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All (136) Scripture Commentary (39) Theology (18) Mike Winger (79)
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Q14: "Don't lean on your own understanding" (Prov 3:5) — using understanding vs. leaning on it

Response to question about how to know truth when you can't trust your own understanding or tradition

Proverbs 3:5 Trinity epistemology faith and reason
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Trusting man vs. trusting God: the distinction is priority, not binary rejection of human sources

Continuing Q14 on trusting man vs. God

Proverbs 3:5 biblical authority cultural pressure homosexuality
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Walking on eggshells around an easily angered person should be motivated by wisdom, not fear

Question from Taylor Paris about dealing with someone who is easily angered

Proverbs wisdom relationships Proverbs
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Proverbs recommended as the antidote to the lack of wisdom on both political extremes

Closing remarks

Proverbs Craig Blomberg wisdom Proverbs
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Divine discipline in Hebrews 12: suffering is God's loving discipline and can be broad — including consequences of sin or trials for character formation.

Question from Jacob Duncan about how God disciplines believers per Hebrews 12.

1 Peter Hebrews 12:3-6 Proverbs on discipline 1 Peter Hebrews 12:3-6 Divine discipline
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q13: Should I stop using an isogetical devotional that groups unrelated passages under a common daily theme?

Viewer Justin asks whether to stop using a one-year Bible plan that groups OT, NT, Psalms, and Proverbs daily under one artificial unifying theme.

hermeneutics contextual interpretation isogesis
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: Is there anything Christians should fear apart from God?

Viewer Omar Barr asks whether there are legitimate objects of fear for Christians beyond fearing God.

Proverbs Christian ethics fear of God Proverbs
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 8 — typological connection to Christ, not the Holy Spirit

Steven Rivers asks whether Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 8 could be the Holy Spirit and whether Hebrew/Greek pronouns clarify the gender.

Proverbs 8 1 Corinthians 1 typology Holy Spirit Christology
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

How can God love the world and also hate sinners? Psalm 5:5 and Proverbs 6:16-19

Fly Serve Disciples asks how God can love the whole world (John 3:16) while Psalm 5:5 says God hates evildoers.

John 3:16 Psalm 5:5 Proverbs 6:16-19 God's love God's wrath John 3:16
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Covert narcissism and Proverbs 16:5 — misunderstanding grace; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Giant Mushroom Tree is being diagnosed with covert narcissistic personality disorder and fears Proverbs 16:5 means they are unsavable.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Proverbs 16:5 repentance pride grace
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Helping a believer in mental anguish: bear burdens without requiring performance; listen and meet needs without trying to fix them

Responding to how to help and encourage a believer going through a season of mental anguish

Galatians 6:2 Proverbs 14:10 pastoral care Galatians 6:2 mental health
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Hebrews 12:6 uses "scourges" (from the Septuagint of Proverbs 3:12) to describe God's fatherly discipline; the intensified language is contextually appropriate fatherly correction, not brutal punishment.

Q6 from Stephanie: Hebrews 12:5-6 quotes Proverbs 3:11-12 but ends with "scourge" — why does it imply God brutally whips every believer?

Hebrews 12:5-6 Proverbs 3:11-12 Septuagint (LXX) Hebrews 12:5-6 Proverbs 3:11-12
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Spiritual doubt overcome through volitional trust: Mike's personal testimony of months of intellectual and emotional doubt resolved by choosing to trust God regardless of feelings.

Q17 from Healthy Bleach: feeling cut off from God, wondering if prayer is talking to oneself, if faith is wishful thinking.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Genesis flood narrative Proverbs 3:5-6 perseverance spiritual dryness
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Mandating church traditions as biblical commands is wrong; Proverbs 22:28 and Matthew 18:18 do not support it

Q8 from John Doe: A church mandates women wear dresses and men be clean-shaven using Proverbs 22:28 and Matthew 18:18 — is it biblical to mandate adherence to tradition?

Proverbs 22:28 Matthew 18:18 church authority spiritual abuse tradition vs Scripture
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Responding to online skeptics who call God evil and Christianity irrational: focus on one argument, watch for dumping tactics

Q9 from Dora Ashby: Skeptics say belief in God is irrational, that Christians must approve of rape and torture, and that God is evil. How to respond?

apologetics atheism debate strategy
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Overcoming laziness requires creating structured tasks, improving energy through exercise and diet, and reading Proverbs.

Question 6 from Sherry Lynn about overcoming laziness at home after hard work-days.

Proverbs spiritual disciplines Proverbs practical wisdom
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-16

Not going to church during a pandemic is wisdom, not fear. Two types of fear: (1) terror about what might happen (unnecessary — God is sovereign even in worst outcomes), (2) proper respect/prudence that avoids testing God. Proverbs 27:12: "The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it."

Wisdom vs fear — prudence in Proverbs

Proverbs 27:12 Proverbs 8:5 Proverbs 27:12 prudence Proverbs 8:5
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

Should new believers read the whole Bible? Yes, eventually. But start with the Gospel of John (written for the purpose of producing faith), then the rest of the NT. Read Psalms and Proverbs for wisdom/worship. Genesis for foundations. Don't start at Genesis 1 and try to plow through — you'll bog down in Leviticus. A reading plan helps maintain consistency.

Bible reading plan for new believers

John 20:31 Gospel of John Gospel of John new believers
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-21

Biblical view of entertainment: Laughter is good (Proverbs: laughter is medicine) but like sex, it's context-dependent. Entertainment that softens our attitude toward sin, mocks God, or turns holy things into jokes causes spiritual harm. Each Christian must develop personal convictions (Romans 14) rather than imposing them on others. The test: is your walk with God sustained while enjoying this entertainment?

