Search — Theology Explorer

God's wrath divine holiness Leon Morris

Leon Morris: God's wrath is consistent, not capricious — a divine reaction to evil

Mike cites Leon Morris's scholarly study of God's wrath in the Old Testament.

2 Peter 3:9 repentance divine patience 2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 — God delays judgment because He desires all to repent

Mike uses 2 Peter to explain the delay between God's wrath and its execution.

Ezekiel 33:11 repentance Ezekiel 33:11 God's wrath

Ezekiel 33:11 — God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked

Mike demonstrates Old Testament consistency on God's wrath and mercy.

Ezekiel 18:31 repentance God's wrath divine mercy

Ezekiel 18:31 — God urges Israel to make new hearts and turn from wickedness

Mike cites a second Ezekiel passage reinforcing God's gracious invitation in the face of wrath.

new covenant progressive revelation the cross

Q&A: Why doesn't the death penalty for homosexuality apply today? — Old Testament law and Christ

Viewer asks why the Old Testament death penalty for various sins does not apply under the new covenant.

eschatology God's love divine judgment

Q&A: Does God's love have a time limit — does it turn to hatred at death for the damned?

Viewer asks whether God's love for the unrepentant ceases at death and becomes everlasting hatred.

Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Q&A: Why did God allow bears to kill 42 children for mocking Elisha? (2 Kings 2:23-24)

Viewer question from Pedro Jr.

2 Kings 2:23-24 apologetics Hebrew exegesis 2 Kings 2:23-24

evangelism prophecy knowing vs. showing

When showing Christianity to others, only external evidence and arguments are available, not the Spirit's witness

Explaining the asymmetry between knowing and showing in evangelism/apologetics

1 Kings 18 Elijah 1 Kings 18 Mount Carmel

Elijah on Mount Carmel: biblical example of knowing vs. showing — he knew God was real, he showed others through evidence

Old Testament narrative case study illustrating the knowing/showing distinction

Michael Heiser Old Testament theology divine council

Michael Heiser's divine council work is valuable but Winger has reservations about core claims

Q&A: brief evaluation of Michael Heiser's scholarship

New Covenant tithing Old Testament law

Tithing at 10% is not a biblical New Testament requirement, though generous giving absolutely is

Q&A: whether the tithe is biblically mandated for Christians

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Parental authority over adult children: diminishes naturally with age; adult children make their own decisions while still honoring parents

Q from Joel Larson about how much authority a father has over adult children, and whether it differs for sons vs. daughters.

Genesis 2 Numbers 30 Genesis 2 honoring parents parental authority

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Parallelomania: ancient Near Eastern parallels (flood, creation) do not prove the Bible borrowed; similarities are explained by common events or themes

Q from Folky about how to respond to claims that the OT is not true because the Bible copied surrounding cultures (flood, Exodus).

Genesis 1 Genesis 1 biblical inerrancy Enuma Elish

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Evidence for the Exodus exists and is growing; Inspiring Philosophy preparing a detailed video on the topic

Continued response on OT historical reliability, specifically the Exodus.

Exodus biblical inerrancy Exodus archaeology

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Old Testament sacrifices seasoned with salt — salt as covenant symbol and godly character

Question from Molly Thompson about the spiritual/messianic meaning of salting OT sacrifices.

Mark 9:49-50 Old Testament typology discipleship

Malachi 3:8 Malachi 3:10 hermeneutics tithing Malachi 3:8

Malachi 3:8 is the most-cited pro-tithe verse but is addressed to the nation of Israel under the Mosaic law, not to Christians

Examining the primary Old Testament tithing passage used to support Christian tithing

hermeneutics tithing Levites

In the Old Testament law the tithe went to Levites and priests, not to local pastors — so enforcing a 10% tithe should logically send money to Jewish Levites

Continuing the argument against applying the Malachi tithe to modern churches

violence Old Testament ethics self-defense

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

Mosaic Law self-defense homicide law

Old Testament law: killing in self-defense carried no penalty, establishing self-defense as a legitimate moral category

Biblical grounding for self-defense

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

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Colossians — New Testament prohibition against borrowing pagan or Old Covenant practices

New Testament argument against adopting New Age spiritual practices

Colossians Paul Colossians New Age

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Biblical basis for celebrating holidays — God gave Israel feast days; Jesus attended Hanukkah

Positive biblical case for Christians celebrating holidays

John 10 Christian liberty Jesus John 10

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Immortal soul — JW/annihilationist claim that it is a Greek import, not Jewish or biblical

Q from Grace Lou 22 about a JW friend who says the Greek word for soul just means any living being and that the immortal soul concept is Greek philosophy smuggled into Christianity.

1 Samuel 28 Samuel Saul Jehovah's Witnesses

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Old Testament dietary laws — not binding on Christians; Isaiah 66 and Ezekiel future prophecy not a present command

Q from Ashley Koenig about whether Christians must follow OT dietary laws, citing Isaiah 66:16-17.

