Search — Theology Explorer

deity of Christ Jonathan McLatchie pagan deity parallels

Objection: Jesus's deity borrowed from pagan deities — and response

Addressing the popular online claim that the deity of Jesus was borrowed from pagan mythologies.

biological fine-tuning intelligent design Antony Flew

Antony Flew's conversion from atheism due to biological complexity

Winger cites Antony Flew as a historical example of someone persuaded by biological complexity to abandon atheism.

1 Corinthians 15:3-7 Galatians 1:18-19 Paul Peter resurrection creed

1 Corinthians 15 creedal tradition — early apostolic testimony to the resurrection

McLatchie analyzes 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 as a pre-Pauline creed containing the earliest testimony to the resurrection.

Luke 8:2-3 Luke 24:10 Luke 23:55 Luke 8:2-3 Mary Magdalene Joanna

Undesigned coincidence within Luke: women from Galilee thread through Luke 8, 23, and 24

McLatchie presents an intra-Gospel undesigned coincidence within Luke demonstrating the authentic, non-fabricated character of the resurrection narrative.

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

Three conclusions from Acts 21: (1) Jews may continue obeying the law (beware Pharisaical additions); (2) Gentiles still have only the four commands; (3) Jewish believers in Jerusalem years later are still Torah-observant -- and that is fine.

Summary of Acts 21 analysis

Acts 21 Torah observance Acts 21 Jewish believers

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

How do the Ten Commandments relate to Christians? Against the moral/civil/ceremonial law division

Q&A: Susan and Ron's question about the Ten Commandments today

hermeneutics Law of Moses Old Testament application

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Lack of contemporary accounts of Jesus is explained by low literacy rates (~10%), oral transmission culture, and early Christian expectation of imminent return

Responding to the objection that no writings about Jesus exist from his lifetime

argument from silence oral tradition historicity of Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

John Dominic Crossan in debate with Licona affirmed the use of criteria — demonstrating that most historians still rely on them

Licona's debate with Crossan as evidence of continuing scholarly use of criteria

John Dominic Crossan Mike Licona criteria of authenticity John Dominic Crossan

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Warning against seeking comfort in progressive or unorthodox theology as a false catharsis; such teachers typically demonize biblical Christianity to wedge in their reinterpretations.

Q&A response about walking with a friend questioning traditional beliefs, specifically mentioning Greg Boyd.

biblical authority apologetics discernment

Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

Q&A: Believers not appointed to wrath — pre-trib rapture argument from 1 Thessalonians

Viewer raises the classic pre-trib rapture argument from 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians eschatology rapture tribulation

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Introduction: cross vs. stake controversy overview

Winger opens by framing the topic — whether Jesus died on a traditional cross (two beams) or a single upright pole/stake. He notes the question has limited direct theological implications but has become practically important in Christian-Jehovah's Witness and Christian-atheist exchanges.

crucifixion cross vs. stake stauros

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Full quote from Douglas's New Bible Dictionary supports a traditional cross, not a stake

When the full entry from Douglas's New Bible Dictionary is read, it describes three historical types of crosses and leans toward the traditional lowercase-T cross for Jesus's crucifixion.

crucifixion stauros Douglas's New Bible Dictionary

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament lists three cross forms including traditional cross

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT) is a third major scholarly source Winger cites. It describes stauros as used for three basic cross shapes.

TDNT crucifixion cross

Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Q&A: Is the God of Islam the same as the God of Christianity?

Viewer question from Kaeleen van Konan

Islam apologetics comparative religion

Mark 7:8 biblical authority church history tradition

Part 5: Church history arguments for infant baptism should not override Scripture

Winger addresses the appeal to church tradition as evidence for infant baptism.

Mark 7:8 biblical authority church tradition theological method

Sola Scriptura: tradition must be tested by Scripture, not used to trump it

Winger articulates his methodological principle for handling church tradition claims.

John 16:13 church history tradition Sola Scriptura

Q&A: Church history argument (1,500 years) fails — selective, skips earliest centuries, and John 16:13 is misapplied

A viewer invokes 1,500 years of church tradition and Christ's promise in John 16:13 to argue for infant baptism.

church fathers church history tradition

Q&A: There was no uniformity in the early church on any topic — "church fathers" is a misleading term

A viewer notes that early church diversity undermines appeals to monolithic tradition.

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

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

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

church fathers apologetics Catholicism

hermeneutics tradition vs Scripture intellectual humility

Traditions can masquerade as pure biblical faith; willingness to change one's mind is essential

Closing reflection on how unbiblical traditions take hold in communities

Lord's Supper blood of Christ eucharist

The one cup of communion is conceptual, not physical — referring to the blood of Christ

Resolution of the one-cup communion question

Genesis flood apologetics Inspiring Philosophy Genesis flood

Global flood traditions across disconnected cultures support the historicity of a major flood event

Q&A question from Lindsay Pinkert about helping a friend who doubts biblical historical accuracy (flood and Exodus)

Lutheran Church progressive Christianity church tradition

Lutheran church: internal struggle between biblical faithfulness and progressive drift

Q&A from Peter Williams about the Lutheran Church, liturgy, and the gospel

Calvary Chapel tradition vs Scripture church tradition

Calvary Chapel's informal warehouse-church aesthetic is itself a tradition, not an inherently superior form

Mike's reflection on his Calvary Chapel upbringing and liturgy

theology church tradition liturgy

Liturgy is not inherently a hindrance; the theology beneath it is the critical question

Conclusion on the liturgy question

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

New Testament giving priorities: the poor, the persecuted church, local ministers, and generosity as lifestyle — not limited to 10%

Constructive answer on what Christian giving should look like without a tithe mandate

James 1 Corinthians 9 James 1 Corinthians 9 Christian giving

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Serve humbly in any capacity — do not limit ministry to pastoral role; obey calling

Final advice to aspiring pastor Jared

calling pastoral ministry servanthood

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Mark 16:9-20 (the longer ending) is likely not original to the gospel

Responding to a question from Max Bolser about Mark 16:17-18 and signs following believers

Mark 16:9-20 textual criticism biblical inerrancy longer ending of Mark

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

2 Peter 2:5-6 does not settle the annihilationism debate

Question about whether 2 Peter 2:6 implies annihilation on final judgment day.

2 Peter 2:5-6 Sodom and Gomorrah hell annihilationism

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Eschatology as the field most prone to overconfident errors; lessons from misapplied messianic expectation

Continuing Q12 on fear of theological error

Matthew 24 hermeneutics eschatology second coming

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

The garter toss as an inappropriate sexualization of the bride — cultural critique

Continuing Q17 on Christian wedding practices

marriage cultural critique sexual ethics

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Enoch is actually multiple composite works; early Jewish tradition rejected its canonical status

Continued discussion of the Book of Enoch in relation to Jude

Jude canon Jude Book of Enoch

Bethel Church Christian unity Hillsong

Hillsong is not a progressive church — progressives target traditional Christianity, Hillsong seeks an inclusive umbrella

Answering whether Hillsong qualifies as theologically progressive.

Acts 1:9-11 Philippians 3:21 Glorified body of Christ Ascension of Christ Right hand of God

Jesus currently has a glorified human body in heaven — the localized presence of God is where Christ is embodied, worshipped by angels

Question from Agnes Magnusson about what form Jesus has in heaven.

James 5:14 Spiritual warfare Anointing with oil James 5:14

Anointing a home with oil is not taught in the NT but is permissible as an extra-biblical tradition if not turned into a formula or power-grab

Question from Kate about anointing a home with oil for spiritual warfare.