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All (89) Scripture Commentary (22) Theology (3) Mike Winger (64)
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

Mark 13:9 — Jesus's prediction of persecution for his disciples as evidence that persecution was anticipated from the beginning

Biblical evidence for the normalcy of persecution

Mark 13:9 early Christian persecution Mark 13:9 Jesus' predictions
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

John 15:18-20 — Jesus warns disciples the world will hate them as it hated him, anticipating they will suffer as he suffered (including death)

Additional biblical attestation of anticipated persecution

John 15:18-20 early Christian persecution Jesus' predictions John 15:18-20
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

Matthew 23:34 — Jesus sends prophets and scribes who will be killed, crucified, and flogged as evidence persecution was an expected norm

Additional scripture confirming persecution as the anticipated norm for followers

Matthew 23:34 early Christian persecution Matthew 23:34
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

John 9: Expulsion from the synagogue for confessing Jesus as Christ — evidence of persecution even during Jesus's ministry

Persecution predates the death of Jesus; it began during his earthly ministry

John 9:22 John 9:34 early Christian persecution John 9:22 John 9:34
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 2019-04-03

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

Focus narrowed to Peter, James the brother of Jesus, and Paul as the three central resurrection eyewitnesses whose sincerity needs to be established

Transition from general persecution to specific apostolic martyrdoms

James the brother of Jesus Paul the Apostle apostle sincerity conspiracy hypothesis
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

Catalog of additional sources for Peter's martyrdom: Apocalypse of Peter, Ascension of Isaiah, Acts of Peter, Apocryphon of James, Dionysius of Corinth, Tertullian, Muratorian Canon

Demonstrating that Peter's martyrdom is attested by multiple independent streams of tradition

Acts of Peter Acts 4 Tertullian apostolic martyrdom Peter the Apostle
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

2 Corinthians 11:24-28 — Paul's own catalog of sufferings as direct first-person evidence of his willingness to endure persecution for Christ

Paul's own testimony as evidence of sincerity

2 Corinthians 11:24-28 Paul the Apostle apostolic martyrdom apostle sincerity
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 2019-04-03

Three embarrassing facts that authenticate the disciples' sincerity: Peter's denial, James's pre-resurrection unbelief, and Paul's role as persecutor of the church

The criterion of embarrassment applied to the three key witnesses

James the brother of Jesus James's pre-resurrection unbelief resurrection Paul the Apostle criterion of embarrassment
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-10

Historical parallel: early church marginalized by accusation that Jesus wanted to destroy the temple — same dynamic as "faith is irrational" accusation today

Historical analogy for communication breakdown

early church persecution destroying the temple accusation dialogue between Christians and atheists
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 2019-06-19

Audience Q: Why doesn't anyone reference Tacitus on Christian persecution until the 4th century? — Multiple 1st-century sources confirm early persecution of Christians

Audience question from "Godless Engineer" about Christian persecution attestation

Acts Hebrews Paul Peter Acts
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-29

The parable of the sower is about receptivity to the Word, not apologetic methodology

Q&A: whether the parable of the sower supports presuppositionalism over other methods

presuppositionalism apologetic methodology parable of the sower
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

The one true sign in Matthew 24 is the Abomination of Desolation — referenced from Daniel 9

Mike identifies the single definitive sign Jesus gives in Matthew 24.

Matthew 24:15 Daniel 9 Matthew 24 Matthew 24:15 Daniel 9 eschatology
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Book of Acts as counter-example to private faith: the apostles were imprisoned and beaten rather than stop speaking about Jesus

Closing reinforcement of the bold witness argument.

Acts Acts persecution bold witness
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Standing up for faith before it is taken away — Christians always stand; democracy creates gospel opportunity

A viewer asks at what point Christians should stand up for their faith before it is taken away.

Matthew 5:13-16 salt and light gospel proclamation religious persecution
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Hillsong's explosive growth is driven by an extra layer of intense positivity — the "Happy Meal" model of Christianity

Continued analysis of Hillsong's ministry model.

Hillsong Prosperity gospel / positivity gospel Ministry success metrics
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Shield of Faith — confident trust that quenches fiery darts

Fourth piece of armor: faith as shield against fiery trials and spiritual attacks.

1 Peter Ephesians 6:16 1 Peter Ephesians 6:16 armor of God
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

The claim that Jesus was based on Jesus ben Ananias (from Josephus) is historically untenable given the robust bedrock consensus of historical facts about Jesus.

Q16 from Aaron Rampersad: what do you think about the claim that Jesus Christ was based on Jesus ben Ananias in Josephus's Jewish War?

Josephus apologetics Richard Carrier
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Mary did not remain a perpetual virgin — Scripture clearly indicates she had other children with Joseph after Jesus

Q11 from Lovisa Bengtsen: Did Mary remain a virgin? Were the brothers of Jesus actually cousins? If she had other sons, why did John need to care for her?

James (brother of Jesus) John the Apostle John 19:26-27 James (brother of Jesus) John the Apostle brothers of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Church COVID restrictions and pastoral imprisonment: uncertain whether it qualifies as persecution, but it feels like it

Q12 from Crystalline Sloan: Can you define persecution and speak to whether pastors imprisoned for defying public health orders are being persecuted?

conscience persecution COVID-19
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 — the identity of the Restrainer is uncertain

Listener Louise Sorensen (Denmark) asks whether, when the restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2 is removed, non-believers will lose compassion and morals.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 Holy Spirit Antichrist Eschatology
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-16

Romans 13: Christians should generally obey government unless commanded to sin. Closing churches during a global health crisis isn't persecution — it's a quarantine affecting everyone. Government conspiracy theories about using COVID to target churches are unfounded (China was already persecuting churches without needing excuses). The line: obey until they demand disobedience to God.

