Search — Theology Explorer

salvation Calvinism Arminianism

Q&A: If someone prayed to receive Christ but later turns away from Christianity, do they go to hell?

Viewer question from BC Our Life

salvation gospel Catholicism

Q&A: Is it wise to tell someone their deceased Catholic loved one is in heaven?

Viewer question from Hannah Elizabeth

Matthew 11:21-22 repentance Calvinism soteriology

Q&A: Does Matthew 11:21-22 (Tyre and Sidon) challenge Calvinism?

Viewer question from James Giorgio

John 14:6 hermeneutics John 14:6 universalism

Q&A: Marcus Borg as an example of a scholarly universalist with weak arguments

Viewer question from Bobby Miller about scholarly defenders of universalism

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

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.

baptism covenant circumcision

Part 3: The circumcision-baptism parallel argument for infant baptism introduced

Winger introduces the strongest paedo-baptist argument: baptism parallels circumcision as a covenant sign.

infant salvation divine judgment age of accountability

Q&A: Age of accountability is not a fixed age but individualized — God knows each person's capacity

Winger briefly addresses the age of accountability question from the live chat.

Galatians 2:21 Ephesians 2 salvation grace works

Q&A: Adding baptism as a requirement for salvation nullifies grace — Galatians 2:21 parallel

Winger responds to a question about whether requiring baptism for salvation amounts to nullifying grace.

Ezekiel 33 evangelism accountability hell

Q&A: Are those who never hear the gospel lost? Is it your fault if you fail to share?

Winger addresses two connected questions about evangelistic responsibility.

heaven infant salvation age of accountability

Q&A: Infants and young children who die go to heaven — brief affirmation

A viewer asks whether young children who die before accepting Christ go to heaven.

Romans James 2 Galatians Romans James 2 justification

Q&A: James 2 and the relationship between works and faith — a different question from Galatians/Romans

A viewer asks about the distinction between works in Paul versus James.

Cornelius salvation baptism

Q&A: Baptism represents the remission of sins; it does not save — people are saved before being baptized in Scripture

A final Q&A question asks why we get baptized and whether it is for remission of sins.

presuppositionalism apologetic methodology evidentialism

Overview of major schools of apologetic thought: presuppositionalism, evidentialism, fideism, classical

Winger names the main competing frameworks within Christian apologetics

atheism epistemology faith and reason

It is epistemically wrong to require Christians to answer every argument or question before their faith is valid

Critique of the epistemic standard often imposed by internet atheism

atheism epistemology witness of the Holy Spirit

Internet atheism often operates by demanding unanswerable questions rather than engaging arguments honestly

Sociological and spiritual observation about common atheist engagement tactics

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 eyewitness testimony knowing vs. showing

1 Corinthians 15:3-8: the apostles argued historically for the resurrection by listing eyewitnesses

NT case study showing apostles using evidential showing to establish what they already knew

Galatians 1 Galatians 1 soteriology Torah

Messianic believers who add Torah observance as a requirement for salvation are condemned by Galatians 1

Q&A: brief assessment of Messianic Judaism

presuppositionalism apologetic methodology classical apologetics

Presuppositionalism is not simply the transcendental argument; it assumes God without argument from the outset

Q&A: clarifying a common misunderstanding of presuppositionalism

evangelism apologetics atheism

When an atheist asks context-free gotcha questions and refuses to engage answers, move on

Q&A: strategy for handling an atheist who uses OT verses as traps without wanting real dialogue

Matthew 22:30 resurrection eschatology Matthew 22:30

No marriage in heaven does not mean demotion — relationships will be closer and better in the resurrection

Question: Since there is no marriage in heaven, will married couples be strangers? Mike addresses Matthew 22:30.

Revelation Isaiah biblical hermeneutics Revelation Isaiah

Scriptural language about things not being "remembered" in heaven means no bitter grief, not literal loss of memory

Side note during the heaven/marriage question, addressing a teaching that people will have no memories in heaven based on Isaiah.

soteriology free will Calvinism

Mike does not hold to full Calvinist total depravity; the key disagreement is whether fallen humans can respond to the Holy Spirit's call

Question from Jason Staub about conditional election, prevenient grace, and total depravity — if Christ dies for all, why must a sinner overcome unbelief on their own?

Romans 1 Holy Spirit conscience soteriology

No one overcomes unbelief "on their own" — God uses general revelation, conscience, and the Holy Spirit to call everyone

Continuing the conditional election question — answering the specific sub-question of why a sinner must overcome unbelief "on their own."

2 Corinthians 5:17 salvation Satan spiritual warfare

A childhood "blood pact with Satan" has no power over someone who trusts in Christ — the cross cancels all such claims

Question about a friend who at age 12 signed his soul over to Satan in a blood pact and now feels he cannot be saved.

Proverbs 16:4 hermeneutics Molinism middle knowledge

Proverbs 16:4 is a text that theological grids are read INTO, not a proof text for either Calvinist determinism or open theism

Question from Tobias about whether Proverbs 16:4 suggests God predestined the wicked for condemnation.

Recommended Bible study resources for non-original-language readers: multiple translations, NET Bible, STEP Bible, Blue Letter Bible

Question from Naomi about where to start studying the Bible verse-by-verse without knowledge of original languages.

NET Bible ESV NASB

healing false prophecy pastoral care

When a Christian falsely promises healing and the person dies, address the false prophet privately in love; be present for the sick person without making promises

Question from Alex M about how to speak to someone dying of cancer whose hope was falsely raised by another Christian claiming God said the cancer would not return.

discernment charismatic gifts prophecy

Strong feeling is not the same as God speaking — this applies to believers and non-believers alike

Closing comment on the false prophecy / healing question.

