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 (254) Mike Winger (254)

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

The seven deacons chosen in Acts 6 all have Greek names; one (Nicholas) is explicitly a proselyte. The Jerusalem church remains predominantly Jewish.

Acts 6:5 analysis

Acts 6:5 proselytes early church Acts 6:5

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 6:7 -- many priests become believers. The church's Jerusalem base and Jewish composition is further underscored.

Survey of Acts 6:7

Acts 6:7 Jerusalem Acts 6:7 priestly converts

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Stephen is falsely accused of speaking against Moses and the law -- the witnesses are explicitly called false (Acts 6:13), meaning Stephen is not actually teaching against the law

Survey of Acts 6, Stephen controversy

Acts 6:10-14 Stephen Law of Moses Acts 6:10-14

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Stephen's speech in Acts 7 argues that Israel misunderstood the meaning of the law and temple -- but his argument is about fulfillment and proper understanding, not abolishment

Analysis of Stephen's defense in Acts 7

Acts 7 Stephen Law of Moses Acts 7

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 11:19 reveals that scattered believers preached only to Jews -- the assumption was still that the gospel was exclusively for Jews

Survey of Acts 8 and 11:19

Acts 11:19 Acts 8:5 Gentile mission Acts 11:19 Acts 8:5

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Samaritans are described as 'Jewish-ish' -- half-Jew, half-Gentile in Jewish eyes -- still not the full Gentile mission of Acts 1:8

Analysis of Philip's Samaritan mission

Acts 8:5 Deuteronomy 18:15 Acts 8:5 Deuteronomy 18:15 Samaritans

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

The Holy Spirit did not fall on the Samaritan believers until Peter and John came and laid hands on them -- the Apostles were required to officially open the gospel to the Samaritans

Analysis of Holy Spirit delay in Samaria

Acts 8 John (Apostle) Acts 8 Holy Spirit Peter (Apostle)

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 appears to be Jewish or a proselyte (he was in Jerusalem to worship and had Isaiah), so this is still not a full Gentile conversion

Survey of Acts 8, Ethiopian eunuch

Acts 8:27-40 proselytes Philip (Evangelist) Acts 8:27-40

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

Acts 9:31 summary: the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria is at peace and growing -- still entirely Jewish in composition

Survey of Acts 9:31, state of the early church

Acts 9:31 Jewish believers early church Acts 9:31

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Key principle: those already observing the law simply continued; there was no teaching to stop -- and no teaching to start for those who were not observing it

Summary principle from Acts 1-9

argument from silence Torah observance Jewish believers

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 10: Cornelius is introduced -- the first non-proselyte Gentile to receive the gospel. He is a God-fearer but not circumcised and not under the law.

Survey of Acts chapter 10, Cornelius

Acts 10:1-2 Craig Keener Cornelius Josephus

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Peter's vision of the sheet with unclean animals (Acts 10:9-16): God tells him to eat all types of animals, both unholy and unclean

Peter's rooftop vision in Acts 10

Acts 10:9-16 dietary laws Acts 10:9-16 Peter's vision

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Peter did not violate food laws even years after the resurrection -- an important concession: there was no requirement for Jewish believers to stop Torah observance after coming to Jesus

Analysis of Peter's behavior regarding food laws

dietary laws Jewish believers Peter (Apostle)

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 10:28 gives the authoritative interpretation of the vision: 'God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean' -- the vision is about Gentile inclusion, not food

Peter's own interpretation of his vision

Acts 10:28 Gentile inclusion Peter (Apostle) clean/unclean distinction

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Neither extreme interpretation of Acts 10 is correct: neither 'all food is now clean for everyone' nor 'all food is still unclean' -- the vision primarily establishes Gentile access to the gospel

Balanced interpretation of Acts 10 vision

Acts 10 hermeneutics Acts 10 Gentile inclusion

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Hebrew Roots major argument on Acts 10: the vision was about people (Gentiles), not food -- Winger agrees but argues they miss the connection and the implication for dietary laws

Critique of Hebrew Roots interpretation of Acts 10

Acts 10 Acts 10 Hebrew Roots movement Gentile inclusion

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 11:1 -- 'Gentiles received the Word of God' without Torah observance. Hebrew Roots claim you cannot fully receive the Word of God without obeying the law -- Winger rejects this as unbiblical.

