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Mike Winger idea 2020-08-21

Are tongues overrated? Yes, in many circles. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:1: tongues without love = noisy gong. 1 Corinthians 14: tongues should be limited in gatherings, require interpretation, and if an unbeliever enters they'll think you're crazy. Paul explicitly says prophecy is BETTER than tongues because it edifies the whole church. Tongues as a status symbol or proof of salvation is completely unbiblical.

Tongues overrated — 1 Corinthians 13-14

1 Corinthians 13:1 1 Corinthians 14 tongues speaking in tongues 1 Corinthians 13:1 speaking in tongues

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

Six reasons why "this mountain" is NOT limited to the temple (contra cessationist interpretation), but is a general truth about prayer: Paul's usage, Matthew/Luke parallels, OT mountain-moving language.

Refuting Jeff Durbin's cessationist interpretation that limits Mark 11 to imprecatory prayer against the temple

1 Corinthians 13:2 Mark 11:24 Mark 13:2 cessationism 1 Corinthians 13:2 cessationism

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

Faith for miracles is different from saving faith — it's initiated by God (a spiritual gift), not fabricated by the believer. Jesus had a responsive ministry to the Father, not initiatory. You respond to what the Spirit reveals.

Theological framework: miracle-faith as God-initiated response, not self-generated belief

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 John 5:19 1 John 5:14 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 John 5:19 1 John 5:14

Mike Winger idea 2021-05-14

Intercessory prayer may be connected to the spiritual gift of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9) — a Spirit-given burden to pray persistently for specific people or situations beyond normal prayer discipline.

Q14: Is intercessory prayer a spiritual gift?

1 Corinthians 12 Persis spiritual gifts prayer

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-25

How to Be Kind when it’s Difficult: What specific actions can one who has no empathy do to be kind? (Thinking 1 Corinthians 13 "kind.")

Q&A question: How to Be Kind when it’s Difficult

1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 13

Mike Winger idea 2021-05-07

Winger admits he doesn't have a fully clear teaching on 1 Cor 11:7 (head coverings) but explains 'woman is the glory of man' as related to creation order: God made Adam from dust, then Eve from Adam. Paul draws a parallel suggesting an interrelationship between man and woman that relates to authority in the relationship.

Q&A: struggling with 1 Corinthians 11:7 — what does 'glory of man' mean?

1 Corinthians 11:7 complementarianism creation order headship

Mike Winger idea 2021-08-27

Defending the Trinity in 1 Cor.: I believe in the Trinity, but there is someone who has used 1 Corinthians 15:28 against the doctrine. Could you please explain this for me?

Q&A question: Defending the Trinity in 1 Cor.

1 Corinthians 15 1 Corinthians 15:28 1 Corinthians 15 1 Corinthians 15:28 Trinity

Mike Winger idea 2021-09-24

About “Unknown”/ Tongues in 1 Cor.: What do you make of the added word “unknown” in 1 Corinthians 14:2-3, which is not in the original Greek? Could it mean that it is not a different sort of tongues, rather, that no one understands them?

Q&A question: About “Unknown”/ Tongues in 1 Cor.

1 Corinthians 14 1 Corinthians 14 tongues

Mike Winger idea 2021-09-24

About the Subordination of the Son: How do you explain the subordination of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:3; 15: 28) to the Father within Trinitarian theology? I explain it via incarnational subordination (Philippians 2:5; Hebrews 29; 5:8).

Q&A question: About the Subordination of the Son

1 Corinthians 11:3 1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 11:3 Trinity Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2021-10-29

How to Increase Our Affection for God: 1 Corinthians 16: 22 implies we can't be saved if we don't love God, as I don't know how you can be saved and cursed at the same time. What advice would you give to someone who lacks affection for God?

Q&A question: How to Increase Our Affection for God

Mike Winger idea 2021-11-12

Taking Communion Unworthily: In 1 Corinthians 11: 30 when Paul says you can get weak, sick, or die if taking the last supper in an unworthy manner, what specific sins are punishable by death?

Q&A question: Taking Communion Unworthily

1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 11 communion

Mike Winger idea 2022-06-03

What are the “Best Spiritual Gifts”?: What do you think Paul is referring to in 1 Corinthians 12: 31 when he says to desire "the best gifts"?

Q&A question: What are the “Best Spiritual Gifts”?

1 Corinthians 12 spiritual gifts 1 Corinthians 12

Mike Winger idea 2022-06-24

Are there Sins we Really Can’t Help Doing?: How can I reconcile 1 Corinthians 10: 13 after decades of struggling with sloth, bad work ethic, sin at work, etc.? I’m praying for forgiveness, but was recently diagnosed with ADHD. I now see I can’t help it without meds.

