Filter results by source database — Scripture Commentary, Theology, Mike Winger, or Pulpit. Click a tab to narrow to one database.

...more
All (233) Mike Winger (233)
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q9: Why did Paul permit Timothy to drink wine (1 Tim 5:23) if Timothy was under a Nazirite vow? Mike doubts Timothy was under such a vow

Viewer 'Christian Metal Head' asks about the apparent tension between Paul's instruction to drink wine and the Nazirite vow restrictions.

1 Timothy 5:23 Numbers 6:1-4 Timothy Samson Christian liberty
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Drinking alcohol is not inherently sinful; drunkenness is sinful — attempts to argue 1 Tim 5:23 wine is non-alcoholic are dismissed

Mike closes the wine/vow question by addressing broader debates about alcohol in Christianity.

1 Timothy 5:23 Christian liberty drunkenness 1 Timothy 5:23
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

2 Timothy 2:20-21 — Vessels of gold/silver vs. wood/clay for honorable/dishonorable use

Viewer asks whether 2 Tim 2:20-21 (self-cleansing to be an honorable vessel) refutes the Calvinist doctrine of total depravity, given it uses the same honorable/dishonorable language as Romans 9.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 sanctification 2 Timothy 2:20-21 vessels honorable dishonorable
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

The two vessel passages should not be conflated — different contexts, different applications

Mike's conclusion: 2 Tim 2:20-21 and Romans 9 use the same metaphor for different purposes and cannot be merged to make a doctrinal argument about total depravity.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 Romans 9:20-23 hermeneutics sanctification Calvinism
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Lifting holy hands: holiness comes from imputed righteousness, not personal moral purity

Embedded in the Psalm 18 discussion — the worship lyric "I lift up holy hands" was the prompt for the question.

1 Timothy 2:8 imputed righteousness worship holy hands
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Ministry titles and the clergy-laity distinction: what Jesus really forbade in Matthew 23

Chris Horn asked whether Matthew 23:8-12 prohibits using ministry titles like pastor or elder.

1 Timothy 3 Galatians 3:28 Matthew 23:8-12 servant leadership overseer episkopos
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Intrusive/unwanted thoughts: possible demonic origin and the Philippians 4:8 remedy

Question from Turka Orenzova about horrifying thoughts that pop into her head unbidden.

Philippians 4:8 John 13:2 Ephesians 6 Peter Philippians 4:8 Satan
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Fruits of the Spirit in believers vs. unbelievers: the difference is source (Holy Spirit) and ultimate quality/context, not the complete absence of these qualities in unbelievers.

Q20 from Craig Burnett: what is the difference in gifts/fruits of the Spirit between a Christian and a non-Christian displaying the same qualities (patience, gentleness, peace)?

Galatians 5:22-23 2 Timothy 4:10 Holy Spirit fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

The faith (with definite article) refers to the body of Christian doctrine, not personal belief.

Question 1 from Tanya; Mike explains the phrase the faith in Ephesians 4.

Jude 3 1 Timothy 6:21 word study Jude 3 the faith
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-04

Q: What powers do demons have? From Scripture: possession (even multiple demons), controlling actions, causing insanity (Mark 5), influencing thoughts (Satan put it in Judas's heart to betray Jesus — before possession), inspiring false doctrines ("doctrines of demons"), receiving worship through false religions and idol worship.

Q&A — demonic powers and abilities

1 Timothy 4:1 demon possession 1 Timothy 4:1 demonic powers
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-15

Jesus taught monogamy. Matthew 19:9 and Mark 10:11-12: divorcing and marrying another = adultery, which wouldn't make sense if polygamy were permitted. 1 Timothy 3:2, 3:12, Titus 1:6: elders/deacons must be husband of one wife — referring to polygamy prohibition. 1 Corinthians 7:2-4: each man his own wife, each woman her own husband — mutual sexual exclusivity eliminates polygamy.

Jesus taught monogamy — against polygamy

1 Timothy 3:2 Matthew 19:9 Mark 10:11-12 1 Timothy 3:2 polygamy polygamy
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-15

Mike on women in ministry: he's complementarian — the highest leadership/preaching/governing role is reserved for men God has called. But he struggles with how to apply this to the wide variety of modern ministry situations. Women can teach; the question is in what contexts. He encourages women to study Scripture carefully and let it guide their choices.

