Search — Theology Explorer

Don’t Add or Take Away!: People often use Revelation 22: 18-19 referring to the whole Bible. When I read it, I see it only referring to Revelation, since the New Testament wasn't formed yet. Could you provide some clarity?

Q&A question: Don’t Add or Take Away!

revelation revelation

Determinism vs. Luck: If we don’t believe that God determines/causes everything, do we believe in some form of luck? For example, when you hit all green lights on your way to work: “Man that was good luck!” Or when you stub your toe: “That was bad luck.”

Q&A question: Determinism vs. Luck

Why was David’s Family Punished?: In 2 Samuel 12: 10, why was the sword to never depart from David’s house if our sins aren’t supposed to carry over? Why was his family punished for his sin, and not just his son with Bathsheba but Ammon, etc.?

Q&A question: Why was David’s Family Punished?

David Samuel Bathsheba

Mike Winger idea 2024-04-12

Bonus Prayer.Could you pray for my youth leader? He collapsed one day and has been in the hospital ever since. He was supposed to be leading a youth camp I was going to. Asking for prayer for his healing. Thanks.

Q&A question

prayer healing

Is Everyone Called to Street-Preaching?: Do you think the warning in James 3:1 has implications for evangelism? I think all Christians should be ready to share their testimony when asked (1 Peter 3: 15), but not all should street preach.

Q&A question: Is Everyone Called to Street-Preaching?

James 1 Peter 3 James 3:1 Peter James 1 Peter 3

Mike Winger idea 2024-04-19

Who will Sit on the Thrones?: In Matthew 19: 28, Jesus states the 12 disciples will sit on 12/24 thrones in the regeneration. In Revelation 4:4, 24 elders are sitting on the thrones. Who are the other 12?

Q&A question: Who will Sit on the Thrones?

revelation Matthew Matthew 19 elder qualifications Jesus revelation

Mike Winger idea 2024-04-19

Tongues/Prophecy for Believers or Unbelievers?: Can you please explain 1 Corinthians 14: 22-24? Verse 22 states that tongues are a sign for unbelievers, and prophecy is for believers. But vv. 23 and 24 then go on to, seemingly, describe the exact opposite.

Q&A question: Tongues/Prophecy for Believers or Unbelievers?

1 Corinthians 14 prophecy 1 Corinthians 14 tongues

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 2024-04-26

A Difficult Bible Contradiction: Can you please explain 1 Corinthians 14: 22-24? Verse 22 states that tongues are a sign for unbelievers, and prophecy is for believers. But vv. 23 and 24 then go on to seemingly describe the exact opposite.

Q&A question: A Difficult Bible Contradiction

1 Corinthians 14 prophecy 1 Corinthians 14 tongues

Jeremiah Jeremiah 1:5 Jeremiah 1 Jeremiah marriage creation

Our Choices & God’s Sovereign Will: Do we have any true control over life entering the world, or is it only based on God's sovereignty? I think if it’s God's plan for me to have a child, I'll get pregnant even if on birth control. But my husband thinks we control conception through birth control. If Jeremiah 1:5 applies to all people, wouldn't that mean God's plan overrides our plan for procreation?

Q&A question: Our Choices & God’s Sovereign Will

apologetics doubt and faith

Why Doesn’t God Just Satisfy Skeptics’ Doubts?: How would you answer someone who says, “If there is a God, He knows what evidence I would need to believe and has not given it to me” and seems to genuinely mean it, not mocking/scoffing?

Q&A question: Why Doesn’t God Just Satisfy Skeptics’ Doubts?

Did Peter & Other Disciples Quit?: Did Peter and the others "quit the ministry" when they went fishing in John 21:3? It seems that Peter had already seen the risen Christ 2 or 3 times before this event.

Q&A question: Did Peter & Other Disciples Quit?

John 21 Peter John 21

Stewarding Friendships with Unbelievers: How do you navigate having worldly friends? At times I enjoy their company and the conversation is good, but at other times they are unbearable to be around, making crude jokes.

Q&A question: Stewarding Friendships with Unbelievers

evangelism

God Conceals a Matter?: In Proverbs 25:2, in what sense is the author saying that God conceals a matter? It's clearly not an absolute (i.e., He does reveal things).

Q&A question: God Conceals a Matter?

Overcome by Strong Delusion?: In 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, when the antichrist is revealed, God will send a strong delusion to those who refused to be saved. Will everyone who has heard the Gospel but not repented be overcome by it?

Q&A question: Overcome by Strong Delusion?

repentance antichrist

God Taking someone to Avoid Apostasy?: Is there any precedent for God taking home a believer before he might fall away? I Kings 14: 13 says some good was found in Jeroboam’s son.