Analysis of Acts 11:1

Acts 11:1 Torah observance 119 Ministries Acts 11:1

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

The gospel alone makes Gentiles clean -- the law was not a prerequisite for salvation, and Acts 10-11 establishes this clearly

Summary argument from Acts 10-11

salvation by grace Law of Moses dietary laws

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Mark 7:19 -- Jesus declared all foods clean. Winger defers full treatment but flags it as part of a progressive revelation from Jesus through Paul to Hebrews.

Cross-reference to Mark 7:19

Mark 7:19 progressive revelation dietary laws fulfillment theology

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Critique of the alternative view: using the idea that all foods are clean to communicate a message while insisting all foods are not actually clean is logically incoherent

Logical critique of Hebrew Roots reading of Acts 10

Acts 10 hermeneutics Acts 10 dietary laws

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 11:20 -- some men of Cyprus and Cyrene begin speaking to Greeks (Gentiles) in Antioch, preaching the Lord Jesus. Luke narrates this only after establishing how Gentiles can be saved.

Survey of Acts 11:20, first Gentile outreach from scattered believers

Acts 11:20 Luke (author) Gentile mission Acts 11:20 Antioch (Syria)

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 2019-05-22

Paul preaches in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:14) -- his standard method is synagogue first, then the broader city. His message presents Jesus as fulfillment of the law and prophets.

Survey of Acts 13:14, Paul's first missionary journey

Acts 13:14 Paul the Apostle fulfillment theology Acts 13:14

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 13:38-39 -- Paul: forgiveness is proclaimed through Jesus, and through him everyone who believes is freed from all things from which they could not be freed through the law of Moses

Paul's synagogue sermon in Pisidian Antioch

Acts 13:38-39 Paul the Apostle justification Law of Moses

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 13:42-46 -- Paul invited back next Sabbath; nearly the whole city comes; jealous Jews contradict him; Paul and Barnabas declare they are turning to the Gentiles

Survey of Acts 13:42-46, rejection by Jews and turn to Gentiles

Acts 13:42-46 Barnabas Paul the Apostle Gentile mission

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 14 -- Paul in Iconium and Lystra heals a lame man; Gentiles try to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Paul corrects their polytheism but never mentions the Law of Moses.

Survey of Acts 14, Paul's ministry in Lystra

Acts 14:8-11 Barnabas Paul the Apostle Acts 14:8-11

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Preaching against idolatry is not the same as imposing the law of Moses -- idolatry is condemned universally, not only in the law. Specific Mosaic laws (Sabbath, tithe to Levites, feast attendance) are never mentioned to Gentiles.

Response to Hebrew Roots claim that preaching against idolatry equals teaching Torah

Law of Moses dietary laws feast days

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Paul appoints elders from Gentile churches (Acts 14:21-23) with no mention of Torah. These are advanced disciples who had Paul with them multiple times and a full year of discipleship.

Survey of Acts 14:21-23, appointment of elders

Acts 14:21-23 discipleship Barnabas Paul the Apostle

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 15:1 -- men from Judea teach that circumcision according to Moses is required for salvation, triggering the Jerusalem Council

Survey of Acts 15:1-2, the Judaizers

Acts 15:1-2 Barnabas false gospel Paul the Apostle

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 15:3-5 -- the Jerusalem Council convenes; Pharisee believers argue it is necessary to circumcise Gentile believers and direct them to observe the whole law of Moses

Survey of Acts 15:3-5, Jerusalem Council opening

Acts 15:3-5 Law of Moses Jerusalem Council Pharisees

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 15:6-11 -- Peter's speech at the Jerusalem Council: God made no distinction between Jew and Gentile, cleansing their hearts by faith; why put on them a yoke their fathers could not bear? Salvation is by grace alone.

Peter's speech at Jerusalem Council

Acts 15:6-11 Cornelius Holy Spirit salvation by grace

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 15:12-18 -- James's speech: endorses Peter, cites Amos 9 as prophetic basis for Gentile inclusion under God's name. His judgment: do not trouble the Gentiles.

