Search — Theology Explorer

John 2:13-17 divine authority temple clearing violent protest

Jesus flipping tables does not justify violent protest or destruction of private property

Mike addresses a meme circulating after his Monday video on Jesus clearing the temple, which people were using to justify violent protests.

discernment Enneagram mysticism

The Enneagram lacks true ancient origins and was developed by a modern mystic with dangerous theology

Response to Katrina asking about the Enneagram and its origins (desert fathers vs. Catholic origins).

Trinity deity of Christ Son of God

Why the Father is typically called simply God in the NT while Jesus is called the Son: guarding against modalism

Response to Deke Liu asking why God the Father is typically just called God in the NT while Jesus is called the Son and the Spirit is called the Spirit.

1 Samuel Eli 1 Samuel priestly accountability

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.

church fathers apologetics Catholicism

Catholicism as doctrinal development — novel doctrines added over centuries, not apostolic teaching

Continuation of Fatima discussion; Mike's broader critique of Catholicism.

Romans 8:16 Romans 8:15 Holy Spirit Romans 8:16 assurance of salvation

The witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16) — an internal truth-awareness of being God's child, not an emotion

Question from John Butterfield about what the witness of the Spirit is and how to obtain it.

Psalm 22 Luke 22:44 Trinity Christology Psalm 22

Gethsemane — Jesus was not separated from the Father; "forsaken" means handed over to a terrible fate, not ontological separation of the Trinity

Question from Blake about whether Jesus was forsaken/separated from the Father in Gethsemane.

1 John Matthew 6:14-15 1 John salvation Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:14-15 — is forgiving others necessary for salvation, or evidence of it?

Question from David Ellington about whether failing to forgive others means losing salvation.

Exodus 22:16-17 Deuteronomy 22 marriage repentance fornication

Should two Christians who fornicated marry? — Consider it, but do not treat marriage as a required patch on the sin

Question from Spazzy Jazzy about rectifying fornication through marriage.

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Hebrews 1:1-2 — God created the world "through" his Son: economic Trinity and the agency of the Son in creation

Q&A from Ed Jacobson about the meaning of "through" in Hebrews 1:2

Hebrews 1:1-2 dia Trinity Hebrews 1:1-2

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Romans 8 on the Spirit crying Abba Father: relationship with the Spirit unrelated to miraculous gifts

Resource recommendation for the relational aspect of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8 Abba Father Romans 8 Holy Spirit

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Christians have a biblical duty to protect others — pacifism taken to its logical extreme is evil

Question from Spazzy Jazzy about the extent to which Christians should protect and retaliate against abuse

violence Old Testament ethics self-defense

John 1:1 Trinity Deity of Christ theos

Dan Wallace on John 1:1: the articular construction fights Sabellianism; the anarthrous predicate fights Arianism

Mike quotes Greek scholar Dan Wallace's commentary on John 1:1.

John 1:1 Trinity Martin Luther John 1:1

Martin Luther quote: lack of article is against Sabellianism; word order is against Arianism

Mike continues citing Wallace who himself references Luther's summary of John 1:1's grammar.

John 1:1 John 1:18 Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation Deity of Christ

John 1:18 further exposes JW inconsistency — theos without article used twice but not rendered "a god"

Mike shows a second example from John 1 that undermines the JW argument.

Genesis 9 Noah Genesis 9 Ham

Genesis 9 — Noah cursed Canaan for Ham's sin because Canaan was likely complicit, not just punished for his father's actions

Question from Caleb McMurtry about why Noah cursed Canaan rather than Ham.

Romans 8:15 assurance of salvation witness of the Holy Spirit Romans 8:15

Witness of the Holy Spirit is mental/spiritual awareness of sonship, not necessarily emotional feeling; love for God is primarily volitional, not emotional

Question from "JW" about not feeling the witness of the Holy Spirit or love for God despite trusting Christ.

Hebrews 7:3 typology Melchizedek Christophany

Hebrews 7:3 — 'without father, without mother, without genealogy': literary vs. literal interpretation

The key debated phrase in the Melchizedek/Christophany debate.

