Search — Theology Explorer

John the son of Zebedee Peter Gospel of John Gospel of Mark

The Gospels (especially Mark and John) contain eyewitness testimony, serving as evidence for a historical Jesus

The Gospels as historical sources

Paul Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus

The dying and rising gods parallel argument fails because Paul and non-Christian sources still have to be explained independently of the Gospels

Initial response to the Greco-Roman dying/rising gods parallel argument

James (brother of Jesus) Josephus multiple attestation James (brother of Jesus)

Multiple independent attestation from Paul, Matthew, John (special L), and Josephus — the strongest form of historical evidence — confirms Jesus's brothers including James

Summary of multiple attestation for Jesus's brothers

Paul bodily resurrection resurrection appearances

Summary: Paul taught physical/bodily resurrection; hallucination theory fails; Paul was not grieving Jesus's death — he was glad Jesus was dead before his conversion

Concluding the section on Paul's resurrection belief

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

1 Corinthians 13:10-12 is the primary cessationist proof-text in the cessationism vs. continuationism debate.

Introduction to the episode. Winger frames the central question: does 1 Cor 13:10-12 teach that tongues, prophecy, and knowledge ceased after the apostolic era?

1 Corinthians 13:10-12 cessationism continuationism spiritual gifts

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Cessationist Interpretation 2 (Masters Seminary): prophecy and knowledge = inscripturated revelation; massive time gap between vv. 11 and 12; "the perfect" = the church brought to maturity by the Bible.

Summary of the three key concepts in the Masters Seminary article that underpin its cessationist reading of 1 Cor 13.

1 Corinthians 13:8-12 cessationism canon of Scripture to teleion

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Main point of 1 Cor 13: love, not gifts, is the permanent priority; pursuit of love must exceed pursuit of spiritual gifts.

Winger concludes the exegesis by restating Paul's actual primary argument.

1 Corinthians 13:13 spiritual gifts love 1 Corinthians 13:13

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-03

Summary conclusion: God is source of goodness; evil is real by contrast but need not be created; God allows and will solve evil

Mike wraps up the theological teaching before Q&A

theodicy free will evil as privation

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-24

Hebrews intercession summary: Christ intercedes for whoever draws near, not a closed list of predetermined elect

Mike's final summary on the intercession argument.

Hebrews 7:25 election unlimited atonement intercession

Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

God's wrath is meant to drive people to Jesus

Mike provides a brief summary application before moving to the consequences of denying wrath.

repentance salvation God's wrath

apologetics universalism exclusivity of Christ

Six pluralist slogans to be addressed: the primary claim and five derivative phrases

Winger outlines the structure of the talk

Hebrews 9:27 universalism final judgment religious pluralism

Logical analysis of "all roads lead to God": three possible meanings, two incoherent

Winger begins systematic dismantling of the primary slogan

religious pluralism logic and argumentation self-refuting argument

The logical stalemate: if someone claims to agree with all religions simultaneously, they cannot agree with you

Brief comedic summary of the comparative religion discussion

Holy Spirit atonement grace

Conclusion: Jesus is the only way because he alone paid the full price for sin; Christianity makes real sense of human suffering

Final summary and invitation

salvation Calvinism Arminianism

Q&A: If someone prayed to receive Christ but later turns away from Christianity, do they go to hell?

Viewer question from BC Our Life

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Even granting that baptism parallels circumcision as a covenant sign, differences undermine the infant baptism inference

Winger grants the circumcision-as-covenant-sign parallel arguendo and then examines whether it actually supports infant baptism.

typology baptism covenant

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Circumcision and baptism share similarity as outward covenant signs but this similarity does not license importing infant practice

Summary of the circumcision argument section.

typology baptism covenant

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

Romans 8 Romans 8 assurance of salvation epistemology

The witness of the Holy Spirit is the primary means by which Christians know Christianity is true

Application of the knowing/showing framework to Christian epistemology

epistemology faith and reason warrant

The inner witness of the Holy Spirit gives Christians warrant regardless of external evidence

Explaining how the witness of the Spirit functions as epistemic justification independent of external arguments

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 eyewitness testimony knowing vs. showing

1 Corinthians 15:3-8: the apostles argued historically for the resurrection by listing eyewitnesses

NT case study showing apostles using evidential showing to establish what they already knew

Deuteronomy Deuteronomy biblical inspiration Mosaic authorship

Moses is likely the primary author of the Pentateuch, though later editorial work under inspiration is possible

Q&A: Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch