Search — Theology Explorer

Gospel origins Richard Carrier ad hoc reasoning

Carrier constructs a 'Frankenstein theory' drawing on ancient literature to claim Gospel narratives were plagiarized from myths

Carrier's literary dependence argument for the Gospel narratives

Markan priority Gospel origins resurrection Dan Barker

Barker's legendary growth argument cherry-picks data — each Gospel sometimes has more miraculous content, sometimes less

Mike's critique of Barker's fourth objection

1 Chronicles 20 translation differences 1 Chronicles 20 NKJV

1 Chronicles 20 or 23 — translation differences between NKJV, ESV, and NASB: Mike defers to post-livestream comment response

Q&A — Joseph May's question about translation discrepancies in 1 Chronicles

Markan priority New Testament Gospel origins Markan priority

Which Gospel was written first — Mike defers to scholarly consensus and warns of the 'house of cards' nature of Gospel dating arguments

Q&A — Cam Spears's question about Gospel authorship dates

Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Translation limitations: English lacks words that exist in Hebrew/Greek (e.g., 'hand/wrist/arm')

In explaining the taxonomy issue, Mike illustrates how original-language words sometimes have no single English equivalent

Translation issues Biblical languages Semantic range

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Reason 5 affirmed and answered: Fulfilled prophecy is the correct test for biblical inspiration, and the Bible passes it

The skeptic argues that an inspired Bible would contain specific, verifiable prophecies — but calls biblical prophecies 'feeble in the extreme.'

Ezekiel Matthew 24 fulfilled prophecy Ezekiel Matthew 24

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Q&A: The pericope adulterae (John 7:53–8:11, woman caught in adultery) was likely not in the original Gospel of John

Viewer asks about the scholarly conclusion that the 'cast the first stone' story is a later addition.

John 7-8 textual criticism manuscript variants pericope adulterae

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-25

Abomination of desolation: Old Testament origin in Daniel and Antiochus Epiphanes as partial fulfillment

Point 1 and the partial/total fulfillment analysis of the abomination of desolation.

Daniel 9:27 Daniel 11:31 Daniel 12:11 partial and total fulfillment abomination of desolation Daniel 9:27

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-25

Four key points about the abomination of desolation in Mark 13

Mike summarizes his four-point analysis of what the abomination of desolation means for interpreting Mark 13.

Mark 13:14 Mark 13:14 abomination of desolation let the reader understand

Mike Winger idea 2018-08-22

Kim claims Christmas is simultaneously six different pagan festivals — the internet is thick with misinformation about Christmas origins

Chapter on Christmas in Kim's book. Kim says celebrating Christmas means unknowingly worshipping pagan deities and ultimately Satan.

Joo-Cheol Kim Christmas pagan origins claims

Idea

Winger frames the entire video around the claim that Brian Simmons is intentionally embedding sectarian theology into the text.

Brian Simmons

Idea

Winger identifies the translation's agenda as tied to the NAR/signs-and-wonders theological ecosystem.

Idea

Winger searched Bible Hub to count how often specific terms appear in the PT versus ESV, NKJV, NIV, NASB.

Idea

Specific comparative data point used to demonstrate PT's divergence from other translations.

demons

Idea

Psalm 50:2 is cited: PT says 'the Zion realm' where ESV says 'out of Zion.'

Idea

Psalm 81:7 is cited as an example where PT is more than twice as long as the ESV version.

Idea

Winger notes that Selah is translated 'pause in his presence' in the PT without scholarly support.

Idea

Comparative data point in Winger's word-frequency analysis.

Bible translations apologetics

Idea

Winger notes the inconsistency of this addition as evidence of agenda-driven translation.

Idea

Cited as an example of movement-specific vocabulary being injected into Scripture.

Idea

The most striking comparative data point in Winger's analysis.

Colossians 1 Colossians 1

Idea

Winger uses Colossians 1 to illustrate how the ESV renders 'Christos' consistently as 'Christ.'

Colossians 1 Colossians 1

Idea

Colossians 1 in the PT is used as an example of triple-translation of one word.

Acts 11 Acts 11:26 Acts 11 Acts 11:26

Idea

Acts 11:26 is the key example: PT says followers were 'first revealed as anointed ones'; all other translations say they were 'first called Christians.'

Idea

Winger uses this history to explain what the PT is erasing by its rendering.

Idea

Winger plays a clip from Simmons's Facebook page articulating this view.

Idea

Winger's direct theological assessment of the Simmons clip.

Idea

Winger's overarching critique: Simmons preaches from his own translation, using the text he altered as proof.

Idea

Cited as an example of movement-specific vocabulary with zero textual basis.

textual criticism

Idea

Winger notes anyone can confirm this without knowing Greek by checking multiple English translations.

Idea

Winger identifies a financial and ministry incentive loop: insert 'activate' into Scripture, then sell activation courses.

Idea

Part of the cumulative word-frequency chart Winger presents.

Idea

Specific data points from Winger's comparison chart.

Idea

Winger's aggregate conclusion from his word-frequency analysis.

Idea

Winger's summary metaphor for the effect of the PT on the reader.

Mary (mother of Jesus)

James James 1 James James 1

Idea

Winger traces this through Simmons's retranslation of 'Sadducees' and his handling of James 1.

Idea

Winger predicts this exact deflection will be used against him for making the video.

Idea

Winger critiques the popular colloquialism as incoherent while noting Simmons exploits it.

Idea

Winger's direct statement on how to frame Christian distinctiveness.

Idea

Winger compares the PT to the NRSV, NIV, NASB, and ESV, all of which render the word consistently as 'religious/religion' in all three occurrences.

Idea

Consistency in translating the same word the same way is presented as a basic, non-negotiable translation standard.

Idea

Winger argues this is deliberate suppression of a positive biblical view of religion.

Idea

Part of Winger's comparative word-frequency data.

Idea

Winger notes this as an obvious example of agenda-driven word insertion.

Idea

Winger plays an audio clip of Simmons making this admission.

Idea

Winger uses this to tie Simmons's credentials directly to the NAR movement.

Bible translations hermeneutics

Idea

Winger questions whether the title 'Dr.' is meaningful in the context of Simmons's translation claims.