Search — Theology Explorer

Bart Ehrman Gospel reliability harmonization

Q&A: Bart Ehrman's claim that harmonizing Gospels means writing a new Gospel — video reference

Second pass at the harmonization question with a specific resource recommendation.

1 Corinthians 7:14 hermeneutics sanctification 1 Corinthians 7:14

Q&A: 1 Corinthians 7:14 — "sanctified" is a dictionary term, not a theological one; no automatic salvation for unbelieving spouse

Q&A on the meaning of sanctification language in Paul's marriage instruction.

Luke 2:2 fulfilled prophecy apologetics methodology circular reasoning objection

Q&A: Using the Bible to prove the Bible — not circular reasoning when done correctly

Q&A on the epistemological objection to using Scripture to validate Scripture.

Isaiah 53 Psalm 22 Pentecost apologetics fulfilled prophecy

Q&A: Did New Testament writers invent Gospel narratives from OT prophecies? — Refuted by extra-biblical confirmation of historical facts

Q&A from a persistent atheist questioner (Doug) suggesting Gospels were reverse-engineered from OT texts.

Luke 3:8 Acts 26:20 Hebrews 6:1 metanoia Repentance Luke 3:8

Metanoia encompasses both attitudinal and behavioral change; Luke 3:8 and Acts 26:20 illustrate the distinction.

Further nuance on the meaning of repentance.

Contextual reading Bible study methodology Hermeneutics

Bible study tip: spend more time reading the text itself before turning to commentaries.

Joey Fisher asks for study tips for going deeper in the Bible.

Bible study methodology Commentaries Critical thinking in theology

How to use commentaries well: seek their reasoning, not their conclusions; read multiple commentaries.

Continuing Bible study methodology advice.

Blue Letter Bible Bible study resources

Blue Letter Bible (blueletterbible.org) recommended as a free online resource for Bible study.

Practical resource recommendation in the study tips section.

Matthew 27 Apologetics Matthew 27 Saints resurrected at crucifixion

Matthew 27: saints raised from the dead at Jesus's death — why do only Matthew mention it?

Insects Are Cool (an atheist regular on the channel) asks why only Matthew mentions the resurrection of saints in Matthew 27.

Apologetics Gospel reliability Argument from silence

Argument from silence is a poor historical method: uniqueness to one Gospel does not discredit the account.

Responding to the implicit skeptical argument behind the Matthew 27 question.

Kent Hovind BioLogos Young earth creationism

Hovind vs. Falk (BioLogos) debate moderated by Mike: the debaters talked past each other on different topics.

Justin Barnes asks Mike about the debate he moderated between Kent Hovind and a BioLogos evolutionist.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Sexual immorality 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Homosexuality

1 Corinthians 6:9 lists sins (including homosexual practice) that preclude inheriting the kingdom; false teaching on these sins subverts the gospel.

Leanne Waters asks whether those who teach homosexual relations are okay are rejecting the true Jesus and true gospel.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 1 Timothy 2:8-10 1 Timothy 2:11-15 Modesty 1 Timothy 2:8-10

1 Timothy 2:11-15 context: instructions to men (avoid anger/quarreling in prayer) and women (modesty, inner vs. outer beauty).

Lady D asks about 1 Timothy 2:11-15 regarding women being silent and not having authority.

1 Timothy 2:11-12 1 Timothy 2:11-12 Women in ministry Teaching elder role

1 Timothy 2:11-12 — women learning quietly with submission refers to the teaching context, not a prohibition on speaking at all.

Exegeting 1 Timothy 2:11-12.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Complementarianism Overseer

1 Timothy 3 qualifications for overseers (bishops/pastors/elders — synonymous terms) flow directly from 2:11-12 and use masculine language.

Mike shows the literary connection between 1 Timothy 2 and 3.

1 Timothy 2:12 1 Timothy 2:12 Women in ministry Complementarianism

1 Timothy 2:12 — "teach" and "exercise authority" may be two aspects of the same role, not two separate prohibitions.

Exegeting the grammar of 1 Timothy 2:12.

1 Timothy 2 Acts 1 Timothy 2 Acts Women in ministry

Women speaking in Acts and prophesying in church shows 1 Timothy 2 is not a ban on women speaking at all.

Clarifying the scope of the women/quietness prohibition.

Women in ministry Complementarianism Calling vs. capability

Difference between ability/capability and calling: women may be skilled teachers but are not called to the pastoral role.

Addressing the emotional objection that restricting women from pastoral roles implies lesser capability.

1 Timothy 2:15 1 Timothy 2:15 sozo Women in ministry

1 Timothy 2:15 — "saved through childbearing" does not refer to eternal salvation but to restored/elevated status.

Addressing a commonly misunderstood verse.

Galatians 3:28 Genesis Galatians 3:28 Genesis Complementarianism

Genesis establishes equal image-bearing of men and women; Galatians 3:28 establishes equality in salvation — different roles do not imply different value.

Broader biblical framework for gender equality and distinct roles.

Pre-tribulation rapture Early church fathers Brian Brodersen

Pre-trib rapture and early church fathers: Mike acknowledges not knowing the answer and references Brian Brodersen's book.

Ian Connolly asks whether the pre-trib rapture was a recent invention not believed by early church fathers.

Bill Johnson False teachers Bethel Music

Using materials from false teachers: distinction between promoting a false teacher's work vs. using theologically sound songs/content from a problematic source.

Question about whether to stay in a church that uses materials from false teachers.

1 Corinthians 14 Acts 2 (Pentecost) 1 Corinthians 13:1 1 Corinthians 14 Tongues Acts 2 (Pentecost)

Tongues in the New Testament: multiple types — tongues with interpretation (public) and tongues without interpretation (private).

