Search — Theology Explorer

thinking biblically BibleThinker ministry

Introduction and ministry update for 2021

Opening of first livestream of 2021 (New Year's Day)

divorce and remarriage biblical research methodology

Divorce and remarriage study as model for deep-topic research projects

Ministry methodology

BibleThinker ministry open theism

BibleThinker.org website improvements: searchable timestamp database

Website and ministry infrastructure plans for 2021

Matthew Vines biblical authority apologetics homosexuality

Diagnosing the root belief driving a gay-identifying Christian friend — four possible positions

Continuing Q8 — strategy for engaging friend

1 Corinthians 11 John 14:6 John 1:1-14 hermeneutics Craig Blomberg Douglas Moo

Many ways to interpret the Bible — but the most important truths are plainly clear

Continuing Q14 on Bible interpretation and despair

Bible translation Bible study methods New Living Translation

When reading Scripture, consult a second translation when you genuinely do not understand a passage

First question / tip of the stream: when to reference secondary Bible translations

hermeneutics Bible translation Blue Letter Bible

Consult additional translations when your interpretation hangs on the nuance of a specific wording

Second tip on when to consult secondary Bible translations; practical advice for teachers

prayer Bible study methods Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer is an excellent structured guide for prayer when used as a launch pad, not as a rote formula to repeat

Positive application of the Lord's Prayer and recommendation for daily devotional practice

perspective Christian worldview kingdom of God

The Hobbit analogy: getting into the Word is like climbing above the fog to regain vision and direction

Transition into the bonus questions — encouragement for the viewers

Michael Brown Bible translation Passion Translation

Mike intends to discuss the Passion Translation with Dr. Michael Brown on Brown's program once his research is more complete

Question from Two Messianic Jews about whether Mike has reached out to Dr. Michael Brown regarding the Passion Translation

Proverbs Craig Blomberg wisdom Proverbs

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

Closing remarks

1 Timothy 2:5 1 Timothy 2:5 Temple theology Ark of the Covenant

The temple's empty space at the center of worship is the model for where all prayer and worship must be directed — God alone, with no mediating object

Continued answer on icons/images, drawing on the temple design.

Leviticus 25:44-46 Anachronism in biblical interpretation Leviticus 25:44-46 Slavery in the Old Testament

Leviticus 25:44-46 must be read within a full survey of Old Testament slave laws — anachronism of projecting chattel slavery onto the text is the core hermeneutical error

Question from James W. about Leviticus 25:44-46 and whether the Bible endorses slavery.

Philemon Paul Philemon Slavery in the New Testament

The Bible's trajectory on slavery moves from regulating and humanizing it in the OT to full abolition ideology in the NT (Philemon)

Closing summary of the slavery question.

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.

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Bible translation taxonomy: word-for-word and thought-for-thought are both valuable; paraphrases (Amplified, The Message) are tools, not translations, and are misused when read as straight Bible

Bonus question from Constant (Australia) about the New Century Version, Amplified Bible, and Contemporary English Version.

ESV NASB NIV

Advice for online youth pastor: engage real youth in person; use apologetics and comparative theology to reach skeptical students

Final question from Dragon Fist 900, a biblical studies major pursuing online youth ministry.

youth ministry evangelism apologetics

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike articulates a Sola Scriptura position by arguing from Galatians 1 that the Apostles themselves placed their written gospel above any future authority — including apostles or angels — making all church fathers mere commentators with no binding theological authority.

Response to viewer question about the authority of early church fathers

1 Corinthians Galatians 1 Galatians 1:6-10 biblical authority Paul 1 Corinthians

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike gives an extended reading and defense of 1 Corinthians 11 on head coverings, arguing the text is about role differentiation within a framework of equal personal value, not about female inferiority, and that charging God with sexism reflects moral overreach toward the Creator.

Response to viewer asking about 1 Corinthians 11 and the charge that the Bible is sexist

1 Corinthians 11 Galatians 3:28 Ephesians 5 headship head coverings Trinity

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike addresses the canonicity of Hebrews despite unknown authorship, arguing that inspiration does not require apostolic pen but apostolic teaching, and that the New Testament canon formed organically as first-century texts with apostolic content were recognized by the early church.

Response to viewer question about how Hebrews can be inspired if we do not know who wrote it

Hebrews Paul Apollos Barnabas

atheism free will moral responsibility

Free will is biblically assumed throughout Scripture — humans are treated as responsible agents making real choices

Continuing the free will answer, Mike argues that the assumption of free choice and moral responsibility permeates the entire biblical narrative.