James's speech at Jerusalem Council

James (brother of Jesus) Acts 15:12-19 Amos 9:11-12 James (brother of Jesus) Gentile inclusion Acts 15:12-19

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 15:19-21 -- James decrees four abstentions for Gentiles: things contaminated by idols, fornication, what is strangled, and blood. The reason given: Moses has been preached in every city.

James's four-fold decree for Gentiles

James (brother of Jesus) Acts 15:20-21 table fellowship James (brother of Jesus) Acts 15:20-21

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Hebrew Roots claim: Acts 15 is only about salvation, not sanctification. Winger argues the meeting appears to address both and that the claim is artificially restrictive.

Critique of Hebrew Roots interpretation of Acts 15

Acts 15 Acts 15 Hebrew Roots movement 119 Ministries

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Three arguments that Acts 15 addresses sanctification, not just salvation: (1) text never limits it to salvation; (2) if future Torah teaching was expected, why not clarify here; (3) they gave four specific sanctification commands, not the whole law

Winger's three-part argument that Acts 15 covers sanctification as well

Acts 15 Acts 15 Torah observance salvation vs. sanctification

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

The four Apostolic Decree commands correspond to Leviticus 17-18, which lists things God judges Gentile nations for -- suggesting these were universal moral standards applicable even outside the law

Analysis of the four commands and their OT background

Leviticus 17-18 Acts 15:20 John Polhill table fellowship Apostolic Decree Leviticus 17-18

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Two interpretations of the four commands: (1) universal moral standards for all Gentile believers, or (2) specifically for Jewish-Gentile table fellowship. Winger favors table fellowship.

Competing interpretations of the Apostolic Decree

Acts 15:20-21 table fellowship dietary laws Acts 15:20-21

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Hebrew Roots response to Acts 15: it was only temporary, with full Torah teaching coming later. Winger demolishes this by pointing to the years of prior discipleship at Antioch.

Response to the Hebrew Roots 'temporary decree' argument for Acts 15

Acts 15 Acts 13 discipleship Acts 15 Torah observance

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 15:22-29 -- The Apostolic letter: the Holy Spirit and the Apostles together impose no greater burden than four essentials. These four are explicitly for sanctification ('you will do well'), not salvation.

Survey of the Apostolic letter text

James (brother of Jesus) Acts 15:22-29 Holy Spirit James (brother of Jesus) salvation vs. sanctification

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Challenge to Hebrew Roots movement: if Matthew 5 and 28 teach Torah for all, why does Acts never once tell Gentiles to obey the law? The silence disproves the interpretation.

Summary challenge to Hebrew Roots reading of Acts

Matthew 5 Matthew 28 argument from silence Great Commission Matthew 5

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 16:1-3 -- Timothy is circumcised by Paul, despite delivering the decree that Gentiles need not be circumcised. His circumcision is for missionary effectiveness among Jews.

Survey of Acts 16, Timothy's circumcision

Acts 16:1-3 Timothy Paul the Apostle circumcision

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 -- Paul becomes as a Jew to win Jews, as under the law to win those under the law, as without law to win those without law. Timothy's circumcision fits this pattern.

Cross-reference to 1 Corinthians 9 to explain Timothy's circumcision

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 Timothy Paul the Apostle law of Christ

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Timothy was not circumcised because he was Jewish -- he was circumcised for ministry effectiveness. This distinction is critical: it is fulfillment theology, not law-keeping.

Clarification on Timothy's circumcision motivation

Timothy Jewish identity fulfillment theology

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Summary: Gentiles who get saved in Acts never receive Torah instructions; Jews are never asked to stop. Both groups are united by Jesus, not by the law.

Summary of Acts survey to this point

Torah observance Jewish believers fulfillment theology

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 18:13 -- Paul accused of persuading men to worship God contrary to the law. Again just an accusation, paralleling the pattern with Jesus: fulfillment misread as abolishment.

Survey of Acts 18:13

Acts 18:13 Paul the Apostle Law of Moses fulfillment theology

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 18:18 -- Paul keeps a Nazirite vow (hair cut) years after the resurrection. Consistent with Jewish believers continuing optional Torah practices.