Q&A question: Are there Sins we Really Can’t Help Doing?

1 Corinthians 10 1 Corinthians 10 forgiveness

Mike Winger idea 2022-10-21

Does This Verse Justify False Teaching?: How should we understand 1 Corinthians 1: 18-2:5,14, 3: 18-19? Ray Comfort quoted this to say Bible stories are supposed to sound dumb! Can't this be quoted to justify any dumb-sounding false teaching?

Q&A question: Does This Verse Justify False Teaching?

1 Corinthians 1 Ray Comfort 1 Corinthians 1

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-02

Biblical Hair Length of Movie Characters?: In Lord of the Rings, would you consider the hair length too long for some characters, such as Aragorn or Legolas? How do I apply 1 Corinthians 11 when designing characters for my own projects?

Q&A question: Biblical Hair Length of Movie Characters?

1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 11

Mike Winger idea 2023-03-03

Biblical Guidelines – Speaking in Tongues: 1 Corinthians 14: 27-28 says that someone should not speak in tongues unless there is an interpreter, but how are they supposed to know if there is an interpreter present?

Q&A question: Biblical Guidelines – Speaking in Tongues

1 Corinthians 14 1 Corinthians 14 tongues

Mike Winger idea 2023-04-07

Forgiveness while Guarding Against Abuse: In 1 Corinthians 13:1, we are told that love "keeps no record of wrongs.” But how do we reconcile this with setting boundaries to protect us from abusive behaviors?

Q&A question: Forgiveness while Guarding Against Abuse

1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 13:1 1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 13:1 forgiveness

Mike Winger idea 2023-05-05

Winger examines multiple translations of 1 Cor 11:16 ('if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom') and admits he can't identify the major translational difference the questioner sees. The core debate is whether 'custom' refers to head coverings or to being contentious.

Q: Why does 1 Cor 11:16 seem to have opposite meanings depending on the translation?

1 Corinthians 11:16 complementarianism head coverings complementarianism

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-23

Winger affirms the Father has authority over the Son but attributes this to the Incarnation (Phil 2:5-8), not necessarily to the eternal nature of the Trinity. He's open to but not convinced by Eternal Functional Subordination (EFS). Explicitly says he does NOT use EFS to defend complementarianism.

Q: Do many scriptures showing different authority levels between Father and Jesus mean the Father has higher authority? (John 14:28, 1 Cor 11:3, Matt 28:18)

1 Corinthians 11:3 Philippians 2:5-8 John 14:28 complementarianism headship Trinity

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 2024-04-26

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

Mike Winger idea 2024-08-30

Nazarite Vows – Why Long Hair?: If long hair for men is a disgrace by nature (1 Corinthians 11: 14), then why is it part of the Nazirite vow in Numbers 6:5?

Q&A question: Nazarite Vows – Why Long Hair?

Numbers 6 1 Corinthians 11 Numbers 6 1 Corinthians 11

Mike Winger idea 2024-09-14

Did Christ Become the HS?: Does 1 Corinthians 15: 45 mean that Christ became the Holy Spirit? I was taught this growing up, but it seems like Modalism to me now. I can’t break from this reading of the verse since I left that group.

Q&A question: Did Christ Become the HS?

1 Corinthians 15 1 Corinthians 15

Mike Winger idea 2024-09-14

Tongues = Vain Repetition?: Would it be fair to consider the way some churches use tongues in opposition to 1 Corinthians 14 as a form of "vain repetition" (Matthew 6:5-8)?

Q&A question: Tongues = Vain Repetition?

1 Corinthians 14 Matthew Matthew 6 1 Corinthians 14 tongues Matthew

Mike Winger idea 2025-05-09

Prophets Today?: Should the Church appoint/recognize official prophets, or is this something similar to apostles (only the original 12 + Paul)? See 1 Corinthians 12: 28, Ephesians 4: 11. Is it an office, a gift, or some mixture of the two?

Q&A question: Prophets Today?

1 Corinthians 12 Ephesians 4 prophecy Apostles 1 Corinthians 12

Mike Winger idea 2025-08-29

Baptism for the Dead?: Does 1 Corinthians 15: 29 give validity to the Mormon practice of getting baptized for the dead?

Q&A question: Baptism for the Dead?

1 Corinthians 15 1 Corinthians 15 baptism Mormonism

Mike Winger idea 2025-10-24

Contradicting Passages?: In the plague after the incident at Peor, 24,000 people died. But, in 1 Corinthians 10:8, Paul says 23,000. How can I hold to inerrancy?

Q&A question: Contradicting Passages?

1 Corinthians 10 1 Corinthians 10