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Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Paradise in Paul's vision, the thief on the cross, and Lazarus — same place?

David's Kinion Memoirs asks whether paradise in Paul's third-heaven vision, Jesus's promise to the thief, and the Lazarus/Abraham account are the same place.

Luke 23:43 1 Peter 3:19 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 intermediate state Luke 23:43 Hades
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Strange or odd passages in Scripture deserve careful attention

Introducing the Parable of the Dishonest Manager (Luke 16:1-13)

Luke 16:1-13 hermeneutics biblical interpretation Luke 16:1-13
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager: Jesus uses a bad actor to illustrate one positive quality — shrewd urgency about the future

Reading and explaining Luke 16:1-13

Luke 16:1-13 parable interpretation Luke 16:1-13 Parable of the Dishonest Manager
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Luke 16:9 — "make friends by means of unrighteous wealth" may refer parabolically to using all earthly resources for gospel proclamation

Interpreting the command to "make friends by means of unrighteous wealth" so they receive you into eternal dwellings

Luke 16:9 parable interpretation gospel proclamation stewardship
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Western churches may not give adequate attention to caring for the poor

Discussing the almsgiving interpretation of Luke 16:9

Galatians 2:10 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 early church care for the poor church responsibility
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Luke 16:10-13 reframes the parable: the master is money itself — be a faithful steward so God controls you, not money

Reading Luke 16:10-13 as commentary on the parable

Luke 16:10-13 stewardship Luke 16:10-13 money and wealth
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Matthew 10:16-24 uses Olivet Discourse language — either Jesus repeated similar words or it shows the connection between the disciples' temporary mission and the church's ongoing mission

Responding to why Matthew 10:16-24 contains Olivet Discourse wording not found in Mark 6 or Luke 9 parallels

Mark 13:9-13 Matthew 10:16-24 hermeneutics Mike Licona Mark 13:9-13
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Matthew 19:28 — the promise of 12 thrones for those who followed Jesus does not necessarily include Judas; Matthias' replacement and the symbolic nature of the number 12 both resolve the tension.

Robo King asks whether Judas still has a throne since Jesus promised 12 thrones to the Twelve in Matthew 19:28.

Acts 1 Matthew 19:28 Luke 22:28-30 eschatology Judas Iscariot Acts 1
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Why was Zechariah punished for his question about John's birth, but Mary was not punished for asking the same type of question?

Question from Terry Defilo about Luke 1:18 (Zechariah) vs. Luke 1:34 (Mary) and the apparent inconsistency.

John the Baptist Luke 1:18 Luke 1:34 Mary John the Baptist Luke 1:18
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Can we anger God to the point where he will never forgive us?

Question from Dominique Cohn about whether God's anger can make him permanently withhold forgiveness.

Luke 23:34 Ezekiel 18:23 Luke 23:34 Ezekiel 18:23 God's wrath / anger
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

The Mandela Effect cannot explain the disciples' confidence in the resurrection

Hypothetical question from Ethan Hawking about whether the Mandela Effect could account for disciples' resurrection belief.

1 Corinthians 15 1 Corinthians 15 Apologetics Burden of proof
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Will sins be publicly exposed at the Bema Seat judgment?

Question from The Potter's Daughter about 1 Cor 5:10 and Luke 12:2-3 and whether sins are publicly disclosed before being forgiven.

Luke 12:2-3 1 Corinthians 5:10 Bema seat bema Luke 12:2-3
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Luke 12:44-48 teaches proportional eschatological judgment, not purgatory; the parable presents two servants (faithful/unfaithful) plus a closing lesson on degrees of punishment based on knowledge.

Q10 from Tony: does Luke 12:44-48 teach purgatory? There appear to be four servants — faithful, sent to unbelievers, and two others receiving only punishment.

Luke 12:44-48 purgatory parable interpretation Luke 12:44-48
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Mary did not remain a perpetual virgin — Scripture clearly indicates she had other children with Joseph after Jesus

Q11 from Lovisa Bengtsen: Did Mary remain a virgin? Were the brothers of Jesus actually cousins? If she had other sons, why did John need to care for her?

James (brother of Jesus) John the Apostle John 19:26-27 James (brother of Jesus) John the Apostle brothers of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-26

Q&A: Luke 14:33 ("renounce all you have") and Luke 12:33 ("sell your possessions") are hyperbolic expressions of total dedication to Jesus, not literal commands for universal poverty. Lydia continued her business after conversion and used profits to support missionaries.