Q&A question: God Taking someone to Avoid Apostasy?

apostasy

Will We Remember “The Bad” in Eternity?: Can you go into detail as to what Isaiah 65: 17 means by “not remembered” and the “nor come to mind” part? I was told it meant literal memory loss and that scares me. I want to remember even the bad.

Q&A question: Will We Remember “The Bad” in Eternity?

Isaiah Isaiah

Mike Winger idea 2024-05-24

The Most Pressing Issue for Deconstructionists: What do you believe is the most pressing issue for deconstructionists?

Q&A question: The Most Pressing Issue for Deconstructionists

deconstruction

Ancient Israel & The Trinity: Did ancient Israelites believe in the concept of a "multi-personal God"? By multi-personal God, I mean a concept similar to the Trinity, where there is one God made up of multiple Persons.

Q&A question: Ancient Israel & The Trinity

Trinity

Mike Winger idea 2024-05-31

Not Worthy = Not Saved?: Do Jesus' words in Matthew 10: 37-39 give the impression that if we don't put Him first in everything, we're not saved? Does the phrase "not worthy of Me" not refer to salvation?

Q&A question: Not Worthy = Not Saved?

Matthew 10 Matthew Jesus salvation Matthew 10

Mike Winger idea 2024-06-07

Thinking Biblically about Dating: I’m a late 20s Christian man struggling with anxiety in dating. As things progress, I tend to overanalyze everything to determine if I can marry the girl, and things end about 3 months in. Any scriptural advice?

Q&A question: Thinking Biblically about Dating

dating and relationships anxiety and mental health

Mike Winger idea 2024-06-07

Salvation before the Reformation: Were people saved before the Reformation? It is hard to believe everyone went to Hell during that time, so I've heard people use this to argue in favor of Catholicism. Is this a valid argument?

Q&A question: Salvation before the Reformation

Roman Catholicism salvation hell

revelation John 15 Revelation 2 Jesus revelation John 15

Slaves or Friends of Christ?: Does Jesus “call” us His slaves? In John 15: 15 He says He does not, but in Revelation 2: 20 He seems to do so.

Q&A question: Slaves or Friends of Christ?

1 Corinthians 7 1 Corinthians 7 marriage prayer

Does Refusal of Sex Justify Divorce?: Does 1 Corinthians 7 really mean we can never say no to sex except for a season of fasting and prayer? My pastor told my husband that if I deny him for too long then he has biblical grounds for divorce.

Q&A question: Does Refusal of Sex Justify Divorce?

Did Jesus Teach on the Rapture?: A friend doesn’t believe in the Rapture because “Jesus never taught it” and he doesn’t consider Paul (or his writings) to be authoritative. How would you approach something like that?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Teach on the Rapture?

Jesus rapture

Did Jesus ever Make Mistakes at Work?: Do you suppose Jesus was the most skilled carpenter who ever lived? Is it heretical to imagine Him ever making a mistake on the job?

Q&A question: Did Jesus ever Make Mistakes at Work?

Jesus heresy

Defining Inerrancy: How can we biblically define inerrancy? Even the writers of the Chicago Statement seem to hold slightly different views on harmonization (according to Mike Licona).

Q&A question: Defining Inerrancy

Mike Licona

How were Private Events Recorded?: Do you know how biblical authors recorded events, conversations, and moments that transpired despite being in private or in a one-man scenario, perhaps like Judas' death?

Q&A question: How were Private Events Recorded?

Judas

Daniel Jesus prayer Daniel

Why Pray for Others?: If Jesus is our final intercessor, why should we intercede for or pray over other believers' needs? Is this related to the spiritual realm and prayer delays, like in Daniel 10: 12-14?

Q&A question: Why Pray for Others?

1 Timothy 2:12 women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism

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?

Is Salvation Sometimes Unfair?: One of my biggest issues is that you NEED to believe in Jesus to be saved. If someone is born in a Muslim country, they would have to sacrifice way more than the average westerner. How is that fair?

Q&A question: Is Salvation Sometimes Unfair?

Jesus salvation Islam

Historical Jesus & Manuscripts: How can we believe in a historical Jesus if the oldest manuscripts we have are from the second or third century?

Q&A question: Historical Jesus & Manuscripts

Jesus

Did God Create Cancer?: If God created everything, why did He create cancer? As a Christian mother, I still struggle with these sorts of questions.

Q&A question: Did God Create Cancer?

suffering

Does Trusting First Invalidate our Faith?: If you have to believe first in order to experience the reality of Christianity, if the "proof" only comes alive when one chooses to trust it, isn't that "truth" make-believe?

Q&A question: Does Trusting First Invalidate our Faith?

Jesus salvation homosexuality

Unrepentant Heart – Still Saved by Faith?: If I believe in my heart that Jesus rose from the dead and trust in Him alone for salvation, why would God then send me to Hell for being actively gay? Am I not saved by my faith instead of my works?

Q&A question: Unrepentant Heart – Still Saved by Faith?