Search — Theology Explorer

eyewitness testimony Gospel historicity apologetics preparedness

Most Christians assume Gospel eyewitness origins without being able to defend it

Mike identifies a gap in typical Christian preparedness against scholarly skepticism.

Markan priority biblical inerrancy Markan priority Q source

Q&A: The Q document — does it matter if Gospel writers used written sources?

Q&A question about the hypothetical Q source document.

Christian living hearing from God spiritual discernment

Q&A: How does God speak to new Christians? Live by biblical principles, not impressions

Q&A pastoral advice for new Christians wondering about hearing from God.

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 22:41 Matthew 26:39 eyewitness testimony Holy Spirit inspiration private scenes in Gospels

Q&A: How did the disciples know what Jesus prayed in Gethsemane if he prayed alone?

Q&A on the epistemological basis for the Gethsemane prayer account.

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.

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.

Galatians 5:22-23 Benny Hinn Galatians 5:22-23 Fruit of the Spirit

Slain in the Spirit is unbiblical; drunk/slain/shaking in the Spirit are all contrary to "self-control" as fruit of the Spirit.

Continuing the critique of charismatic practices.

1 Corinthians 14 1 Corinthians 14 Tongues Continuationism

Personal testimony: Mike first encountered charismatic practices as a teenager and was confused; discovered 1 Corinthians 14 had rules for tongues much later.

Mike shares his personal experience with charismatic churches.

Luke 16 (Lazarus and the rich man) Ghosts Luke 16 (Lazarus and the rich man) Demons / evil spirits

Are ghosts real? Mike's view: likely evil spirits, not the spirits of the dead.

Jim McGregor asks whether ghosts are real or evil spirits.

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.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit Indwelling of the Holy Spirit Pneumatology

Baptism of the Holy Spirit: Mike believes it can happen both at salvation and after; distinct from the indwelling.

Zach Bradley asks whether the baptism of the Holy Spirit happens at salvation or after.

Mike Winger idea 2019-02-27

Jewish practice of marking and remembering spiritual leaders' burial sites

Why Jesus's grave would be noted and remembered

Mike Licona Jewish burial customs

Mike Winger idea 2019-03-14

Q&A: Why doesn't God interact visibly today as in Bible times? Mike's answer: miracles were always rare; God interacts spiritually now; the Bible establishes the foundation

Q&A question from "I'm Zen"

miracles divine intervention Scripture as sufficient revelation

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-10

Disciples' failure to cast out demons vs. faith as a mustard seed — two distinct teachings not to conflate

Q&A: Haggar Vid asks about the disciples having little faith and the mustard-seed faith saying

mustard seed faith disciples casting out demons little faith (oligopistia)

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

The book is motivated by McDowell's own children and 20 years of ministry focus on the next generation

McDowell explains the need driving the book project

youth ministry Greg Koukl apologetics

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

Q&A: Rooting youth in the person and work of Christ — requires both good theology (who Jesus is) and practical application (how to live it out)

Audience question about how churches can help youth be rooted in Christ

Romans Paul youth ministry Romans

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-01

Intellectual clarity requires spiritual health — Romans 1 on the connection between spiritual state and clear thinking

Mike adds a theological qualifier to the apologetics discussion.

Romans 1 Romans 1 Hardened heart Apologetics and spiritual condition

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-01

Q&A: Is a particular heart condition needed to see the reliability of evidence? — Luke 10:23-24 discussed

Viewer asks about the relationship between spiritual state and ability to assess evidence.

Luke 10:23-24 Hardened heart Apologetics and spiritual condition Luke 10:23-24

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-01

Former atheists: some came to faith through argumentation, others through experiential transformation first

Part of the answer about heart condition and evidence.

Evangelism Apologetics and spiritual condition Conversion

discipleship evangelism church mission

The church must maintain evangelism as its primary posture toward unbelievers; community service without gospel proclamation is insufficient

Response to question about churches focusing solely on community service vs. discipleship and evangelism

Scripture authority spiritual discernment near-death experiences

Near-death experience books should be tested against Scripture and not used to supplement or replace it; the danger is NDE narrators becoming gurus with insider knowledge

Response to a question about the theological accuracy of books like 23 Minutes in Hell and 90 Minutes in Heaven

soul dualism body-soul distinction

Winger holds a dualist view of the soul: the soul is distinct from the brain and body, uses the body to interact with reality, and persists after bodily death

Response to question about the nature of the soul

1 John 4:2 Incarnation Scripture authority Messiah

1 John 4:2 — testing spirits by confession that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh carries the full theological weight of Messiah, incarnation, and OT fulfillment, not merely a verbal formula

Response to question about whether 1 John 4:2 is a sufficient test for false spirits

Matthew 6:14-15 Philippians 2:13 assurance of salvation forgiveness Matthew 6:14-15

Matthew 6:14-15 has a direct and uncomfortable application; persistent unwillingness to forgive may be evidence of not being in Christ, not a cause of losing salvation

Response to question about applying Matthew 6:14-15 to life situations

1 Corinthians 10:13 temptation 1 Corinthians 10:13 suicide

1 Corinthians 10:13 refutes the idea that any temptation including suicidal impulse is unavoidably overpowering; God always provides a way of escape; the sense of enslavement is often a lie believed about oneself

Response to question about Christianity and suicide and whether God ever gives more than one can bear

Matthew 26:39 atonement Matthew 26:39 Gethsemane

The necessity of Christ's atonement is biblically defensible; Jesus's Gethsemane prayer implies there was no other way to redeem fallen humanity