Tanya Baltzer asks about tongues — actual languages vs. unknown languages.

Galatians 5:22-23 Ephesians 5:18 Galatians 5:22-23 Ephesians 5:18 Drunk in the Spirit

Ephesians 5:18 — "be filled with the Spirit" is a CONTRAST to being drunk with wine, not a comparison; "drunk in the Spirit" is a misreading.

Mike addresses "drunk in the Spirit" and "slain in the Spirit" claims.

1 Samuel 28 Samuel Demons / evil spirits 1 Samuel 28

Witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28): the appearance of Samuel was an exception, possibly demonic; the medium herself was shocked it worked.

Continuing the ghosts discussion with a biblical example.

1 Timothy 2 1 Timothy 2 Women in ministry Complementarianism

Women teaching men in a pastoral/leadership role: Mike reiterates his complementarian position.

Emily Espinal asks the biblical view on women teaching men in a pastoral role.

1 Timothy 2:5 John 20:17 1 Timothy 2:5 John 20:17 Jesus as mediator

1 Timothy 2:5 mediator concept underlies John 20:17 — Jesus is the one mediator between God and man.

Continuing the John 20:17 discussion.

Hermeneutics Eschatology Preterism

Preterism: all/most Bible prophecy fulfilled by 70 AD — initially appealing but breaks down under scrutiny.

Lindy Z asks about preterism.

1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 11 Head coverings Women in worship

Head coverings for women: Mike holds tentatively that they are not necessary today, but acknowledges he wants to study the passage more.

Riatoon asks whether Christian head coverings are biblical.

Mark's Gospel Early attestation Mark's Gospel

Early attestation - all NT documents are 1st century with sources within 7 years

Arguing for early date of empty tomb testimony

Rudolf Pesch Caiaphas Dating methodology

Rudolf Pesch's argument on Mark's omission of Caiaphas's name

Dating Mark's source material by historical details

Gospel of Peter Literary analysis

Mark's unadorned narrative vs legendary Gospel of Peter's elaborate details

Contrasting early and late accounts of the resurrection

Bart Ehrman Women witnesses Criterion of embarrassment

Women as witnesses - criterion of embarrassment in male-centered culture

Why early Christians would not invent women as the first witnesses

Joseph Blinzler Women observers

Women observing the burial - multiply attested detail

Additional corroboration of historical memory

Criterion of embarrassment Joseph of Arimathea

Joseph of Arimathea - multiply attested, named, testable, criterion of embarrassment

Joseph as historical figure validating burial account

Gary Habermas Resurrection appearances

Habermas's 2005 scholarly consensus paper on resurrection appearances

Academic consensus on resurrection appearances

John McCrae Capturing Christianity Cameron Bertuzzi John McCrae

Introduction: Mike Winger hosts a collaborative livestream with Cameron Bertuzzi and John McCrae examining the YouTube landscape for Christians vs. atheists

Opening segment establishing the premise of the livestream and introducing co-hosts

Christian unity essentials vs non-essentials in doctrine ecumenical cooperation

Principle of Christian unity: partnering across doctrinal differences on non-essentials while agreeing on essentials

Mike articulates the philosophy behind the collaboration

Cameron Bertuzzi argument from contingency theism

Cameron presents the "mansion analogy" for building a cumulative case for Christianity: theism first, then Christianity

Discussion of best arguments for Christianity

Cameron Bertuzzi argument from contingency necessary being

Argument from contingency explained: every contingent thing has an explanation; the collection of all contingent things requires a non-contingent (necessary) being as explanation

Cameron explains his favored philosophical argument for God's existence

apologetics theism philosophy and theism

Mike's claim: philosophy rightly done points toward God and ultimately toward Christ

Mike's reflection on the relationship between philosophy and theism

John McCrae Trinity John McCrae argument from contingency

John McCrae's favored arguments: contingency, Kalam, J.P. Moreland's argument from consciousness; also finds psychological features of the Bible's content persuasive

John introduces himself and shares his apologetic focus

John McCrae John McCrae J.P. Moreland argument from consciousness

Argument from consciousness: mind and matter are ontologically distinct; consciousness is irreducible to physical processes (the hard problem of consciousness)

John explains the argument from consciousness more fully

resurrection of Jesus Tim McGrew Lydia McGrew

Tim McGrew and Lydia McGrew's paper on miracles and the resurrection as a sophisticated cumulative case for Christianity

Cameron recommends a freely available academic paper

resurrection of Jesus Tim McGrew apologetics accessibility

The level of philosophical sophistication available for defending the resurrection surprises many skeptics and Christians alike

Mike and Cameron reflect on accessibility and depth of resurrection arguments

problem of evil Cameron Bertuzzi logical problem of evil

Problem of evil as the strongest argument for atheism: suffering and evil as evidence (not logical disproof) against God's existence

Discussion of atheist arguments

problem of evil moral argument for God Cameron Bertuzzi

Argument from morality as a compelling Christian argument: moral facts (e.g., torturing children for fun is wrong) require a grounding explanation

Cameron presents the moral argument as interesting for its emotional grip, parallel to the problem of evil

problem of evil emotional vs. logical reasoning philosophical method

Emotional vs. logical reasoning: the importance of separating emotional response from logical analysis of arguments

Cameron's methodological point about evaluating arguments

problem of evil moral realism nihilism

Mike's response to the problem of evil: if evil disproves God, then the moral framework that makes evil "evil" also collapses, creating a self-defeating argument

Mike shares his own perspective on the problem of evil