Women in ministry — complementarian but cautious on application

1 Timothy 2:12 women in ministry complementarianism complementarianism
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

The claim "it's always God's will to heal sickness" is arbitrary — the apostles themselves suffered illness (Timothy's stomach issues, Trophimus left sick, Epaphroditus nearly died) while doing miracles.

Refuting the Word of Faith claim that sickness is never God's will

2 Timothy 4:20 1 Timothy 5:23 1 Peter 4:19 thorn in the flesh 2 Timothy 4:20 Word of Faith
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-29

The historical problem of racism in the US is genuinely appalling — race is a social construct invented to justify white dominance, US chattel slavery was predicated on the anti-gospel act of man-stealing, and legalized racism lasted ~340 years (1619-1964).

Honest accounting of US racial history before critiquing CRT

1 Timothy 1:10 Acts 17:26 1 Timothy 1:10 racism history US Acts 17:26
Mike Winger idea 2021-06-04

Is God Faithful when We’re Faithless?: Is 2 Timothy 2: 13 saying God is faithful to us, or to Himself? I hear people thanking God that when we are faithless, He is faithful to us, but it seems to read the opposite.

Q&A question: Is God Faithful when We’re Faithless?

Timothy
Mike Winger idea 2021-06-11

Winger walks through 1 Timothy 3 elder qualifications, acknowledging real-life churches (especially small ones) struggle to find people who meet all criteria. Lists: blameless, husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy, gentle, not quarrelsome, rules his own house well, not a novice.

Q&A: How literally should we follow the qualifications for pastors/elders in 1 Timothy and Titus?

1 Timothy 3 1 Timothy 3 elder qualifications 1 Timothy 3 elder qualifications
Mike Winger idea 2021-09-10

About the “Doctrines of Demons”: Can you give more examples about the “doctrines of demons” mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:1?

Q&A question: About the “Doctrines of Demons”

1 Timothy 4:1 Timothy demons 1 Timothy 4:1
Mike Winger idea 2021-10-29

About Theophanies & Christophanies: Would you say that every theophany is a Christophany? (John 1: 17-18, Jude 1:5, John 8: 58, Matthew 11: 27, 1 Timothy 2:5)

Q&A question: About Theophanies & Christophanies

1 Timothy 2 1 Timothy 2:5 John 1 1 Timothy 2 Timothy 1 Timothy 2:5
Mike Winger idea 2022-01-21

About Jannes & Jambres: Why does Paul mention Jannes and Jambres in 2 Timothy as being part of the Exodus story when they weren’t? Did he have a different exodus? Is he referring to an extra-biblical book so authoritatively?

Q&A question: About Jannes & Jambres

Timothy
Mike Winger idea 2022-07-01

Must Pastors be Married?: Does 1 Timothy 3:2 mean that I must have a wife to be a pastor? What about a man who doesn’t have a wife?

Q&A question: Must Pastors be Married?

1 Timothy 3:2 1 Timothy 3 Timothy 1 Timothy 3:2 marriage
Mike Winger idea 2022-07-15

Can Past Sins Disqualify a Man from Leadership?: If a man’s pre-salvation life is especially disgraceful, could he ever truly be “above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:2)? Could old sin, then, even if confessed, disqualify him from being a pastor or elder?

Q&A question: Can Past Sins Disqualify a Man from Leadership?

1 Timothy 3:2 1 Timothy 3 Timothy 1 Timothy 3:2 elder qualifications
Mike Winger idea 2023-03-03

Do Unbelieving Children Disqualify an Elder?: 1 Timothy 3:4-5 and Titus 1:6 seem to indicate if someone desires to be an elder they are disqualified by unbelieving children. Does this include adult children? The wife? What do these verses mean?

Q&A question: Do Unbelieving Children Disqualify an Elder?