Response to question about whether God needed Christ's sacrifice in order to cleanse us for indwelling by the Holy Spirit

John 16 Calvinism soteriology free will

Winger rejects irresistible grace: God's Spirit convicts all people universally but some freely reject him; Winger believes he personally would likely not believe without the Spirit's work

Response to question about whether Winger would believe in the Resurrection without God's testimony

Romans 14 Romans 6 1 Corinthians 10:13 Romans 14 temptation sanctification

Multi-step biblical strategy for overcoming lust: believe 1 Cor 10:13, make no provision for the flesh, remove high-value stumbling blocks, and fight temptation at its earliest stage not its peak

Response to question about being enslaved to the sin of lust

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

The Law in Matthew is not merely instructive but predictive—even ritual laws point to who Jesus is

A key interpretive insight about the nature of the Law

Matthew 5:17 typology Matthew 5:17 Levitical law

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

John 4:21-24 — Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that worship will shift from Jerusalem to "spirit and truth"

Example of Jesus himself signaling a transition beyond Mosaic Law structures

John 4:19-24 Deuteronomy centralization of worship John 4:19-24 worship in spirit and truth temple worship

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Q&A: The kingdom of God is wherever God rules as king—inaugurated by Christ, to be consummated at the second coming

Theological definition of the kingdom of God

second coming Holy Spirit kingdom of God

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Isaiah 63 — Three persons of the Trinity in the Old Testament

McLatchie presents Isaiah 63:7-10 as containing all three persons of the Trinity within a single Old Testament passage.

Mark 2 Isaiah 63:7-10 Psalm 78:40 Holy Spirit Mark 2 Jonathan McLatchie

Acts 8 John (Apostle) Acts 8 Holy Spirit Peter (Apostle)

The Holy Spirit did not fall on the Samaritan believers until Peter and John came and laid hands on them -- the Apostles were required to officially open the gospel to the Samaritans

Analysis of Holy Spirit delay in Samaria

Acts 15:6-11 Cornelius Holy Spirit salvation by grace

Acts 15:6-11 -- Peter's speech at the Jerusalem Council: God made no distinction between Jew and Gentile, cleansing their hearts by faith; why put on them a yoke their fathers could not bear? Salvation is by grace alone.

Peter's speech at Jerusalem Council

James (brother of Jesus) Acts 15:22-29 Holy Spirit James (brother of Jesus) salvation vs. sanctification

Acts 15:22-29 -- The Apostolic letter: the Holy Spirit and the Apostles together impose no greater burden than four essentials. These four are explicitly for sanctification ('you will do well'), not salvation.

Survey of the Apostolic letter text

Acts 20:16 Acts 20:24 Pentecost Paul the Apostle feast days

Acts 20:16 -- Paul hurries to reach Jerusalem for Pentecost. Winger notes he missed Passover and his motivation is gospel preaching to Jews gathered for the feast, not pure feast-day observance.

Survey of Acts 20:16, Paul and Pentecost

Acts 25:8 Paul the Apostle Law of Moses fulfillment theology

Acts 25:8 -- Paul says he committed no offense against the law of the Jews. Consistent with fulfillment theology: Paul in Christ has not violated the true spirit of the law.

Survey of Acts 25:8

Romans 6:14 119 Ministries law of Christ under the law

119 Ministries' first interpretive move: raising the question of which law Paul means in Romans 6:14

Presenting 119 Ministries' argument before critique

false dichotomy 119 Ministries law of Christ

The false dichotomy makes 119's interpretation agreeable in isolation but wrong in exclusivity

Winger's summative critique of the false dichotomy

Romans Galatians Romans sanctification Galatians

Walking in the Spirit is the new mode of life replacing life under the Law of Moses

Positive alternative to law-keeping as the standard for Christian living

Galatians 5 fruit of the Spirit Law of Moses walking in the Spirit

The law is not abolished but fulfilled in Christ; the Spirit replaces the external law as the mode of obedience

Positive theological statement of Winger's view

Galatians 5:18 Law of Moses under the law Galatians 5:18

Galatians 5:18 — "if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law"

Surveying Pauline uses — eighth/ninth instance

Romans 7:6 new covenant Law of Moses Romans 7:6

Romans 7:6 — released from the law to serve in the new way of the Spirit

Final key verse summarizing the new covenant mode of life

Sermon on the Mount walking in the Spirit law of Christ

What is the law of Christ? It is walking in love — the heart of the law as Jesus summarized it

Q&A: Josh Kretchmer asks about the law of Christ

1 John 3:1 1 John 3:13 1 John 4:3-5 kosmos 1 John 3:1 1 John 3:13

1 John's own usage of 'world' across multiple verses defines the term as the ungodly — not scattered believers

Winger grounds the interpretation of 'world' in 1 John 2:2 by examining how the same author uses the word elsewhere in 1 John.

Hebrews 6:4 Hebrews 6:4 apostasy backsliding

Q&A: Difference between backsliding and falling away (Hebrews 6:4) — backsliding is spiritual decline, falling away is apostasy

Viewer Q&A on the distinction between backsliding and falling away.

1 Samuel 28 Samuel Saul 1 Samuel 28

Q&A: The witch of Endor and Samuel's appearance to Saul (1 Samuel 28) — God sovereignly brought Samuel to rebuke Saul, not to help him

Viewer Q&A: explaining the difficult passage of the medium at Endor and Samuel's appearance.