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All (111) Scripture Commentary (42) Theology (10) Mike Winger (59)
Theology greek term

κλῆρος (klēros)

lot, allotment, portion

greek
Theology greek term

יִנָּבְאוּ (yinnābe'û)

they will prophesy (niphal imperfect 3mp of נָבָא)

greek
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-14

Mike's rebuttal: 'bone of my bones' denotes familial connection but says nothing about authority being present or absent, shown by 2 Samuel 5:1 and Judges 9:2.

Evaluating Payne's 'bone of my bones' argument

Philip Payne bone of my bones 2 Sam 5:1
Mike Winger idea 2022-05-30

Prophecy is passive in nature — the prophet is not supposed to speak beyond what God gave them

Mike cites Craig Keener in support of this point about the passive nature of prophecy.

2 Samuel 7 David Craig Keener Nathan
Mike Winger idea 2022-08-15

Can a wife reject her husband's decisions? Yes, in certain situations

Mike addresses limits of wifely submission.

1 Samuel 25 limits of submission Abigail 1 Samuel 25
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

The role of judges in Israel: military leader, deliverer of Israel, and supreme court for hard cases — operating under God as the true king.

Background on the role of judge in Israel

judges Judges (book) Deborah judges Judges (book)
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Deborah differs from every other judge in that she doesn't lead the military — is God deliberately restricting her authority?

Key distinction between Deborah and other judges

judges Deborah Barak judges
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

The 'wise woman of Tekoa' (2 Samuel 14) was not an 'advisor to head of state' — she merely memorized and delivered Joab's words to David.

Rebutting Belleville's claim about the woman of Tekoa

2 Samuel 14:3 Linda Belleville Two Views on Women in Ministry David
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

The wise woman of Abel Beth Maacah (2 Samuel 20:16-22) negotiated peace during a siege, representing the whole city — she exercised real political power in crisis.

Examining a more substantive example of a wise woman

2 Samuel 20:16-22 Joab 2 Samuel 20:16-22 wise woman of Abel Beth Maacah
Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

Abigail in 1 Samuel 25 — a positive example of a wife righteously subverting her husband's authority

Mike uses Abigail as a biblical example showing limits on female submission.

1 Samuel 25 Acts 5:29 David Abigail 1 Samuel 25
Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

Positive vs negative stereotypes about men and women

Mike distinguishes between healthy and harmful gender stereotypes.

1 Samuel 25:3 Abigail 1 Samuel 25:3 gender stereotypes
Mike Winger idea 2018-02-14

Bill Johnson Q&A answer on whether God causes sickness: 'You can't give what you don't have — God doesn't have cancer, so He can't give it'

Mike plays and critiques a specific Q&A response from Bill Johnson

1 Samuel 5:6 Bill Johnson thorn in the flesh healing theology
Mike Winger idea 2018-02-21

Luke 6: Jesus endorses David eating the bread of the Presence as evidence that preserving life can override ritual law.

Mike cites a second Sabbath/law-violation precedent from Jesus to reinforce the greater-good principle.

Luke 6 1 Samuel 21 greater good principle Jesus Luke 6
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-17

Infants and young children who die are saved — Mike holds this as a personal conviction based on David's hope of reunion with his deceased infant son.

Q&A section: a viewer asks whether their 8-month-old sister who died will be in heaven.

2 Samuel heaven Q&A infant salvation
Mike Winger idea 2019-03-13

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 Samuel 28 Samuel Demons / evil spirits 1 Samuel 28
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Proverbs 30:1-4 — God and his Son in the Hebrew Bible

McLatchie highlights Proverbs 30:1-4 as an often-overlooked text implying the divine sonship within the Hebrew Scriptures.

Hosea 11:1 Proverbs 30:1-4 Hosea 11:1 divine sonship Jonathan McLatchie
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-30

Q&A: The witch of Endor and Samuel's appearance to Saul (1 Samuel 28) — God sovereignly brought Samuel to rebuke Saul, not to help him

Viewer Q&A: explaining the difficult passage of the medium at Endor and Samuel's appearance.

1 Samuel 28 Samuel Saul 1 Samuel 28
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Praying to the dead is forbidden — the 1 Samuel 28 (Saul/Samuel) incident is a divine rebuke, not a model; this applies to Catholic prayers to saints

Question from Elizabeth about 1 Samuel 28 (Saul consulting the medium to contact Samuel) and Catholic prayers to Mary and saints.

1 Samuel 28 1 Thessalonians 4 Mary Roman Catholicism Samuel
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Michael Heiser: highly commended as a scholar-communicator; divine council theory (Deut 32, Ps 82) personally rejected but engagement required

Q from David Hinnebog asking for comment on Michael Heiser and his divine council theory.

1 Samuel 28 Deuteronomy 32 Psalm 82 Michael Heiser monotheism 1 Samuel 28
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

God's "regret" in Genesis 6 and 1 Samuel 15 is addressed in Mike's dedicated video; open theism is a problematic response to this

Q from Floatydoc about how God, who knows all things, can make decisions he later regrets (Gen 6; 1 Sam 15).

