 1:9-11 Philippians 3:21 Glorified body of Christ Ascension of Christ Right hand of God

Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

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.

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

Mike Winger idea 2020-03-18

Q: Matthew 6:33 — seek first God's kingdom and he'll provide necessities. But Christians sometimes lack essentials. Mike's view: this is a general promise with exceptions. Paul experienced hunger, nakedness, and need (Philippians 4:12, 2 Corinthians 11:25-27) while faithfully serving God. Suffering doesn't invalidate the promise — it's for God's greater purposes.

Q&A — Matthew 6:33 and Christian suffering

Matthew 6:33 Philippians 4:12 2 Corinthians 11:25-27 Matthew 6:33 Philippians 4:12 2 Corinthians 11:25-27

Mike Winger idea 2020-04-15

Jesus's omniscience during incarnation: Mike disagrees that Jesus had NO supernatural knowledge while on earth. He knew Nathanael under the fig tree (John 1:48) and "what was in the heart of man" (John 2:25). Philippians 2:5-9: Jesus "emptied himself" — voluntarily limited ACCESS to omniscience while retaining it. Like knowing something but not being able to recall it at will.

Jesus's knowledge during incarnation — kenosis

Philippians 2:5-9 John 1:48 kenosis Philippians 2:5-9 Jesus supernatural knowledge

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

The claim "it's always God's will to heal sickness" is arbitrary — the apostles themselves suffered illness (Timothy's stomach issues, Trophimus left sick, Epaphroditus nearly died) while doing miracles.

Refuting the Word of Faith claim that sickness is never God's will

2 Timothy 4:20 1 Timothy 5:23 1 Peter 4:19 thorn in the flesh 2 Timothy 4:20 Word of Faith

Mike Winger idea 2021-07-16

How to “Work out our Salvation”: I read a commentary on Philippians 2:12 and it was implied that salvation is not complete, what does that mean? Are we not fully saved?

Q&A question: How to “Work out our Salvation”

salvation Philip Philippi

Mike Winger idea 2021-07-02

About being “In Christ” in Paul’s Letters: In Paul’s prison letters, he uses the phrases “in him, in Christ, and in whom.” He seems to use these a lot in Ephesians 1, but also uses them in Philippians and Colossians. What does it mean?

Q&A question: About being “In Christ” in Paul’s Letters

Ephesians 1 Philip Philippi Ephesians 1

Mike Winger idea 2021-09-24

About the Subordination of the Son: How do you explain the subordination of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:3; 15: 28) to the Father within Trinitarian theology? I explain it via incarnational subordination (Philippians 2:5; Hebrews 29; 5:8).

Q&A question: About the Subordination of the Son

1 Corinthians 11:3 1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 11:3 Trinity Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2022-06-03

What do we Make “Our Own” In Phil. 3?: In Philippians 3: 12, what is Paul referring to when he says "...I press on to make it my own"? Make what his own? Help me. I am really confused.

Q&A question: What do we Make “Our Own” In Phil. 3?

Mike Winger idea 2022-06-17

Understanding Philippians 4: Philippians 4:8 confuses me because so many true things are none of the other things on the list. A lot of truth is just the opposite. I read books about true things that are not the other things.

Q&A question: Understanding Philippians 4

Philippians 4:8 Philippians 4 Philippians 4:8 Philippians 4 Philip

Mike Winger idea 2022-07-22

How Do We “Work Out Our Salvation?”: What does it mean to "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" in Philippians 2: 12?

Q&A question: How Do We “Work Out Our Salvation?”

salvation Philip Philippi

Mike Winger idea 2022-08-19

About Kenosis Theology: Is Bethel style Kenosis theology from Philippians 2:5-11 heretical (where Christ is said to have lost His divinity to live instead as a human)? Or is that a secondary issue like sacraments and eschatology?

Q&A question: About Kenosis Theology

eschatology Bethel Church heresy

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-13

Will God Reveal when our Thinking is Unbiblical?: Philippians 3: 15 says God will reveal when our thinking is opposed to His calling. How, then, do so many dedicated Christians get all the way through life still utterly confused about essential moral issues?

Q&A question: Will God Reveal when our Thinking is Unbiblical?

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-27

About Plagiarism in Preaching: Plagiarism in preaching seems to be on the rise. In Philippians 1: 15-18, Paul seems to be saying the end justifies the means when preaching. Is this an accurate interpretation, and applicable to plagiarism?

Q&A question: About Plagiarism in Preaching

Philippians 1 Philip Philippi Philippians 1

Mike Winger idea 2023-01-27

When Will Every Tongue Confess?: When do you think Philippians 2: 10-11 will be fulfilled? At the end of the millennium, at Armageddon, or throughout the future at different stages? I think Romans 14: 10-12 gives us some insight.

Q&A question: When Will Every Tongue Confess?

Romans 14 millennium Romans 14 Philip

Mike Winger idea 2023-03-17

Trinitarian Clarity: How is the Holy Spirit not the Son or Father (Matthew 10: 20, Philippians 1: 19)? These verses confuse me when I’m trying to answer this question.

Q&A question: Trinitarian Clarity

Matthew 10 Matthew Philippians 1 Trinity Matthew 10 Philip

Mike Winger idea 2023-09-01

Is Long Life a Blessing?: Proverbs 16: 31 says that long life is the reward of the righteous. But in Philippians 1: 23, Paul says he longs to go and be with Christ, which would be far better. So how is long life a blessing?

Q&A question: Is Long Life a Blessing?

Philippians 1 Philip Philippi Philippians 1

Mike Winger idea 2023-09-15

What Was Paul’s Goal?: Can you explain to me what goal Paul hopes to achieve in Philippians 3: 11-12? What does he have to do?

Q&A question: What Was Paul’s Goal?

Mike Winger idea 2023-09-29

The “Prize” in Philippians: What is the prize of the upward call" in Philippians 3: 14?

Q&A question: The “Prize” in Philippians