Q&A — sell everything and follow Jesus

Luke 14:33 Luke 12:33 Luke 14:33 Luke 12:33 Lydia (seller of purple)
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-18

Q: Luke 9:50 vs Luke 11:23 — "not against you is for you" vs "not with me is against me." No contradiction: both affirm there's no middle ground — you're either in the kingdom or out. The first passage shows the kingdom is bigger than your local group; people can serve Jesus without being part of your organization.

Q&A — apparent contradiction in Luke

Luke 9:50 Luke 11:23 body of Christ body of Christ Luke 9:50
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-18

Q: Was Paul a false apostle (Revelation 2:2)? No — Revelation 2:2 actually proves Paul IS a true apostle. The Ephesians could identify false apostles AND they received Paul warmly (Ephesians letter, Acts 20). Peter calls Paul's writings "Scripture" (2 Peter 3:16). Paul-denial movements strip the NT to smuggle in cult theology.

Q&A — Paul as false apostle (Revelation 2:2)

2 Peter 3:16 Revelation 2:2 2 Peter 3:16 Paul false apostle claim Revelation 2:2
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-16

Psalm 91 is NOT a guarantee of divine protection from all disease. Satan himself quoted Psalm 91 to tempt Jesus to jump off the temple (Luke 4:9-12). Jesus responded: "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." God CAN protect, but demanding supernatural protection while doing reckless things is testing God, not trusting him.

Psalm 91 and COVID — don't test God

Psalm 91 Luke 4:9-12 temptation of Jesus temptation of Jesus Psalm 91
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-16

Q: Is COVID God's judgment? Maybe, but claiming to know is pastoral arrogance. Jesus addressed this with the Tower of Siloam (Luke 13:4-5): those who died weren't worse sinners — but if you don't repent, you'll perish too. Judgment stands over all humanity; any time God doesn't judge is grace. The right response to any disaster: get your life right with God.

Q&A — is COVID God's judgment? (Tower of Siloam)

Luke 13:4-5 Tower of Siloam Luke 13:4-5 pastoral arrogance
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-08

Works come AFTER salvation, not before. Ephesians 2:8-10: saved by grace through faith, not of works — but created in Christ Jesus FOR good works. You don't earn forgiveness; you receive it and then good works flow from the new life. The danger: thinking you need to be a better person first.

Works after salvation — Ephesians 2:8-10

Ephesians 2:8-10 Luke 18:9-14 Ephesians 2:8-10 grace through faith Luke 18:9-14
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-19

Points 6-7: (6) Lamb was one year old (prime of life) — Jesus began ministry at 30, the age of full maturity for priestly/sacrificial service. (7) Lamb selected on 10th of Nisan — Jesus entered Jerusalem on the same day (Triumphal Entry, Palm Sunday). The crowd cried "Hosanna" (Psalm 118) = "save us" — presenting himself as the Messianic King. He was then "inspected" for 4 days through questioning by religious leaders, found faultless.

Points 6-7 — age, selection date, triumphal entry

Psalm 118 Passover Passover triumphal entry
Mike Winger idea 2020-05-21

Botanical evidence: plants mentioned in the gospels match the specific micro-climates where stories are set. Sycamore tree in Jericho (Luke 19, Zacchaeus) — sycamores grow in Jericho's low-altitude tropical climate but not in Turkey, Greece, or Italy where the gospels were later circulated. Palm branches on the Mount of Olives, mint/rue tithed by Pharisees — all botanically correct for the region.

Botanical evidence — plants match locations

Luke 19 (Zacchaeus) gospel reliability botanical evidence sycamore in Jericho
Mike Winger idea 2020-05-21

Undesigned coincidences: subtle agreements between independent gospel accounts that are too incidental to be deliberate. Example: John says Jesus asked Philip where to buy bread (John 6); only Luke says the feeding was near Bethsaida; only John says Philip and Andrew were from Bethsaida. The connection (Jesus asked the local guys) only appears when you combine the accounts — no single author engineered it.

Undesigned coincidences — cross-gospel subtle agreements

John James Blunt John 6 feeding 5000 Bethsaida undesigned coincidences Bethsaida
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-19

Leviticus 20:10 objection: if adultery = death, how can it be grounds for divorce (the person would be dead)? Four responses: (1) The death penalty wasn't practiced after 30 AD under Roman rule — John 18:31: "it is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." (2) The Mishnah has rules for divorced adulteresses (can't marry their lover) — proving they weren't killed. (3) Adultery was hard to prove (requires 2+ witnesses). (4) Jesus uses porneia (broader than adultery) to include lesser sexual offenses.