Survey of Acts 18:18, Paul's Nazirite vow

1 Corinthians 9 Acts 18:18 Nazirite vow Paul the Apostle 1 Corinthians 9

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 20:16 -- Paul hurries to reach Jerusalem for Pentecost. Winger notes he missed Passover and his motivation is gospel preaching to Jews gathered for the feast, not pure feast-day observance.

Survey of Acts 20:16, Paul and Pentecost

Acts 20:16 Acts 20:24 Pentecost Paul the Apostle feast days

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Key observation: the Ephesian elders are not going to Jerusalem for Pentecost -- Paul is the exception, not the rule. Gentile believers are not flocking to Jerusalem for feasts.

Analysis of Acts 20:17, Paul's address to Ephesian elders

Acts 20:17 Ephesian elders Paul the Apostle feast days

← Prev Page 3 of 6 Next →

The seven deacons chosen in Acts 6 all have Greek names; one (Nicholas) is explicitly a proselyte. The Jerusalem church remains predominantly Jewish.

Acts 6:7 -- many priests become believers. The church's Jerusalem base and Jewish composition is further underscored.

Stephen is falsely accused of speaking against Moses and the law -- the witnesses are explicitly called false (Acts 6:13), meaning Stephen is not actually teaching against the law

Stephen's speech in Acts 7 argues that Israel misunderstood the meaning of the law and temple -- but his argument is about fulfillment and proper understanding, not abolishment

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

Acts 11:19 reveals that scattered believers preached only to Jews -- the assumption was still that the gospel was exclusively for Jews

Samaritans are described as 'Jewish-ish' -- half-Jew, half-Gentile in Jewish eyes -- still not the full Gentile mission of Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit did not fall on the Samaritan believers until Peter and John came and laid hands on them -- the Apostles were required to officially open the gospel to the Samaritans

The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 appears to be Jewish or a proselyte (he was in Jerusalem to worship and had Isaiah), so this is still not a full Gentile conversion

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

Acts 9:31 summary: the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria is at peace and growing -- still entirely Jewish in composition

Key principle: those already observing the law simply continued; there was no teaching to stop -- and no teaching to start for those who were not observing it

Acts 10: Cornelius is introduced -- the first non-proselyte Gentile to receive the gospel. He is a God-fearer but not circumcised and not under the law.

Peter's vision of the sheet with unclean animals (Acts 10:9-16): God tells him to eat all types of animals, both unholy and unclean

Peter did not violate food laws even years after the resurrection -- an important concession: there was no requirement for Jewish believers to stop Torah observance after coming to Jesus

Acts 10:28 gives the authoritative interpretation of the vision: 'God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean' -- the vision is about Gentile inclusion, not food

Neither extreme interpretation of Acts 10 is correct: neither 'all food is now clean for everyone' nor 'all food is still unclean' -- the vision primarily establishes Gentile access to the gospel

Hebrew Roots major argument on Acts 10: the vision was about people (Gentiles), not food -- Winger agrees but argues they miss the connection and the implication for dietary laws

Acts 11:1 -- 'Gentiles received the Word of God' without Torah observance. Hebrew Roots claim you cannot fully receive the Word of God without obeying the law -- Winger rejects this as unbiblical.

The gospel alone makes Gentiles clean -- the law was not a prerequisite for salvation, and Acts 10-11 establishes this clearly

Mark 7:19 -- Jesus declared all foods clean. Winger defers full treatment but flags it as part of a progressive revelation from Jesus through Paul to Hebrews.

Critique of the alternative view: using the idea that all foods are clean to communicate a message while insisting all foods are not actually clean is logically incoherent

Acts 11:20 -- some men of Cyprus and Cyrene begin speaking to Greeks (Gentiles) in Antioch, preaching the Lord Jesus. Luke narrates this only after establishing how Gentiles can be saved.

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.

Paul preaches in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:14) -- his standard method is synagogue first, then the broader city. His message presents Jesus as fulfillment of the law and prophets.

