Search — Theology Explorer

Filter results by source database — Scripture Commentary, Theology, Mike Winger, or Pulpit. Click a tab to narrow to one database.

...more

All (87) Scripture Commentary (36) Theology (7) Mike Winger (43) Pulpit (1)

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-28

Fifth fact (E): Enemies of Christ converted — specifically James the brother of Jesus and Paul the Apostle

Fifth point of the ALIVE acronym

James brother of Jesus resurrection Paul the Apostle James brother of Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2018-12-05

Homosexuality as a canary in the coal mine for the broader attack on Christian truth

Q&A question about whether this issue signals a wider cultural assault on truth.

truth love homosexuality

Mike Winger idea 2019-03-27

Page 30: Boghossian's principal argument against faith is circular — it presupposes his false definition

Mike analyzes Boghossian's core argument structure

Circular reasoning A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian

Mike Winger idea 2019-03-27

Chapter 3: doxastic closure — Boghossian continues the assault on faith while romanticizing Street Epistemology

Mike transitions to chapter 3 of the book

A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian Faith

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

The book of Acts as a sustained narrative of persecution — Paul's pre-conversion role as persecutor and post-conversion experience of being persecuted

Persecution is the central recurring theme of Acts

Acts of the Apostles Paul the Apostle early Christian persecution Acts of the Apostles

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 8:1 -- Saul's persecution scatters the church throughout Judea and Samaria, fulfilling the Acts 1:8 progression

Survey of Acts chapter 8

Acts 8:1 Acts 1:8 Acts 8:1 Acts 1:8 progressive revelation

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 9: Saul is converted and called as the apostle to the Gentiles, but immediately begins preaching in synagogues to Jews -- the Gentile mission has not yet begun

Survey of Acts chapter 9, Paul's conversion

Acts 9:15 Acts 9:20 Paul the Apostle Acts 9:15 Acts 9:20

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Barnabas and Saul spend a full year discipling the Antioch church; disciples are first called Christians there. This extended discipleship with no mention of Torah observance is a key data point.

Survey of Acts 11:22-26, Antioch discipleship

Acts 11:22-26 discipleship Barnabas Torah observance

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 2020-10-02

Balance principle: being armed and ready for self-defense is healthy; preemptive strikes from anger or against God's will for martyrdom are not

Synthesizing the sword/Gethsemane discussion into a practical principle

violence discernment self-defense

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 2020-11-06

"Touch not the Lord's anointed" means do not murder -- not do not critique

Mike addresses the second common objection to his discernment work

David Saul Old Testament

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 2020-12-18

Critical distinction: what God directly causes versus what he sovereignly allows and guides — God is not morally culpable for the actions of the enemies he permits; he works all things together for good.

Theological synthesis drawn from the Saul discussion.

Romans 8:28 Romans 8:28 Divine Sovereignty and Evil God Uses Enemy Nations / Agents

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 2021-01-08

Being too submissive is a real and dangerous failure — biblical submission has limits defined by obedience to God

Question from Lacey Fix about marriage counseling — secular counselors say too-submissive equals codependent, biblical counselors say submit more and your spouse will repent

submission David Saul

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Holy Spirit in the Old vs. New Testament: Old Testament experiences were primarily empowerment for service; New Testament introduces indwelling.

Question from Elizabeth about the distinction between the Holy Spirit coming "upon" versus being "in" a person.

Ezekiel 29 Elijah Holy Spirit empowerment Holy Spirit indwelling

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

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 2021-04-09

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 2020-10-12

A consistent OT pattern: it's the LEADERS of Israel who persecute God's messengers (Jezebel vs. Elijah, Saul vs. David, people of Ephraim vs. Gideon, King Jehoiakim vs. Jeremiah). The motive: wanting power, credit, and avoidance of suffering.

OT examples of leadership rejecting prophets and application to modern rejection of the gospel

Jeremiah 7:25-26 leadership accountability Jeremiah 7:25-26 leadership accountability

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 2022-12-09

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

Mike Winger idea 2023-08-18

Did Saul Know who David Was?: Why at the end of 1 Samuel 16 did the author emphasize David's service to and recognition by Saul, but in 1 Samuel 17, Saul didn't seem to even know who David was (no one seemed to know him for that matter)?

Q&A question: Did Saul Know who David Was?

1 Samuel 16 David Samuel 1 Samuel 16

Mike Winger idea 2023-08-18

Why did God Change OT Names?: Why does God change the name of Abram to Abraham, Saul to Paul, and Sarai to Sarah? Is there a meaning behind this?

Q&A question: Why did God Change OT Names?

Sarah Abraham

Mike Winger idea 2023-10-17

Would the Spirit Ever Leave Us?: Can you please explain what it meant in 1 Samuel when the Spirit left Saul?