Adultery death penalty objection — four rebuttals

Leviticus 20:10 John 18:31 Deuteronomy 24 Leviticus 20:10 John 18:31 Mishnah Yevamot 2:8
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-12

Argument 2 — Multiple attestation: Mike Licona found 19+ passages across Mark, M (Matthew-only), L (Luke-only), and John independently attesting Jesus's death/resurrection predictions. Historians consider TWO independent sources "pay dirt" — this has far more. Jesus's prayer in Gethsemane (knowing he'll die) is in Mark 14, Matthew 26, and Luke 22 independently.

Argument 2 — multiple independent attestation

Mike Licona multiple attestation Mike Licona
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-21

Mark 16:17-18 (signs accompanying believers) — Mike thinks the last 12 verses of Mark are likely not original (earliest manuscripts lack them). Even if original: (1) the signs may apply to SOME believers, not ALL; (2) picking up serpents refers to unintentional encounters (like Paul in Acts 28), not deliberate snake handling; (3) Jesus said "do not put the Lord your God to the test"; (4) if healing applies to all, every Christian should be in hospitals — but nobody does this, revealing inconsistency.

Mark 16:17-18 — signs and snake handling

Mark 16:9-20 Mark 16:17-18 Acts 28 (Paul and viper) textual criticism textual criticism Mark 16:9-20
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-31

Jesus was not rich — the donkey episode refutes prosperity gospel claims. Luke 19:33 identifies the owners as bystanders, not Jesus. Judas's treasury was for basic needs and the poor, not personal wealth.

Analysis of why Mark spends 5 verses on the colt (Mark 11:2-6)

Mark 11:2-6 Luke 19:33 prosperity gospel prosperity gospel Mark 11:2-6
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

The "outsider test of faith" (apply your reasons for rejecting Thor to Christianity) backfires for informed Christians because the evidence for Christianity specifically doesn't work for pagan deities.

Responding to the street epistemology version of argument 1

Luke Barnes William Lane Craig biblical prophecy William Lane Craig
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

Six reasons why "this mountain" is NOT limited to the temple (contra cessationist interpretation), but is a general truth about prayer: Paul's usage, Matthew/Luke parallels, OT mountain-moving language.

Refuting Jeff Durbin's cessationist interpretation that limits Mark 11 to imprecatory prayer against the temple

1 Corinthians 13:2 Mark 11:24 Mark 13:2 cessationism 1 Corinthians 13:2 cessationism
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-12

In the parable, the son is sent "last of all" — not meaning no more messengers ever, but that the Son is the final opportunity before judgment falls on the leaders. Jesus is greater than every prophet: they are slaves; he is the beloved Son.

Analysis of the Son's unique status in the parable (Mark 12:6-8)

John 5 Mark 12:1-12 John 5 deity of Christ Mark 12:1-12
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-22

Critical distinction: achronological narration (not specifying order) vs. dischronological narration (deliberately changing order). The former is uncontroversial; the latter requires heavy burden of proof. "Mere difference hunting" is not sufficient evidence for fact-changing.

McGrew's key methodological distinctions

harmonization literary devices in Gospels achronological vs dischronological narration
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-22

The literary devices view has serious apologetic consequences: it eliminates resurrection appearances, undermines doubting Thomas, weakens the case for Jesus's deity from John's "I AM" sayings, and gives ammunition to cults and skeptics.

Apologetic implications of accepting literary devices in the Gospels

deity of Christ resurrection appearances resurrection appearances
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-26

Du Toit changes "forgiveness" to "I am-ness" and teaches that the Trinity has four circles (Father, Son, you/me, Holy Spirit). Jesus didn't die to save us from sin but from a wrong mindset. Hell is "just a pathway to heaven."

The Mirror Bible's broader theological distortions

John 17:7 Mirror Bible Mirror Bible François Du Toit
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-14

The Gospel of Thomas is a mid-2nd century Gnostic forgery, not a legitimate alternate gospel. It's a sayings collection borrowing from Matthew/Luke with added Greek philosophical content inconsistent with a 1st-century Jewish teacher.

Q1: Thoughts on the Gospel of Thomas?

Matthew Philo salvation Thomas
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-14

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are in the kingdom (Luke 13:28) despite not having the indwelling Holy Spirit — being "born again" isn't identical to Spirit-indwelling but includes it. OT saints had real relationship with God through different means.