1 Timothy 5:23 Numbers 6:1-4 Timothy Samson Christian liberty

Q9: Why did Paul permit Timothy to drink wine (1 Tim 5:23) if Timothy was under a Nazirite vow? Mike doubts Timothy was under such a vow

Viewer 'Christian Metal Head' asks about the apparent tension between Paul's instruction to drink wine and the Nazirite vow restrictions.

1 Timothy 5:23 Christian liberty drunkenness 1 Timothy 5:23

Drinking alcohol is not inherently sinful; drunkenness is sinful — attempts to argue 1 Tim 5:23 wine is non-alcoholic are dismissed

Mike closes the wine/vow question by addressing broader debates about alcohol in Christianity.

hermeneutics contextual interpretation isogesis

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.

divorce and remarriage pastoral counseling covenant theology

Q17: Is a spouse a covenant breaker for agreeing to an unwanted divorce? Mike defers to his detailed divorce/remarriage video and urges fighting for the marriage

Viewer Chantel Robinson's spouse is divorcing him against his will; he wants to know if agreeing makes him a covenant breaker.

discernment Ravi Zacharias wolves among sheep

Closing: Ravi Zacharias scandal — no excuse to defend him; faith rests in Christ not in people; wheat and tares are expected

Mike closes the livestream by returning to the Ravi Zacharias announcement.

sola scriptura apologetics Catholicism

Question: Confused after debate with a Catholic — how to handle doctrinal confusion

Viewer Katie had a debate with a Catholic and now feels confused about core doctrinal differences.

Acts 8 Acts 8 eschatology futurism

Question: If Christ's return requires a rebuilt temple, how is it rebuilt without the Ark of the Covenant?

Viewer Isaac O'Brien asks about the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple in eschatology and the missing Ark of the Covenant.

Genesis 3 Genesis 3 Christian ethics cultural Christianity

Question: What does the Bible say about modesty? Is a bikini sport uniform sinful?

Viewer Austin Holloman asks for biblical guidance on modesty and whether sports requiring bikinis should be avoided.

spiritual disciplines confirmation bias listening prayer

Question: Is it okay to sit quietly and write down what you hear from God (journaling/listening prayer)?

Viewer Mackenzie McEwan asks about the practice of trying to hear God and writing down what comes.

Genesis 1-2 Genesis 1-2 hermeneutics evolution

Question: How do you interpret Genesis 1-2 given the evidence for evolution?

Viewer Johnny Quick cites the scientific consensus for evolution and asks how Mike interprets Genesis 1-2.

Brian Simmons Passion Translation Tremper Longman

The Passion Translation is not a real translation — scholars hired by Winger unanimously agree it contains fabrications and mistakes, not genuine Hebrew/Greek insights.

Responding to a Twitter question from Jeff Gaitzens about a pastor using the Passion Translation.

Brian Simmons Passion Translation Pastoral accountability

How to approach a pastor who uses the Passion Translation: lead with grace toward the person while critiquing the translation, not the person.

Continued advice to Jeff Gaitzens on handling a pastor using the Passion Translation.

Psalm 1 The Message Bible Eugene Peterson Paraphrase vs. translation

The Message Bible is a very loose paraphrase — idiomatic, interpretive, and potentially misleading, but not heretical; inadvisable as a primary study Bible.

Question from Jeanette Perry about the Message Bible and Nicky Gumbel/Alpha.

Matthew commentary Bible study methodology R.T. France Scholarly research tools

How to find scholarly resources for Bible study: use academic commentaries, EBSCO, Google Scholar, and Google Books.

Question from Derek Johnson about finding scholarly articles for a Matthew study.

Bethel Church Holy Spirit Listening prayer

Listening prayer is not condemned in Scripture but formulizing the Holy Spirit's work is dangerous and can produce fabrications.

Question from Susan Krieg about whether the Bible endorses listening prayer.

Proof-texting Hermeneutics Original audience interpretation

Proper Bible study: identify what the text meant to the original audience before asking how to apply it; context prevents proof-texting.

Question from Natural Glory about how to study the Bible properly.

Biblical canon Canonization Inspiration of Scripture

The biblical canon is a human list identifying inspired books; God's inspiration and providence guarantee we have the right books, with the OT ratified by Jesus himself.

Question from Ninja For Hire about whether canonization was itself inspired and whether inspired texts beyond the Bible could exist.

Jeremiah Hebrews 4:16 Luke 15 Jeremiah Hebrews 4:16 Repentance

God's posture toward the backslidden is always welcoming return — the prodigal son parable and Jeremiah's call to Israel demonstrate this.

Question from Ethan Zaragoza, who drifted from faith for 1.5 years and fears God is done with him.