Q&A question: Would the Spirit Ever Leave Us?

Samuel

Mike Winger idea 2024-01-26

Why Did God Appoint Unfaithful Leaders?: Why did God choose bad kings if He knows every heart? Saul, Solomon, Jeroboam, Hazael, and Jehu all turned away, but were directly chosen by Him. Why not choose kings He knew would stay faithful?

Q&A question: Why Did God Appoint Unfaithful Leaders?

Solomon

Mike Winger idea 2024-03-15

About Saul’s Motives: Was Saul's hostility toward the Jewish Christians based on his biblical beliefs, or was he really on a mission to achieve status considering his age prior to conversion and extreme actions?

Q&A question: About Saul’s Motives

Judaism

Mike Winger idea 2025-03-21

So Many Saw – So Little Believed?: Since many saw the saints who were raised to life (Matthew 27: 52-53) then more than 500 saw Jesus after His resurrection, how is it that so many didn’t believe He rose (e.g. Saul pre-Damascus)?

Q&A question: So Many Saw – So Little Believed?

Matthew Matthew 27 Jesus resurrection Matthew

Pulpit research note

Status-Seeking as the Primary Issue in 1 Corinthians — Not Merely Order

Pastor Brett Landry's reading — that the Corinthians' primary problem was status-seeking and self-promotion, with disorder being the symptom rather than the disease — represents the dominant scholarly

1 Corinthians 12-14

← Prev Page 2 of 2 Next →

Fifth fact (E): Enemies of Christ converted — specifically James the brother of Jesus and Paul the Apostle

Homosexuality as a canary in the coal mine for the broader attack on Christian truth

Page 30: Boghossian's principal argument against faith is circular — it presupposes his false definition

Chapter 3: doxastic closure — Boghossian continues the assault on faith while romanticizing Street Epistemology

The book of Acts as a sustained narrative of persecution — Paul's pre-conversion role as persecutor and post-conversion experience of being persecuted

Acts 8:1 -- Saul's persecution scatters the church throughout Judea and Samaria, fulfilling the Acts 1:8 progression

Acts 9: Saul is converted and called as the apostle to the Gentiles, but immediately begins preaching in synagogues to Jews -- the Gentile mission has not yet begun

Barnabas and Saul spend a full year discipling the Antioch church; disciples are first called Christians there. This extended discipleship with no mention of Torah observance is a key data point.

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

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

Balance principle: being armed and ready for self-defense is healthy; preemptive strikes from anger or against God's will for martyrdom are not

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

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

"Touch not the Lord's anointed" means do not murder -- not do not critique

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.

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.

Critical distinction: what God directly causes versus what he sovereignly allows and guides — God is not morally culpable for the actions of the enemies he permits; he works all things together for good.

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

Being too submissive is a real and dangerous failure — biblical submission has limits defined by obedience to God

Holy Spirit in the Old vs. New Testament: Old Testament experiences were primarily empowerment for service; New Testament introduces indwelling.

1 Samuel 16 — King Saul tormented by a harmful spirit

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

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

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.

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

A consistent OT pattern: it's the LEADERS of Israel who persecute God's messengers (Jezebel vs. Elijah, Saul vs. David, people of Ephraim vs. Gideon, King Jehoiakim vs. Jeremiah). The motive: wanting power, credit, and avoidance of suffering.

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?

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?

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?

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?

Did Saul Know who David Was?: Why at the end of 1 Samuel 16 did the author emphasize David's service to and recognition by Saul, but in 1 Samuel 17, Saul didn't seem to even know who David was (no one seemed to know him for that matter)?

Why did God Change OT Names?: Why does God change the name of Abram to Abraham, Saul to Paul, and Sarai to Sarah? Is there a meaning behind this?

Would the Spirit Ever Leave Us?: Can you please explain what it meant in 1 Samuel when the Spirit left Saul?

Why Did God Appoint Unfaithful Leaders?: Why did God choose bad kings if He knows every heart? Saul, Solomon, Jeroboam, Hazael, and Jehu all turned away, but were directly chosen by Him. Why not choose kings He knew would stay faithful?

About Saul’s Motives: Was Saul's hostility toward the Jewish Christians based on his biblical beliefs, or was he really on a mission to achieve status considering his age prior to conversion and extreme actions?

So Many Saw – So Little Believed?: Since many saw the saints who were raised to life (Matthew 27: 52-53) then more than 500 saw Jesus after His resurrection, how is it that so many didn’t believe He rose (e.g. Saul pre-Damascus)?

Status-Seeking as the Primary Issue in 1 Corinthians — Not Merely Order

Bible Link Settings