Search — Theology Explorer

1 Peter 3 Peter Jesus 1 Peter 3

Is Typology Only About Jesus?: Is typology only ever about Jesus? If so, how do we explain the type/antitype in 1 Peter 3: 21? If not, how do we tell true vs. false types when "no new theology" can come from typology?

Q&A question: Is Typology Only About Jesus?

Do Our Spiritual Gifts Ever Change?: As believers, are we given a static set of spiritual gifts, or are our gifts more dynamic in nature so that God adds to and/or subtracts from them according to our season of life or our maturity in Him?

Q&A question: Do Our Spiritual Gifts Ever Change?

spiritual gifts

Should We Date Unbelievers for Evangelism?: My cousin is dating someone who is not a Christian in the hopes that they will get saved. Is this okay to do?

Q&A question: Should We Date Unbelievers for Evangelism?

angels

If My Own Child Comes Out…: What is your take on what we should say when unbelievers ask, “What would you do if your child came out to be gay?” Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Q&A question: If My Own Child Comes Out…

homosexuality

Should Israel be Referred To as Palestine?: Why do you refer to biblical Israel as Palestine when Palestine wasn’t even a country until about 135 B.C.?

Q&A question: Should Israel be Referred To as Palestine?

Israel

Overcoming Difficult & Serious Sins: Do believers eventually overcome big sins like lust? What if we don't before we die? Does that mean we were never saved?

Q&A question: Overcoming Difficult & Serious Sins

sexual ethics

Ephesians 5 John 15 Ephesians 5 John 15

Are Only Men Called to Sacrificially Love?: Can you explain how Ephesians 5: 25 is a particularly masculine command? Many verses including John 15: 12-13 call ALL believers to love one another sacrificially.

Q&A question: Are Only Men Called to Sacrificially Love?

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-02

Overcoming a Fear of the Dark: How can I overcome a fear of the dark? Ever since I was young until now (I’m 25 years old), it’s hard for me to fall asleep every night because I’m scared that there might be something evil watching me sleeping.

Q&A question: Overcoming a Fear of the Dark

Is Heaven a Choice?: Does Revelation 22: 17 mean that we have a choice to stay in Heaven (the last sentence specifically)? Would we be able to blink out of existence? Would this offend God?

Q&A question: Is Heaven a Choice?

revelation revelation

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-02

How Would Adam & Eve Know Disobedience was Wrong?: If Adam and Eve didn’t have knowledge of good and evil, how would they know it is wrong to disobey God and eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?

Q&A question: How Would Adam & Eve Know Disobedience was Wrong?

Adam and Eve

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-02

Will We Remember Unbelievers in Eternity?: After a believer dies, will they remember their loved ones who were unbelievers? I understand "perfect peace," but that doesn’t answer the question.

Q&A question: Will We Remember Unbelievers in Eternity?

evangelism

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-09

Did God Foretell Something that Didn’t Happen?: In 1 Samuel 23: 11-13 (ESV), the Lord says David will be handed over to Saul at Keilah, then David leaves town before Saul gets there, so he was not. Why did the Lord foretell a future event that didn't happen?

Q&A question: Did God Foretell Something that Didn’t Happen?

David Samuel

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-09

Should Couples Promise “Till Death Do Us Part”?: In many modern weddings, people promise before God "till death do us part,” or something similar. Doesn't that biblically preclude the option of even a biblical divorce?

Q&A question: Should Couples Promise “Till Death Do Us Part”?

divorce

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-09

Why was the Cross Necessary if God is All-Powerful?: I have an agnostic friend who can’t accept that the cross was necessary. They believe God was not all powerful if He could not find another way of saving humanity without sacrificing Jesus. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Why was the Cross Necessary if God is All-Powerful?

Jesus agnosticism

revelation Revelation 2 revelation Revelation 2

New Names in Heaven?: Do you have any insight about Revelation 2: 17, specifically about the implication of new names in Heaven?

Q&A question: New Names in Heaven?

Discerning God’s Voice: How can I tell when the Holy Spirit is talking to me? Ever since hearing a sermon about a pastor's conviction to spend more time with God, I think I’m hearing God ask for more time when I close my Bible.