Colossians Romans 14 Acts Colossians Romans 14 Mosaic Law

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

"The Anointing" — biblical basis is real but the charismatic formulaic packaging of it is concerning

Question from Lavell Martinez about whether "the anointing" is biblical.

1 Samuel 16 Luke 4:18 spiritual gifts Holy Spirit charismatic movement

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Mike's position: Melchizedek is a type of Christ, not an actual Christophany/theophany

Mike distinguishes between a type (literary/theological correspondence) and a theophany (actual divine appearance).

typology Melchizedek Christophany

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

"Touch not the Lord's anointed" means do not murder -- not do not critique

Mike addresses the second common objection to his discernment work

David Saul Old Testament

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Luke 23:34 'Father forgive them' likely refers to delayed judgment / forgiveness offered, not full salvific pardon

Responding to Reid's question about whether unbelievers are forgiven to some degree, referencing Luke 23:34

Luke 23:34 2 Peter 3:9 Numbers typology cities of refuge high priest

Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Does intercourse constitute marriage? — No; vows before witnesses and God define marriage

Mike reads an email asking whether sleeping with someone makes you married.

1 Corinthians 6:16 Deuteronomy 22:28-29 Exodus 22:16 marriage one flesh sexual ethics

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Old Testament believers were saved but lacked the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Question about whether Old Testament believers were born again and could be called children of God.

Acts 2 Psalm 51:11 John 14:17 David Acts 2 Abraham

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

The Holy Spirit's departure from Saul was not about salvation but about losing the anointing to be king — the Spirit empowered Saul for his royal office, and when he repeatedly rebelled it departed.

Q: Why did the Holy Spirit leave Saul and why did an evil spirit from the Lord enter him?

1 Samuel — Spirit on Saul Saul Holy Spirit Departure from Saul 1 Samuel — Spirit on Saul

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

The canonicity of Jude is not threatened by its quotation of extra-biblical sources like Enoch and the Testament of Moses

Question from Trumdial about whether Jude's citations of Enoch and Testament of Moses indicate it is a Gnostic forgery

Jude Gnosticism canon Jude

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Those who lived before Christ or never heard the gospel can still be saved — through faith in the true God, ultimately through Christ

Question from Telly Kaler about how people who lived before Jesus will be judged

Abraham salvation universalism

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Judges is a book designed to show total human depravity — God is the only hero; even the deliverers fail

Broader theological point drawn from the Judges 20 discussion

Judges Judges typology Samson

1 Corinthians 14 2 Timothy 1:6 1 Corinthians 14 Elijah Spiritual gifts

Though gifts cannot be taught, believers can grow in their expression and use of already-given gifts

Nuanced development of the spiritual gifts question.

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.

Leviticus 25:44-46 Deuteronomy slavery laws Exodus redemption as theological grounding for humane treatment Leviticus 25:44-46 Slavery in the Old Testament Deuteronomy slavery laws

Old Testament slavery laws contained extensive humanitarian protections radically superior to surrounding cultures and incompatible with chattel slavery

Continued answer on Leviticus 25 and slavery.

Exodus redemption narrative Leviticus 25:42 Slavery in the Old Testament Exodus redemption narrative Leviticus 25:42

The theological basis for freeing fellow Israelites: God redeemed Israel from Egypt, so they cannot hold one another in permanent slavery

Explaining the theological rationale behind Israelite-specific slave laws.

Jeremiah Peter Williams Jeremiah Old Testament canon

The shorter Septuagint Jeremiah vs. the longer Hebrew Masoretic Jeremiah — reasons to trust the longer canonical form

Question from Leor about which version of Jeremiah is correct.

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Visiting moments in Scripture: creation of Adam and Eve (OT); Road to Emmaus Christological exposition (NT)

Hypothetical question from Bree Herb about which biblical moment Mike would most want to witness.

Luke 24:13-35 creation Adam and Eve Luke 24:13-35

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike argues that killing in self-defense is clearly permitted by Scripture, citing Old Testament law which imposed no penalty for legitimate self-defense, and Jesus’ instruction to the disciples to carry swords the night of his betrayal.

Response to viewer question about whether killing in self-defense is wrong in God’s eyes

Luke 22 Christian ethics just war Old Testament law

Ezekiel 29 Elijah Holy Spirit empowerment Holy Spirit indwelling

Holy Spirit in the Old vs. New Testament: Old Testament experiences were primarily empowerment for service; New Testament introduces indwelling.

Question from Elizabeth about the distinction between the Holy Spirit coming "upon" versus being "in" a person.

Romans 8 Ephesians 1:13 Abba Father Romans 8 Pentecost

Ephesians 1:13 — the sealing of the Spirit as the New Testament's distinctive: permanent relational indwelling as guarantee of inheritance.

Scriptural basis for the New Testament indwelling distinction.

Acts 4 Acts 4 Holy Spirit empowerment Holy Spirit filling

The "upon" experience continues in the New Testament alongside indwelling: Acts 4 prayer for boldness as a second coming of the Spirit upon believers already indwelt.

Reconciling Old Testament "upon" empowerment with New Testament reality.