Genesis 6 1 Samuel 15 Genesis 6 1 Samuel 15 divine repentance
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

God judged Eli both as a father and as high priest for failing to restrain his wicked sons

Response to Jackie Zaras asking whether God was angry with Eli as a father or as a priest for not restraining his sons.

1 Samuel Eli 1 Samuel priestly accountability
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Immortal soul — JW/annihilationist claim that it is a Greek import, not Jewish or biblical

Q from Grace Lou 22 about a JW friend who says the Greek word for soul just means any living being and that the immortal soul concept is Greek philosophy smuggled into Christianity.

1 Samuel 28 Samuel Saul Jehovah's Witnesses
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

"The Anointing" — biblical basis is real but the charismatic formulaic packaging of it is concerning

Question from Lavell Martinez about whether "the anointing" is biblical.

1 Samuel 16 Luke 4:18 spiritual gifts Holy Spirit charismatic movement
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Evangelism through good works must be coupled with verbal proclamation of the gospel

Question from Samuel Nelson about extravagant mission trips vs. evangelizing by acting good in the world.

evangelism gospel proclamation social action
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

The Holy Spirit's departure from Saul was not about salvation but about losing the anointing to be king — the Spirit empowered Saul for his royal office, and when he repeatedly rebelled it departed.

Q: Why did the Holy Spirit leave Saul and why did an evil spirit from the Lord enter him?

1 Samuel — Spirit on Saul Saul Holy Spirit Departure from Saul 1 Samuel — Spirit on Saul
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

The 'evil spirit from the Lord' that afflicted Saul may simply mean a harmful/distressing spirit (Hebrew ra = bad/harmful, not necessarily morally evil), and God allowing adversarial spirits as discipline for rebellion is not itself immoral.

Continued discussion of the evil spirit from God in 1 Samuel.

1 Samuel — Spirit on Saul Saul Nebuchadnezzar ra
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Samuel called up by Saul: evidence that the dead may not be actively aware of earth until summoned

Discussion of dead awareness; 1 Samuel 28

1 Samuel 28 Samuel 1 Samuel 28 state of the dead
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

1 Samuel 16 — King Saul tormented by a harmful spirit

Best OT example of possible demonic activity/possession: the harmful spirit that tormented Saul after the Spirit of the Lord departed.

1 Samuel 16 1 Samuel 16 demonic activity King Saul
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Translation debate: harmful vs. evil vs. distressing spirit in 1 Samuel 16

Different English translations render the Hebrew term differently, reflecting genuine exegetical ambiguity.

1 Samuel 16 ESV NASB NKJV
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

David's music drives away Saul's harmful spirit — a type of exorcism

David is summoned to play the lyre and the harmful spirit departs from Saul, suggesting an early OT proto-exorcism.

Psalm 91 1 Samuel 16:23 David exorcism Psalm 91
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Ghosts, the witch of Endor, and demonic impersonation of the dead

Lindsay Kelso asked whether the Bible supports ghosts, and whether those who claim to see them are actually encountering demons.

1 Samuel 28 Leviticus 19:31 Deuteronomy 18:11 Samuel Catholicism afterlife
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

2 Samuel 12:8 does not endorse polygamy; the phrase "I would have given you more" is a figure of speech for God's provision, not a promise of additional wives; God explicitly forbids polygamy for kings in Deuteronomy 17:17.

Joshua Bambrick asks whether 2 Samuel 12:8 refutes the claim that God does not affirm polygamy.

Deuteronomy 17:17 2 Samuel 12:8 David Nathan marriage
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Self-hatred often functions as a mismanagement of guilt — projecting sin onto an "other self" to adopt victim mentality instead of genuine repentance.

Gabriel Martinez says he hates himself sometimes and asks how to love himself biblically.

Genesis 4 2 Samuel 13 (Amnon and Tamar) repentance pastoral counseling guilt
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath: Matthew 12:1-8 and the principle of hierarchical moral reasoning

Question from Dakota France about what Jesus means in Matt 12:1-8, whether the Sabbath carries rewards or penalties for Christians.

Romans 14 1 Samuel 21 Galatians David Romans 14 Christian liberty
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

God's command to kill the Amalekites (including infants) in 1 Samuel 15:3 is addressed through hyperbolic language theory, military depot context, and divine sovereignty.

Q4 from Jay: how does one justify God's directive to kill the Amalekites including children and infants (1 Samuel 15:3)?

1 Samuel 15:3 theodicy infant salvation divine sovereignty
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Deuteronomy 22:28-29 (man seizes virgin) is best read as maximizing the woman's rights and removing the man's after a sexual violation; it reflects the law making the best of a sinful situation.

Q12 from Tyler: trouble understanding the morality of Deuteronomy 22:28-29; some say it's consensual, but 2 Samuel 13 (Amnon and Tamar) seems to contradict that.

