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Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Watchtower quotes Greek lexicons selectively and out of context

The Watchtower's Insight on the Scriptures (Vol. 1) quotes Douglas's New Bible Dictionary (1985, p. 253) on stauros to support the torture-stake claim. Winger reads the actual quote the Watchtower uses.

selective quotation cross stauros
Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Early NT manuscripts (P75, P66) abbreviate stauros with Tau-Rho symbol depicting a cross with crossbeam

In some of the earliest New Testament manuscripts, the Greek word stauros is abbreviated using the letters Tau (T) and Rho (P-shape), superimposed on each other to form a visual symbol. This combination appears to depict a man on a cross with a crossbeam.

crucifixion cross early church history
Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Upcoming content: critique of The Physics of Heaven (Bethel/Bill Johnson-connected book)

Winger previews his next Tuesday topic: a critique of The Physics of Heaven, a book promoted by Bethel Church, Bill Johnson, and Jesus Culture. He has read it without advance reviews and found the content disturbing.

Bill Johnson Bethel Church Jesus Culture
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Christianity verified by public revelation, not private imagination — this is where it shines in apologetics

Positive case for Christianity emerging from the critique of pluralism

apologetics evidence for Christianity biblical prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Q&A: Are people who deny the Trinity but believe in salvation by grace through faith saved?

Viewer question from Devin Nicely

Trinity Holy Spirit apologetics
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Q&A: Does God have divine hatred? — Yes, Scripture affirms it, alongside God's love

Viewer question from Johnny

Ezekiel 33:11 John 3:16 Psalm 5:5 God's love Ezekiel 33:11 John 3:16
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Q&A: Marcus Borg as an example of a scholarly universalist with weak arguments

Viewer question from Bobby Miller about scholarly defenders of universalism

John 14:6 hermeneutics John 14:6 universalism
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Winger states his position up front: infant baptism is not supported by Scripture

Rather than feigning neutrality, Winger openly declares his conclusion before building the case.

biblical interpretation infant baptism believers baptism
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

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 history tradition
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

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

Winger articulates his methodological principle for handling church tradition claims.

Mark 7:8 biblical authority church tradition theological method
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Q&A: Women receiving Communion — implied by context of 1 Corinthians and the general gathered assembly

A viewer attempts a parallel argument: women are not explicitly shown receiving Communion in Scripture yet no one denies it.

1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians discipleship Communion
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

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.

John 16:13 church history tradition Sola Scriptura
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Q&A: Baptism represents the remission of sins; it does not save — people are saved before being baptized in Scripture

A final Q&A question asks why we get baptized and whether it is for remission of sins.

Cornelius salvation baptism
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-29

Classical, evidential, and cumulative case apologetics are all valid; tailor them to the individual

Practical synthesis of different apologetic frameworks under the knowing/showing distinction

cumulative case apologetics apologetic methodology evidentialism
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

When at a liberal university with false Bible teaching, prepare to refute — don't fight every battle prematurely

Question from Nathaniel at a liberal Christian university where Scripture and the gospel are consistently undermined.

discernment wisdom Christian education
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord, who is the pre-incarnate Christ (second person of the Trinity)

Question from Guppy Life about Jacob wrestling "God" when the text says "angel" — is God the Angel of the Lord?

Genesis 32 Genesis 48:15-16 Trinity Jacob Angel of the Lord
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Unbiblical divorce followed by the ex-spouse's remarriage: the innocent party is free to remarry, but must do heart work first

Question from Carmen about whether someone who initiated an unbiblical divorce is free to remarry after the ex-spouse has already remarried (making reconciliation impossible).

marriage sanctification forgiveness
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Introduction: jewelry question from Twitter (1 Tim 2:9; 1 Pet 3:3-4)

Q&A livestream, first question from Twitter user Jake Teeter asking whether Scripture prohibits jewelry like wedding bands and necklaces.

1 Peter 3:3-4 1 Timothy 2:9 1 Peter 3:3-4 1 Timothy 2:9 jewelry
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

God gives wisdom primarily through Scripture, secondarily through the word of wisdom gift and through other believers

Q from Will Kozab about how God replies when you ask him for wisdom—does he send thoughts?

Proverbs 1 Corinthians 12 word of wisdom wisdom prayer
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Communion/eucharist: real and important but not transubstantiation; early church writings are secondary to Scripture; John 6 is not about communion

Q from Chris Middleton about Mike's views on communion/eucharist and how much weight early church writings should carry.

John 6 Council of Trent doctrinal development communion
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Counsel for Christians experiencing unexplained spiritual doubt and attack

Response to a viewer (Christian Regal) who is experiencing doubt that does not seem to stem from any intellectual problem — it feels like an attack.

2 Corinthians 12:10 spiritual disciplines spiritual warfare doubt
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Why the Father is typically called simply God in the NT while Jesus is called the Son: guarding against modalism

Response to Deke Liu asking why God the Father is typically just called God in the NT while Jesus is called the Son and the Spirit is called the Spirit.

Trinity deity of Christ Son of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

1 Corinthians 13:10 does not teach cessationism — the perfect refers to seeing Christ face to face at the second coming, not the completion of Scripture

Response to Brandy Medved asking about 1 Corinthians 13:10 and whether the perfect means the Bible, therefore ending spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 13:10 spiritual gifts second coming cessationism
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Should we command healing (like Peter in Acts 3:6) or pray to God for healing? — Pray with faith; commanding is not a universal prescription

Question from Lasik's 97 about whether Christians should speak authoritatively over the sick rather than asking God.