Q&A question: Discerning God’s Voice

pastoral ministry

Revelation 3 revelation Jesus Revelation 3 revelation

Hot? Cold? Lukewarm?: What does Jesus mean in Revelation 3: 16 when He says it’s better to be hot or cold than lukewarm?

Q&A question: Hot? Cold? Lukewarm?

Matthew 10 Matthew Matthew 10 Matthew

Witnessing to Stubborn Family Members: Does “shaking the dust off your feet” (Matthew 10: 14) ever apply to family? Or are we to always endure in witnessing to family, despite continual rejection?

Q&A question: Witnessing to Stubborn Family Members

Wayne Grudem Jesus salvation

Did Jesus’ Atonement Require His Divinity?: Why was it necessary for Jesus to be fully divine in regard to our salvation? Wayne Grudem states, “Only someone who is the infinite God could bear the full penalty for all the sins of all those who would believe in Him..." Do you agree, and are there any other reasons stated in Scripture?

Q&A question: Did Jesus’ Atonement Require His Divinity?

Do Tiny Choices Affect History?: Should Christians ever concern themselves with ideas like the butterfly effect (the idea that tiny choices have big impacts on history)?

Q&A question: Do Tiny Choices Affect History?

Ministering to LDS Members: I showed some LDS members your Book of Abraham video, but because they believe they heard from the Holy Spirit, biblical arguments haven’t worked. How can I show that they haven’t heard the Spirit?

Q&A question: Ministering to LDS Members

Abraham Mormonism

Will God Reveal when our Thinking is Unbiblical?: Philippians 3: 15 says God will reveal when our thinking is opposed to His calling. How, then, do so many dedicated Christians get all the way through life still utterly confused about essential moral issues?

Q&A question: Will God Reveal when our Thinking is Unbiblical?

Philip Philippi

About Love in 1 Cor. 13:7: What does it mean practically that “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”?

Q&A question: About Love in 1 Cor. 13:7

How Smart Must We Be to Evangelize?: I often get overwhelmed because it seems that I need to know EVERYTHING about EVERY topic (history, science, linguistics, etc.) to be able to defend the faith. Do you have any advice?

Q&A question: How Smart Must We Be to Evangelize?

angels

Romans 14 millennium Romans 14 Philip

When Will Every Tongue Confess?: When do you think Philippians 2: 10-11 will be fulfilled? At the end of the millennium, at Armageddon, or throughout the future at different stages? I think Romans 14: 10-12 gives us some insight.

Q&A question: When Will Every Tongue Confess?

Sharing Truth with a Defensive Person: My husband doesn't believe in the Trinity and gets so defensive when I try to talk to him about the true God. Should I not bring it up anymore and just live as an example?

Q&A question: Sharing Truth with a Defensive Person

marriage Trinity

Are Believers Still “Sinners”?: I was wondering, when we get saved, are we still “sinners”? I know that after being saved we sometimes sin. But does that still label us as sinners? I thought we were new creations.

Q&A question: Are Believers Still “Sinners”?

creation

Cowardice in the Book of Jonah?: Were the mariners and shipmaster selfish cowards and Pagans in Jonah 1:5-15? Even with drowning in a stormy sea, I sense hesitation to discard Jonah to save their own lives.

Q&A question: Cowardice in the Book of Jonah?

Jonah Jonah

Acts 6 revelation Revelation 2 Acts 6 Jesus revelation

About the Nicolaitans: Isn't Jesus hating the Nicolaitans in Revelation 2:6 out of character? Also, who were they? I hear they were a cult from the Nicholas of Acts 6, one of the 7 deacons.

Q&A question: About the Nicolaitans

Mike Winger idea 2023-02-17

The Destruction of Jerusalem: Do you think that Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70? Or do you think the passages people refer to are only about end times events that have not been fulfilled yet?

Q&A question: The Destruction of Jerusalem

Jesus eschatology

Do We Pray For or Against our Enemies?: How do you reconcile the New Testament's clear teachings to love and pray for our enemies with Psalms like Psalm 69:22-28? Is there ever a time when we should pray against our enemies?

Q&A question: Do We Pray For or Against our Enemies?