In the New Testament, "kurios" (Lord) replaces "Yahweh" — this is standard Greek translation convention, reflected in English by small-cap LORD

Question from Zanet about the Mark series — why is "Yahweh" rendered as "kurios" (Lord) in the Greek NT, and whether that changes the meaning.

Mark Mark kurios Yahweh

Jeremiah 29:11 hermeneutics prosperity gospel Israel

Jeremiah 29:11 is often misapplied as a personal prosperity promise; properly applied, it points to eternal hope in the New Covenant

Question from Brandi about whether verses like Jeremiah 29:11, written to Israel, apply to Christians today.

discernment wisdom Christian education

When at a liberal university with false Bible teaching, prepare to refute — don't fight every battle prematurely

Question from Nathaniel at a liberal Christian university where Scripture and the gospel are consistently undermined.

Mark 10 atonement soteriology works-righteousness

Jesus did not teach salvation by works — Mark 10 (rich man) demonstrates the impossibility of works-righteousness and points to Christ's atoning sacrifice

Question from "A Pig with 100 Subscribers" about the apparent tension between Paul (saved by faith, not works) and Jesus (enter kingdom by following commandments).

Acts Matthew 28:18-20 Great Commission discipleship baptism

The Great Commission applies to all Christians at some level; discipleship includes both evangelism (initiation) and ongoing teaching

Question from Cass Magnuson about how Matthew 28:18-20 applies to individual Christians and what making a disciple involves.

discipleship personal testimony pastoral ethics

Mike declines to share his full personal testimony out of love for family members whose failures would be exposed publicly

Question from ZZ asking Mike to share his testimony and struggles as a new believer.

Genesis 32 Genesis 48:15-16 Trinity Jacob Angel of the Lord

Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord, who is the pre-incarnate Christ (second person of the Trinity)

Question from Guppy Life about Jacob wrestling "God" when the text says "angel" — is God the Angel of the Lord?

salvation ethics pastoral care

Suicide does not automatically mean loss of salvation; Christians can and do commit terrible sins — but suicide harms others profoundly

Question from Miguel about whether a true believer who commits suicide in a moment of weakness can still be saved.

election soteriology free will

The elect are not a closed group from which some are necessarily excluded; election involves foreknowledge and preserves both God's and humanity's free choice

Question from Threads of Hope about whether the doctrine of election means some people simply cannot be saved.

Roman Catholicism church history marriage

Catholic claim that marriage outside the Church is invalid is wrong — it is not sacramental but is still a real marriage; the Catholic doctrine of 7 sacraments is historically late

Question from Lindsey whose husband's Catholic family claims they are not really married because they were not married by the Catholic Church.

marriage sanctification forgiveness

Unbiblical divorce followed by the ex-spouse's remarriage: the innocent party is free to remarry, but must do heart work first

Question from Carmen about whether someone who initiated an unbiblical divorce is free to remarry after the ex-spouse has already remarried (making reconciliation impossible).

1 Timothy 2:12-15 women in ministry hermeneutics complementarianism

1 Timothy 2:12-15 restricts women from the pastoral/authority role in the church, but does not prohibit co-ed Bible study or women's ministry generally

Question from Seanya about whether 1 Timothy 2:12-15 makes co-ed Bible studies unbiblical and how it affects women's ministry.

submission church leadership pastoral care

A church with a single pastor and no elders should seek plurality of leadership; address the concern privately and graciously with the pastor

Question from Michael Francisco about a church with one pastor who teaches everything and no elders — how to raise the concern.

Galatians hermeneutics Galatians Sabbath

Christians are not under the Mosaic Law including the Sabbath; they are under the law of Christ and walk by the Spirit

Question from Cetl P about why Christians do not keep the Sabbath even though it is in the moral law and written by God's finger on stone.

Colossians Romans 14 Colossians Romans 14 Christian liberty

Romans 14 shows that observing the Sabbath is a matter of conscience, not universal Christian obligation; liberty must be exercised in love

Continuing the Sabbath question with a detailed reading of Romans 14.

1 Samuel 28 1 Thessalonians 4 Mary Roman Catholicism Samuel

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 Peter 3:3-4 1 Timothy 2:9 1 Peter 3:3-4 1 Timothy 2:9 jewelry

Introduction: jewelry question from Twitter (1 Tim 2:9; 1 Pet 3:3-4)

Q&A livestream, first question from Twitter user Jake Teeter asking whether Scripture prohibits jewelry like wedding bands and necklaces.

1 Timothy 2:9 godliness 1 Timothy 2:9 jewelry

1 Timothy 2:9 is not a strict prohibition on jewelry but a tendency warning against valuing external beauty over godliness

Exposition of 1 Timothy 2:9 in the context of Paul's instruction to women about conduct in the church.

1 Timothy 2:9 cultural context 1 Timothy 2:9 IVP Bible Background Commentary

Braided hair in 1 Timothy 2:9 refers to hair braided with gold as a display of wealth, not ordinary styling

Drawing on IVP Bible Background Commentary to explain the cultural meaning of braided hair in 1 Tim 2:9.

1 Timothy 2:9 cultural critique women's ministry 1 Timothy 2:9

Culture's gospel of external beauty is antithetical to the Christian emphasis on inner godly character

Application of the 1 Tim 2:9 principle to contemporary women's ministry and culture.

1 Peter 3:3-4 1 Timothy 2:9 Sarah Abraham gentle and quiet spirit

1 Peter 3:3-4 reinforces 1 Tim 2:9: true adornment is the gentle and quiet spirit, not external appearance

Reading and brief exposition of 1 Peter 3:3-4 as a parallel to 1 Timothy 2:9.