Titus Titus 1 1 Timothy 3:4-5 Timothy Titus elder qualifications
Mike Winger idea 2023-09-15

Is Only OT Scripture “God-Breathed?”: In 2 Timothy 3: 16, was Paul speaking of ONLY OT Scriptures, since that’s all they had at the time? What about the inspiration of the NT?

Q&A question: Is Only OT Scripture “God-Breathed?”

Timothy
Mike Winger idea 2024-02-09

Which Scripture is God-Breathed?: In 2 Timothy 3: 16, when it says “All Scripture is God-breathed…” what would the author have meant by “Scripture”? Because as far as I know, books like Jude and Revelation hadn’t been written yet.

Q&A question: Which Scripture is God-Breathed?

revelation Timothy revelation
Mike Winger idea 2024-04-19

Can a Pastor’s Wife be an Unbeliever?: Do the qualifications for pastors/elders in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 disqualify a man who has an unbelieving wife?

Q&A question: Can a Pastor’s Wife be an Unbeliever?

Titus 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Titus 1 Timothy Titus 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Mike Winger idea 2024-05-24

Winger rejects the 'covering' argument that a senior male pastor can authorize female elders/pastors under his headship. A husband is the head of his wife — an elder is NOT the head of other elders. 1 Timothy 2 says 'I don't allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man,' period — not 'without a male head.'

Q&A: advice for a member of a church with a male lead elder pastoring alongside ordained female elders who often teach on Sundays.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 1 Timothy 2:12 women in ministry complementarianism headship
Mike Winger idea 2024-06-28

Winger says a wife co-teaching an adult Sunday school Bible study IS an elder-type role and would be wrong under his complementarian view. However, co-teaching a topical class (like parenting) is NOT eldership and he'd be fine with it. He warns against creating Pharisaic rules but draws the line at verse-by-verse Bible teaching.

Bonus Q after viewer watched WIM series: Is a woman helping her husband teach a co-ed adult Sunday school class an elder-type role?

1 Timothy 2:12 women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism
Mike Winger idea 2025-01-10

Not Enough Prayer in Church?: Why do we pray so little collectively during Sunday services? Singing makes up 40%, while praying roughly 1-2%. This does not seem to line up biblically or historically (Acts 2: 42; 1 Timothy 2:1-8).

Q&A question: Not Enough Prayer in Church?

1 Timothy 2 Acts 2 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Acts 2
Mike Winger idea 2025-05-02

A Judgment for Widows?: What is the judgment put on widows in 1 Timothy 5: 12, and how do we know we can change course without judgment? Does it apply to keeping an unchanging devotion time with God? My goals can get legalistic.

Q&A question: A Judgment for Widows?

1 Timothy 5 Timothy 1 Timothy 5
Mike Winger idea 2025-08-08

Paul’s Gospel?: In Philemon 1: 19, why did Philemon owe himself to Paul? And why does Paul call it "his" gospel (please also see Romans 2: 16 , 16: 25, 2 Timothy 2:8)?

Q&A question: Paul’s Gospel?

Philemon Romans 2 Timothy Philemon Romans 2
Mike Winger idea 2026-01-02

Marriage, Heaven & Vows: Regarding 1 Timothy 5: 11-12, if there is no marriage in Heaven, and when a spouse dies we’re free to remarry, how then does a young widow break her first vow?

Q&A question: Marriage, Heaven & Vows

1 Timothy 5 Timothy marriage 1 Timothy 5
Mike Winger idea 2026-02-20

2 Tim: Soteriological Implications?: What are your thoughts on 2 Timothy 2: 24-26, and how does it inform your soteriology?

Q&A question: 2 Tim: Soteriological Implications?

Timothy
Mike Winger idea 2023-06-16

Winger explains the reason for his extensive long-COVID delay in completing the Women in Ministry series: the number of complex texts and exegetical issues in 1 Timothy 2 is genuinely large, and he refuses to produce a rushed or shallow treatment of a topic that will have real impact on people's lives and churches. This reflects his broader ministry philosophy of thoroughness over speed.

Long-COVID illness and the delay in completing Women in Ministry series; commitment to thoroughness

1 Timothy 2 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Philo
← Prev Page 5 of 5 Next →