Acts 13:38-39 -- Paul: forgiveness is proclaimed through Jesus, and through him everyone who believes is freed from all things from which they could not be freed through the law of Moses

Acts 13:42-46 -- Paul invited back next Sabbath; nearly the whole city comes; jealous Jews contradict him; Paul and Barnabas declare they are turning to the Gentiles

Acts 14 -- Paul in Iconium and Lystra heals a lame man; Gentiles try to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Paul corrects their polytheism but never mentions the Law of Moses.

Preaching against idolatry is not the same as imposing the law of Moses -- idolatry is condemned universally, not only in the law. Specific Mosaic laws (Sabbath, tithe to Levites, feast attendance) are never mentioned to Gentiles.

Paul appoints elders from Gentile churches (Acts 14:21-23) with no mention of Torah. These are advanced disciples who had Paul with them multiple times and a full year of discipleship.

Acts 15:1 -- men from Judea teach that circumcision according to Moses is required for salvation, triggering the Jerusalem Council

Acts 15:3-5 -- the Jerusalem Council convenes; Pharisee believers argue it is necessary to circumcise Gentile believers and direct them to observe the whole law of Moses

Acts 15:6-11 -- Peter's speech at the Jerusalem Council: God made no distinction between Jew and Gentile, cleansing their hearts by faith; why put on them a yoke their fathers could not bear? Salvation is by grace alone.

Acts 15:12-18 -- James's speech: endorses Peter, cites Amos 9 as prophetic basis for Gentile inclusion under God's name. His judgment: do not trouble the Gentiles.

Acts 15:19-21 -- James decrees four abstentions for Gentiles: things contaminated by idols, fornication, what is strangled, and blood. The reason given: Moses has been preached in every city.

Hebrew Roots claim: Acts 15 is only about salvation, not sanctification. Winger argues the meeting appears to address both and that the claim is artificially restrictive.

Three arguments that Acts 15 addresses sanctification, not just salvation: (1) text never limits it to salvation; (2) if future Torah teaching was expected, why not clarify here; (3) they gave four specific sanctification commands, not the whole law

The four Apostolic Decree commands correspond to Leviticus 17-18, which lists things God judges Gentile nations for -- suggesting these were universal moral standards applicable even outside the law

Two interpretations of the four commands: (1) universal moral standards for all Gentile believers, or (2) specifically for Jewish-Gentile table fellowship. Winger favors table fellowship.

Hebrew Roots response to Acts 15: it was only temporary, with full Torah teaching coming later. Winger demolishes this by pointing to the years of prior discipleship at Antioch.

Acts 15:22-29 -- The Apostolic letter: the Holy Spirit and the Apostles together impose no greater burden than four essentials. These four are explicitly for sanctification ('you will do well'), not salvation.

Challenge to Hebrew Roots movement: if Matthew 5 and 28 teach Torah for all, why does Acts never once tell Gentiles to obey the law? The silence disproves the interpretation.

Acts 16:1-3 -- Timothy is circumcised by Paul, despite delivering the decree that Gentiles need not be circumcised. His circumcision is for missionary effectiveness among Jews.

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 -- Paul becomes as a Jew to win Jews, as under the law to win those under the law, as without law to win those without law. Timothy's circumcision fits this pattern.

Timothy was not circumcised because he was Jewish -- he was circumcised for ministry effectiveness. This distinction is critical: it is fulfillment theology, not law-keeping.

Summary: Gentiles who get saved in Acts never receive Torah instructions; Jews are never asked to stop. Both groups are united by Jesus, not by the law.

Acts 18:13 -- Paul accused of persuading men to worship God contrary to the law. Again just an accusation, paralleling the pattern with Jesus: fulfillment misread as abolishment.

Acts 18:18 -- Paul keeps a Nazirite vow (hair cut) years after the resurrection. Consistent with Jewish believers continuing optional Torah practices.

Acts 20:16 -- Paul hurries to reach Jerusalem for Pentecost. Winger notes he missed Passover and his motivation is gospel preaching to Jews gathered for the feast, not pure feast-day observance.

Key observation: the Ephesian elders are not going to Jerusalem for Pentecost -- Paul is the exception, not the rule. Gentile believers are not flocking to Jerusalem for feasts.

Bible Link Settings