Deuteronomy 22:28-29 2 Samuel 13 (Amnon and Tamar) Deuteronomy 22:28-29 2 Samuel 13 (Amnon and Tamar) sexual ethics (OT law)
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Dancing is not inherently sinful; Christians should apply liberty-with-responsibility rather than blanket prohibition.

Question 4 from Kate for Christ about the biblical basis for viewing dancing as sinful.

2 Samuel 6 David Christian liberty dancing
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Psalm 82 gods (elohim) most likely refers to earthly rulers ironically addressed as divine beings, not literal supernatural deities.

Question 10 from RaHR17 about who the gods in Psalm 82 are; engages Michael Heiser's divine council worldview.

1 Samuel 28 John 10 Psalm 82 Michael Heiser 1 Samuel 28 John 10
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Q&A: Babies killed through abortion go to heaven — supported by David's words in 2 Samuel 12:23 about his dead child. This doesn't justify killing them, just as Christians going to heaven doesn't justify murdering Christians.

Q&A — souls of aborted babies

2 Samuel 12:23 abortion 2 Samuel 12:23
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-26

Q&A: Babies who die (including through abortion) go to be with God, supported by 2 Samuel 12:23 where David says "I shall go to him" about his dead child. This doesn't justify killing them — you could make the same argument for killing Christians.

Q&A — souls of aborted babies

2 Samuel 12:23 abortion 2 Samuel 12:23
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-11

Pillar verses (1 Samuel 2:8, Job 26:10, Psalm 75:3) are all in poetic contexts. In 1 Samuel 2:8, "pillars of the earth" are leaders whom God exalts — the context is about God raising the poor to sit with princes. In Psalm 75:3, pillars are leaders God supports during upheaval. "Pillars of heaven" (Job 26) may just refer to mountains poetically.

Pillars of the earth — leaders, not literal supports

1 Samuel 2:8 1 Samuel 2:8 pillars of the earth poetic language in scripture
Mike Winger idea 2021-08-27

About the Woman of Tekoa & Banishing: How can someone be banished, and yet not cast out from God? I’m referring to what the woman of Tekoa said in 2 Samuel 14: 14. Is it only within that context, or can it be applied transcendently?

Q&A question: About the Woman of Tekoa & Banishing

Samuel
Mike Winger idea 2022-02-04

Difficult Passages – Trusting in God’s Goodness: How do you respond to 1 Samuel 15:3 that includes in the command "child & infant"? It doesn't ruin my trust in God's goodness, but it is hard to understand/explain. Any insight you have is appreciated!

Q&A question: Difficult Passages – Trusting in God’s Goodness

1 Samuel 15 1 Samuel 15:3 Samuel 1 Samuel 15 1 Samuel 15:3
Mike Winger idea 2022-05-13

Resolving a “Contradiction”: Does Ezekiel 18: 20 contradict the stoning of Achan and his family in Joshua 7: 24-26 (the idea of original sin passed down through Adam) and 2 Samuel 12: 13-15?

Q&A question: Resolving a “Contradiction”

Joshua 7 Ezekiel Samuel Achan Joshua 7
Mike Winger idea 2022-08-19

Why was Tamar a “Disgraced Woman”?: Why was Tamar in 2 Samuel considered “a disgraced woman” after being raped by her half-brother, Amnon?

Q&A question: Why was Tamar a “Disgraced Woman”?

Samuel Amnon Tamar
Mike Winger idea 2022-09-16

About Abraham’s Bosom & King Saul’s Salvation: Does 1 Samuel 28: 19 disprove the theological idea of “Abraham’s Bosom,” or could we perhaps assume that King Saul was saved?

Q&A question: About Abraham’s Bosom & King Saul’s Salvation

1 Samuel 28 Abraham Samuel salvation
Mike Winger idea 2022-10-21

Is Monarchy Unbiblical?: I’ve been thinking about this question a lot since Queen Elizabeth died last month, but I’ve had it for a while. Does 1 Samuel 8:6-7 teach that monarchy is unbiblical?

Q&A question: Is Monarchy Unbiblical?

Samuel
Mike Winger idea 2022-12-09

Did God Foretell Something that Didn’t Happen?: In 1 Samuel 23: 11-13 (ESV), the Lord says David will be handed over to Saul at Keilah, then David leaves town before Saul gets there, so he was not. Why did the Lord foretell a future event that didn't happen?

Q&A question: Did God Foretell Something that Didn’t Happen?

David Samuel
Mike Winger idea 2023-04-07

Was Saul Justified in Ending his Life?: Could we say that Saul killing himself in 1 Samuel 31:3-5 was justifiable for the same reason 9/11 jumpers were justified?

Q&A question: Was Saul Justified in Ending his Life?

Samuel
Mike Winger idea 2023-05-26

God Sent an Evil Spirit?: 1 Samuel 16: 14 and 1 Samuel 19:9 speak of an “evil spirit from the Lord” tormenting Saul. How could a holy/righteous and loving God give him a tormenting spirit?

Q&A question: God Sent an Evil Spirit?

1 Samuel 16 Samuel 1 Samuel 16