Acts 3:6 prayer spiritual gifts healing
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Denominations — legitimate variety within Christianity vs. counterfeit groups

Question from Leonardo Borges about whether denominations are divisive and whether multiple Christian factions can be legitimate.

denominations ecclesiology heresy
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Apparitions of Mary at Fatima — three interpretive options; not sufficient to validate Catholic Marian dogmas

Question from Cody Skinner about Catholic apparitions at Fatima and messages to the shepherd children.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 apologetics miracles Catholicism
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Addressing a church drifting from Scripture — approach thoughtfully, privately first, then through proper channels

Question from Nala about a church where the Bible is not preached and the lead pastor bulldozes people.

Matthew 18 church leadership Matthew 18 ecclesiology
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Personal testimony: as a teenager Mike was told he was not saved because he had not spoken in tongues

Opening introduction before answering the first question about tongues and salvation

gifts of the Spirit tongues and salvation spiritual abuse
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

The absence of a universal prescriptive statement is the key problem with the tongues-salvation argument

Mike's core logical point about what Scripture would need to say to support the tongues-salvation requirement

hermeneutics tongues and salvation descriptive vs prescriptive
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Assurance of salvation comes from 1 John and James, not from speaking in tongues

Positive alternative answer to what Scripture says proves salvation

James 1 John James 1 John sanctification
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

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

hermeneutics tradition vs Scripture intellectual humility
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Question: Does Scripture authorize only one physical cup during the Lord's Supper?

Q&A question from Andrej about eucharistic practice

Lord's Supper Passover eucharist
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

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

Resolution of the one-cup communion question

Lord's Supper blood of Christ eucharist
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

The Book of 1 Enoch: not Scripture, though it may contain an accurate early portion quoted in Jude

Q&A question from S. M. Hart about the canonical status of 1 Enoch

Jude Jude 1 Enoch canon of Scripture
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Jesus affirmed the Hebrew canon (Law, Prophets, Writings) — which excludes 1 Enoch and the Apocrypha

Supporting argument for 1 Enoch's non-canonical status

Jesus 1 Enoch canon of Scripture
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

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)

Genesis flood apologetics Inspiring Philosophy Genesis flood
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Scholarly assumption of a late Exodus date (~1100 BC) obscures available evidence; biblical date (~1400 BC) has stronger support

Explaining why Exodus evidence has been underappreciated

Exodus historicity Exodus dating archaeology historical reliability of Scripture Exodus historicity
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

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

Calvary Chapel tradition vs Scripture church tradition
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

In Scripture spirit and soul are sometimes used interchangeably but retain some distinction

Attempting to differentiate spirit and soul

1 Thessalonians 5:23 anthropology 1 Thessalonians 5:23 trichotomy
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Knowing the Holy Spirit: the Spirit's leading will always be consistent with Scripture

Q&A from Tia Jane about having a relationship with the Holy Spirit beyond gifts

discernment Holy Spirit leading of the Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Sexual content in any media is a hard redline for Christians; violence is treated differently in Scripture

Distinguishing sexual content from violent content in media evaluation

Judges 4 Judges 4 Christian ethics video games
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Scripture assumes fasting is part of normal Christian life without mandating specific schedules; fasting for a single meal is valid

Scope and flexibility of fasting

spiritual disciplines fasting
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Upcoming Monday teaching: the strongest word-of-faith passage in Mark — assessing Kenneth Copeland's claims about faith and prayer

Preview of next teaching in the Mark series

Mark (gospel) prayer Kenneth Copeland faith
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Christians are not required to tithe (give 10%), but are absolutely required to give generously

Opening question from Facebook: are Christians supposed to tithe?

tithing New Testament ethics Christian giving
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Christians have a biblical duty to protect others — pacifism taken to its logical extreme is evil

Question from Spazzy Jazzy about the extent to which Christians should protect and retaliate against abuse

violence Old Testament ethics self-defense
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Paying a discipler is wrong; a paywall on discipleship disqualifies the discipler

Question from Blake about someone offering to disciple him for payment

Acts 2:42 1 Timothy 5:18 Luke 8:3 Paul Acts 2:42 1 Timothy 5:18
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Q (Quelle) is a hypothetical source document proposed in synoptic gospel studies; its existence is unproven and theologically non-threatening

Question from New Creation Coaching about the scholarly concept of "Q" and its reception among concerned Facebook users

textual criticism inspiration of Scripture synoptic problem
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Near-death / heaven-visiting accounts: deep skepticism warranted; Paul's 2 Corinthians 12 model shows the right posture is silence, not book tours

Question from S.M. Hart about people selling books on visiting heaven or hell

2 Corinthians 12 Paul 2 Corinthians 12 false prophets
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

2 Corinthians 5 — "absent from the body, present with the Lord" is a summary, not a direct quote

Mike addresses the commonly misquoted phrase from 2 Corinthians 5

2 Corinthians 5 soul sleep intermediate state 2 Corinthians 5
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Deuteronomy prohibits worshiping God the way pagan nations worship their gods

Old Testament argument against adopting pagan spiritual practices

Deuteronomy Deuteronomy New Age syncretism