Q5: If born again requires the Spirit, how are OT saints in the kingdom?

Luke 13 Abraham Isaac Jacob
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-14

The disciples couldn't cast out the demon (Luke 9:40-41) because of faithlessness — Jesus calls them a "faithless and twisted generation." Spiritual power comes through faith and prayer/fasting, not technique.

Q7: Why couldn't the disciples cast out the demon in Luke 9?

Luke 9 Mark 9 Jesus prayer Luke 9
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-28

Jesus’ Genealogy/Lineage: How historically plausible is it that the Jesus‘ genealogies in Matthew and Luke authentically trace back to the Exile, Kind David, Abraham, and so on?

Q&A question: Jesus’ Genealogy/Lineage

Matthew David Abraham Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2021-06-11

About Married Couples in Heaven: Does Luke 20: 27-36 teach that people who are married on Earth won't be married anymore in Heaven? I feel sad that my husband and I might not be together still in Heaven.

Q&A question: About Married Couples in Heaven

marriage
Mike Winger idea 2021-06-11

About Giving Everything for the Lord: Can you better explain Luke 14: 33 where Jesus tells the crowd, “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions”?

Q&A question: About Giving Everything for the Lord

Luke 14 Jesus Luke 14
Mike Winger idea 2021-06-25

About “Friends by Unrighteous Wealth” in Luke: What does Jesus mean when He says to make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth in Luke 16:9?

Q&A question: About “Friends by Unrighteous Wealth” in Luke

Luke 16 Luke 16:9 Jesus Luke 16 Luke 16:9
Mike Winger idea 2021-07-16

About John the Baptizer/Baptist’s Salvation: Was John the Baptizer born saved? Luke 1: 15 says he would be filled with the Holy Spirit "even from his mother's womb.”

Q&A question: About John the Baptizer/Baptist’s Salvation

salvation baptism
Mike Winger idea 2021-08-06

About Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh: What is your opinion on Paul's thorn in the flesh? I heard it was his eyes, maybe from his encounter on the road to Damascus? 1) He had Luke, a doctor, with him during his travels 2) He had others write his letters.

Q&A question: About Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh
Mike Winger idea 2021-08-13

About Paul and a Time Gap in Scripture: Why didn’t Luke mention the time gap that took place during Acts 9: 20-26, that Paul mentioned in Galatians 1: 17-18?

Q&A question: About Paul and a Time Gap in Scripture

Galatians 1 Acts 9 Galatians 1 Acts 9
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-07

Contradicting Genealogies?: Why are the genealogies of Jesus different in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke?

Q&A question: Contradicting Genealogies?

Matthew Jesus Matthew
Mike Winger idea 2021-09-03

About Demons and The Nephilim: Are demons the spirits of dead Nephilim? Genesis 6 explains that the Nephilim are the offspring of women and angels. Demons never materialize, but we know angels can. Luke 22:3 is not convincing to me.

Q&A question: About Demons and The Nephilim

Genesis Luke 22:3 Genesis 6 Genesis Luke 22:3 Genesis 6
Mike Winger idea 2021-09-10

About Christ’s Return: Why did Jesus mention eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building, and getting married in Luke 17?

Q&A question: About Christ’s Return

Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2021-10-15

About Salvation by Grace vs. Our Efforts: If we don't have to do works to get saved, why does Jesus tell us to "make every effort to enter through the narrow door" in Luke 13: 24?

Q&A question: About Salvation by Grace vs. Our Efforts

Luke 13 Jesus salvation Luke 13
Mike Winger idea 2021-12-03

About Demons Confessing Jesus’ Identity: Why did demons always announce Jesus' true identity when they were in His presence? Wouldn't they rather lie and claim He was a false prophet or something to deceive others? (Ex: Luke 4: 33-34)

Q&A question: About Demons Confessing Jesus’ Identity

Jesus prophecy demons
Mike Winger idea 2021-12-17

Is Luke a “Social Justice Gospel”?: The book of Luke is being described as the "social justice gospel” in Progressive circles. What do you think about Luke being described as the social justice gospel?

Q&A question: Is Luke a “Social Justice Gospel”?
Mike Winger idea 2022-01-21

Is Being Poor a Godly Virtue?: In Luke 16: 19-31 we read the story of Lazarus and the rich man and it seems that the only thing Lazarus did to deserve Paradise was being a sick beggar. Does this story teach virtue in being poor?

Q&A question: Is Being Poor a Godly Virtue?

Luke 16 Lazarus Luke 16
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