Entertainment — biblical principles

Romans 14 Romans 14 Romans 14 Romans 14 entertainment ethics
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-19

The trap: Pharisees and Herodians (sent by the Sanhedrin) use flattery to pressure Jesus into a direct yes/no answer. They want either criminal charges (sedition) or depopularization (alienating zealot followers).

Analysis of the trap question setup in Mark 12:13-16

Mark 12:13-17 Acts 5:37 Proverbs 29:5 Josephus Josephus Sanhedrin
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-19

Jesus answers with a PRINCIPLE rather than yes/no: the coin bears Caesar's image (give it back), but YOU bear God's image (give yourself to God). This is a rabbinic "greater to lesser" argument that deflates their trap.

Analysis of "Render to Caesar" as a principled answer

Proverbs 15:28 image of God image of God papacy
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-29

CRT redefines racism as "prejudice plus power" — meaning only the dominant group (whites) can be racist, and systemic racism is the only real racism. This enables dismissing any concern from majority groups while making all disparities evidence of racism.

CRT's redefinition of racism and its consequences

Proverbs 18:13 Robin DiAngelo Ibram X. Kendi prejudice plus power
Mike Winger idea 2021-06-04

About Bribery in the book of Proverbs: Can you please help me and my friend understand Proverbs 21: 14 about bribery? We read the references below the verse but still find it hard to understand.

Q&A question: About Bribery in the book of Proverbs
Mike Winger idea 2022-02-11

Can we Roll Dice to Hear from God?: In Proverbs 16: 33, the lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. Does this mean we can roll dice to get answers from God?

Q&A question: Can we Roll Dice to Hear from God?
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-11

Should we Follow our Hearts?: "Follow your heart" is a popular mantra, but is not encouraged in some Christian circles. I understand that Jeremiah 17.9 says "the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick," but Proverbs 4.23 says "the springs of life" flow from our hearts. Also, since God's word is written on our hearts (Jeremiah 31.33), shouldn't we follow our hearts?

Q&A question: Should we Follow our Hearts?

Jeremiah Jeremiah 31 Jeremiah Jeremiah 31
Mike Winger idea 2022-04-15

Does God Control our Free Will?: In Proverbs 21:1 it says, "The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers of water He turns it wherever He wishes." Does that mean God controls the king's free will?

Q&A question: Does God Control our Free Will?

free will
Mike Winger idea 2022-05-06

How to Interpret Proverbs: Verses in Proverbs often seem like unrelated thoughts. Their vague quality makes it hard to know how to interpret them correctly. How do you determine the context of these verses?

Q&A question: How to Interpret Proverbs

hermeneutics
Mike Winger idea 2022-09-16

Is it Possible to be “Good”?: “Good Man”? Jesus said there is none good but God in Luke 18: 19, Mathew 19: 17, and Mark 10: 18. But, in Acts 11: 24 it talks about a Good Man. Also in Matthew 12: 35, Proverbs 13: 22, and Romans 5:7 (NIV).

Q&A question: Is it Possible to be “Good”?

Romans 5 Matthew 12 Matthew Romans 5 Jesus Matthew 12
Mike Winger idea 2023-01-27

Can Coffee be Addictive?: Does proverbs 25: 28 apply to coffee? A lot of people are addicted to coffee, and without drinking coffee they get headaches and other problems. Does that mean it is sinful?

Q&A question: Can Coffee be Addictive?

alcohol
Mike Winger idea 2023-06-09

Is God’s Love Actually Conditional?: If the Bible says God loves those who love Him, thereby making a condition we have to fulfill for His love (Proverbs 8: 17, John 14: 21, 23), can we still say that God's love is unconditional (John 3:16, etc.)?

Q&A question: Is God’s Love Actually Conditional?

Proverbs 8 John 3:16 John 3 Proverbs 8 John 3:16 John 3
Mike Winger idea 2023-09-01

Is Long Life a Blessing?: Proverbs 16: 31 says that long life is the reward of the righteous. But in Philippians 1: 23, Paul says he longs to go and be with Christ, which would be far better. So how is long life a blessing?

Q&A question: Is Long Life a Blessing?

Philippians 1 Philip Philippi Philippians 1
Mike Winger idea 2023-10-17

Wisdom = “She”?: Can you help me understand why in Proverbs 2 the Bible refers to wisdom as “she”? How do we argue this with those who try to speak about multiple gods, or LGBTQ+ people saying He is neither gender?

Q&A question: Wisdom = “She”?

homosexuality
Mike Winger idea 2023-12-01

Which Proverbs are Commands?: How can we know which proverbs (if any) are direct, unilateral commands of God (example: Proverbs 23: 13-14)?

Q&A question: Which Proverbs are Commands?
Mike Winger idea 2024-05-03

God Conceals a Matter?: In Proverbs 25:2, in what sense is the author saying that God conceals a matter? It's clearly not an absolute (i.e., He does reveal things).

Q&A question: God Conceals a Matter?
Mike Winger idea 2024-07-05

Household Responsibilities in Marriage: Does God care who does the dishes and cooks the food? Is the wife called to manage the household? What if both the husband and wife work similar full-time jobs (Proverbs 31: 15,21,27; Titus 2:5)?

Q&A question: Household Responsibilities in Marriage

Titus 2:5 Titus Proverbs 31 Titus 2:5 Titus Proverbs 31
Mike Winger idea 2025-03-21

PSA – Contradicting Proverbs?: If Penal Substitutionary Atonement is an accurate doctrine, then isn't it contradicting Proverbs 17: 15?

Q&A question: PSA – Contradicting Proverbs?

atonement
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