Government authority and Romans 13

Romans 13 Romans 13 Romans 13 Romans 13 church closures
Mike Winger idea 2020-05-06

Mike interviews Dr. Sean McDowell about his doctoral research on apostolic martyrdom as evidence for the resurrection. The argument: martyrdom proves sincerity (not truth), which eliminates the conspiracy/lying hypothesis. It's one piece of a larger resurrection argument, not standalone proof.

Introduction — apostolic martyrdom and the resurrection

apostolic martyrdom Sean McDowell conspiracy hypothesis
Mike Winger idea 2020-05-06

Where McDowell agrees with Candida Moss: many Christians overstate early persecution. There wasn't official statewide persecution until 3rd-4th centuries. Moss correctly notes that many martyrdom accounts are exaggerated. But she takes the correction too far by dismissing all early persecution evidence.

Agreement with Moss — overstated persecution

Candida Moss Myth of Persecution persecution vs prosecution
Mike Winger idea 2020-05-06

Evidence for early Christian persecution: (1) Multiple attestation across the entire NT — Gospels, Acts, Hebrews, James, 1 John, Peter, Revelation all attest to Christians paying a price for faith. (2) Earliest church fathers (Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp) confirm the theme. (3) Non-Christian sources (Tacitus, Suetonius) confirm persecution under Nero.

Evidence for early persecution — multiple independent sources

multiple attestation Tacitus Clement of Rome
Mike Winger idea 2020-05-06

McDowell responds to Moss's dismissal of Nero persecution: (1) 50-year gap doesn't warrant dismissal — McDowell's father remembers Nixon 50 years ago. (2) Suetonius provides additional support she doesn't cite. (3) Her claim that "Christian" wasn't used until end of first century is false — Acts records the term at Antioch c.47 AD. (4) Tacitus says "great multitude" — not a handful. Nero needed a sufficiently large scapegoat group.

Responding to Moss on Nero — four rebuttals

Acts 11:26 Tacitus Candida Moss Suetonius
Mike Winger idea 2020-05-06

The actual historical evidence for specific apostolic martyrdoms: strong for Peter, Paul, James son of Zebedee, James brother of Jesus (early, multiple sources). Possible for Thomas (some 2nd century evidence). For the rest (Bartholomew, Matthew, Matthias etc.) — 3rd-5th century accounts that are contradictory and likely fictional. McDowell and Moss agree on the later accounts being unreliable.

Evidence tiers for apostolic martyrdoms

James brother of Jesus James son of Zebedee James brother of Jesus Sean McDowell James son of Zebedee
Mike Winger idea 2020-05-06

The Apostles' willingness to suffer demonstrates sincerity even without formal recantation opportunities. They knew what they were signing up for: Jesus told them they'd be brought before governors and kings (Matthew 10). They watched Stephen die, John the Baptist get executed, and Jesus himself crucified. They repeatedly chose to keep preaching despite imprisonment and beatings (Acts).

Sincerity without formal recantation opportunities

Matthew 10 apostolic martyrdom Matthew 10 sincerity of apostles
Mike Winger idea 2020-05-06

How the martyrdom argument fits the larger resurrection case: the resurrection rests on multiple facts (Jesus lived, died, was buried, tomb was empty, early appearance claims to women, the 500, apostles, Paul). The apostles' willingness to suffer gives credibility specifically to the appearance claims — they weren't lying about having seen the risen Jesus. Lee Strobel said this was the most convincing evidence to him.

Martyrdom as sub-argument within resurrection case

Lee Strobel empty tomb apostolic martyrdom
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 2021-01-18

Verses 5-13 are a list of NON-SIGNS: false messiahs, wars, earthquakes, famines, persecution — Jesus explicitly says "the end is not yet" and "these are merely the beginning of birth pangs." Do not use these to predict Christ's return.

Detailed exegesis of Mark 13:5-13 as warnings against false predictions

Mark 13:5-8 World Mission Society Church of God Mark 13:5-8 World Mission Society Church of God
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-18

The Christian response to persecution is NOT pointing fingers and crying "persecution!" — it's loving enemies, blessing those who persecute you, praying for those who spitefully use you. Persecution is a chance to shine Christ's love.

Biblical response to persecution from Mark 13:9-13

Mark 13:1-13 Mark 13:1-13 persecution response
Mike Winger idea 2023-12-01

Faith in Christ = Guaranteed Protection?: Matthew 6: 25-34 seems to promise earthly protection. How do we contrast this with the "nakedness and starvation" that Paul and other Christians went through (especially under persecution)?

Q&A question: Faith in Christ = Guaranteed Protection?

Matthew Matthew 6 Matthew Matthew 6
Mike Winger idea 2024-10-04

No Persecution = No Godliness?: 2 Tim 3: 12 says, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” I’m not being persecuted. Does this mean I’m not living a godly life?

Q&A question: No Persecution = No Godliness?

Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-01

The maximal data argument for the resurrection has two steps: (1) establish that the gospel and Acts accounts represent genuine eyewitness testimony, then (2) evaluate what best explains the content of those claims. The apostles voluntarily suffered imprisonment, persecution, and death for their testimony — making the conspiracy/lying hypothesis highly implausible (William Paley, 1794).

The maximal data argument: apostolic suffering establishes sincerity; conspiracy hypothesis fails

resurrection suffering Apostles
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