Trinity heresy Oneness Pentecostalism

Oneness Pentecostalism: critique of modalism and concern about authoritarian/bully theology

Question from Stephen Serrano about Oneness Pentecostalism.

Isaiah 53:10 crucifixion atonement Sodom and Gomorrah

Penal substitutionary atonement: two valid senses of God's wrath on the cross — displeasure toward sin; outward punishment of sin

Question from Zoe Abundant about whether Jesus experienced God's wrath and what that means.

Matthew 10:33 Luke 12:9 evangelism private faith shame of the gospel

Keeping faith private: a private relationship with God signals shame or embarrassment, not genuine privacy

Question from Dusty Matthew about a friend who says faith is a private matter.

James John Matthew 16:28 Peter James John

Matthew 16:28 "some standing here will not taste death" is fulfilled by the Transfiguration, not the Second Coming

Responding to a question from Lucas Callahan about Matthew 16:28 and the failed apocalyptic prophet charge

Acts 16:31-34 hermeneutics salvation Acts 16:31-34

Acts 16:31 does not teach household salvation -- the household's rejoicing proves they individually believed

Responding to Sarah P's report that her Bible teacher taught household salvation from Acts 16:31

John 5 mediator salvation Christology

Rejecting the deity of Christ is a salvation issue -- John 5 says dishonoring the Son dishonors the Father

Responding to Isaac Floyd's question about whether denying the deity of Christ is a salvation issue

Luke 23:34 2 Peter 3:9 Numbers typology cities of refuge high priest

Luke 23:34 'Father forgive them' likely refers to delayed judgment / forgiveness offered, not full salvific pardon

Responding to Reid's question about whether unbelievers are forgiven to some degree, referencing Luke 23:34

Matthew 5:29 1 John 2:1 repentance hyperbole sin

Pluck out your eye (Matthew 5:29) vs. having an advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1)

A viewer asks how to reconcile the command to pluck out your eye with the promise of an advocate with the Father.

1 Corinthians 7 Luke 14:26 1 Corinthians 7 discipleship Luke 14:26

Luke 14:26 — Forsaking family for Christ: hyperbole and ultimate priority, not literal abandonment

A viewer asks what Jesus meant by forsaking family and hating father and mother.

Matthew 24:15 Acts 1:7 Matthew 24:15 eschatology Martin Luther

Are we the last generation? — Acts 1:7 epistemic humility; abomination of desolation as one signpost

A viewer asks if Mike believes we are the last generation before Christ's return.

1 Corinthians 6:16 Deuteronomy 22:28-29 Exodus 22:16 marriage one flesh sexual ethics

Does intercourse constitute marriage? — No; vows before witnesses and God define marriage

Mike reads an email asking whether sleeping with someone makes you married.

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus "Everlasting Father" - Mike cannot recall his full answer but recommends James White's The Forgotten Trinity and Got Questions for responses to Oneness Pentecostal use of the verse.

Question about Isaiah 9:6 and Oneness Pentecostalism

James White Isaiah 9:6 Trinity James White Isaiah 9:6

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Discipling a believing-but-disengaged parent: focus on the will problem; build bridges through his interests rather than direct confrontation.

Question about discipling an unengaged believing father

Lee Strobel evangelism J. Warner Wallace

Justin Martyr Polycarp Church Fathers

Church fathers have historical value — especially the earliest second-century writers — but should not be granted extra theological authority; they are windows into early church history, not infallible teachers.

Q: How much utility should we find in the church fathers? Should we view them with extra credibility?

Proof-texting Church Fathers Patristics

Church fathers are routinely quoted out of context to proof-text doctrines — Gustaf Aulén's Christus Victor is a prime example, misrepresenting patristic sources to argue against penal substitutionary atonement.

Warning about the misuse of the church fathers in theological argument.

Proof-texting Hermeneutics Church Fathers

Practical guidance on reading church fathers: read whole works from start to finish rather than isolated quotes — this prevents the proof-texting problem the same way it prevents biblical proof-texting.

How to read the church fathers responsibly.