1 Corinthians 5 1 Corinthians 5

Interacting with Fallen Believers & Cult Members: How are we to relate to fallen brothers in terms of fellowship, and to cult members with hospitality according to 1 Corinthians 5: 11 and 2 John 1: 10?

Q&A question: Interacting with Fallen Believers & Cult Members

Could God be Playing a Joke On Us?: I am a new Christian and my brother is an atheist. He has brought up the question of “What if God is lying about everything and this all a big cosmic joke?” How do I combat this thinking?

Q&A question: Could God be Playing a Joke On Us?

atheism

Isaiah Isaiah second coming

Unclean Meats & the Second Coming: If all meats were made clean, then how do Christians interpret Isaiah 66: 15-18, as that passage, I believe, refers to Christ’s second coming, and in it He “destroys” those who eat unclean meats?

Q&A question: Unclean Meats & the Second Coming

The Right Age to Evangelize?: When is the right age to evangelize? I'm 15 and I used to evangelize and many believed, but I also got into trouble with the police and at my school. My pastor told me to wait until I’m more mature and I’ve learned more of God’s Word.

Q&A question: The Right Age to Evangelize?

pastoral ministry angels

Religion = Control? / Where’s God During Abuse?: How do I help my dad (an unbeliever) who thinks religion is used to control us? He also says, “If God exists, where was He when my father was beating my mother and I, and I cried out to Him?”

Q&A question: Religion = Control? / Where’s God During Abuse?

evangelism

salvation prayer Calvinism

How to Pray for Unbelievers: I don’t believe Calvinism is biblical, but I find that my prayers for unbelievers often sound Calvinistic: “Change their hearts, bring them to You,” etc. How should we pray for unbelievers' salvation?

Q&A question: How to Pray for Unbelievers

Does Jesus’ Compassion Change?: When Jesus interacts with people, He is often compassionate. However, with the 12, he most often sounds harsh. Does His relationship toward us change once we are “on the team"?

Q&A question: Does Jesus’ Compassion Change?

Jesus

Warnings about False Teachings: Do warnings to Churches and believers in verses such as Jude 1:3-4 or other Epistles regarding false/heretical doctrines apply to Mormons who want a relationship with God/Jesus but are just deceived?

Q&A question: Warnings about False Teachings

Jesus Mormonism heresy

marriage pastoral ministry

Knowing When to Yield: My pastor wants me to obey my husband even when it hurts my mental health, triggers my eating disorder, or my sleep disorder. Is he right or wrong? He says I should “Die like Christ.”

Q&A question: Knowing When to Yield

Mike Winger idea 2023-04-07

Encouragement Amid Physical Limitations: What counsel would you give a discouraged believer with a debilitating chronic illness who carries a lot of guilt for not being able to serve in the ways they want to be able to?

Q&A question: Encouragement Amid Physical Limitations

suffering

If God Seems Silent, Does He Still Care?: My sister walked away from God because she begged for direction in her life and she says she heard nothing from God. This led her to believe God doesn’t care about her. How do I respond to this?

Q&A question: If God Seems Silent, Does He Still Care?

Mike Winger idea 2023-04-07

Was Jesus Really Buried for 3 Days & Nights?: If Jesus died on a Friday and rose on a Sunday, then He was not in the grave for three days and three nights. Why is it that this seems never to be addressed?

Q&A question: Was Jesus Really Buried for 3 Days & Nights?

Jesus

Evolved from Monkeys?: From a biblical standpoint, is there any reason that Christians believe we evolved from monkeys? I'm confused why some Christians believe that, and I’m curious if it’s purely a worldview standpoint?

Q&A question: Evolved from Monkeys?

Is Nepotism Sinful?: Is nepotism a sin? My church was founded by my grandpa, my dad is the senior pastor, and my brother is a youth leader. I do believe they legitimately earned these roles, but others at my church don’t.

Q&A question: Is Nepotism Sinful?

pastoral ministry

revelation Revelation 2 repentance revelation Revelation 2

Repentance After Death?: Can someone repent after death? Hebrews 9: 27 seems to say “no,” BUT Revelation 2: 21-27 seems to suggest “yes” for it is the “unwillingness” to repent that condemns. I really hope the latter is true.

Q&A question: Repentance After Death?