Search — Theology Explorer

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 Timothy Paul the Apostle law of Christ

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 -- Paul becomes as a Jew to win Jews, as under the law to win those under the law, as without law to win those without law. Timothy's circumcision fits this pattern.

Cross-reference to 1 Corinthians 9 to explain Timothy's circumcision

Timothy Jewish identity fulfillment theology

Timothy was not circumcised because he was Jewish -- he was circumcised for ministry effectiveness. This distinction is critical: it is fulfillment theology, not law-keeping.

Clarification on Timothy's circumcision motivation

Torah observance Jewish believers fulfillment theology

Summary: Gentiles who get saved in Acts never receive Torah instructions; Jews are never asked to stop. Both groups are united by Jesus, not by the law.

Summary of Acts survey to this point

Acts 18:13 Paul the Apostle Law of Moses fulfillment theology

Acts 18:13 -- Paul accused of persuading men to worship God contrary to the law. Again just an accusation, paralleling the pattern with Jesus: fulfillment misread as abolishment.

Survey of Acts 18:13

Acts 21:23-24 Nazirite vow Paul the Apostle Law of Moses

Acts 21:23-24 -- Paul is asked to join four men under a vow and pay their expenses, demonstrating publicly that he walks orderly and keeps the law -- to refute the false rumor

Survey of Acts 21:23-24, Paul and the vow

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

Acts 28:17 Paul the Apostle fulfillment theology Acts 28:17

Acts 28:17 -- Paul says he has done nothing against the customs of our fathers. Again consistent with fulfillment theology.

Survey of Acts 28:17

Acts (book) Torah observance Law of Moses Acts (book)

Final summary of Acts survey: (1) prior law observers continued; (2) non-law observers continued not following it; (3) obedience to law is not required for salvation OR sanctification; (4) the question is what fulfillment means, not abolishment

Concluding summary of the entire Acts survey

Law of Moses Ten Commandments law of Christ

Q&A: the Ten Commandments are not selectively binding because they are in the Ten Commandments -- believers are not under the law, but follow the heart of God as fulfilled in Christ

Q&A on Ten Commandments and Sabbath

Matthew 5 Acts circumcision Matthew 5 Acts

Summary of the four-part Hebrew Roots series: Parts 1–3 recap

Series overview for new viewers

1 Corinthians 9:20-21 Law of Moses law of Christ fulfillment theology

Paul's two caveats in 1 Cor 9:20-21: not under the Law of Moses, but also not lawless — under the law of Christ

Distinguishing freedom from the law vs. antinomianism

Galatians 4:21 circumcision Law of Moses fulfillment theology

Galatians 4:21 — "you who want to be under the law" addresses those seeking circumcision and Mosaic obedience

Surveying Pauline uses — seventh instance

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

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-30

Paul's application of the theology confirms the universal-extent, limited-application reading: the missions mandate

How Paul applies his theology tells us what his real theology is; his application is the missions mandate.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 evangelism limited atonement 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-30

Q&A: How to respond to someone who believes all religions are true (omnism) — expose internal contradictions, reconstruct their actual theology

Viewer Q&A: how to engage someone who holds that all religions are equally true.

Islam apologetics Christianity

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Guest introduction: Dr. Mike Licona, historical Jesus scholar with PhD from University of Pretoria

Guest credentials and background

Lee Strobel Mike Licona University of Pretoria

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Paul quotes Psalm 16:10 in Acts 13, arguing Jesus's body did not decay — therefore the resurrection was physical and bodily, not merely visionary

Paul's bodily resurrection theology inferred from Acts 13

Acts 13 Psalm 16:10 David Paul resurrection

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Paul's resurrection theology reconstructed from 1 Corinthians 15: Christ is firstfruits; believers will be raised at Christ's coming in the same manner

Paul's own teaching on the nature of resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:20 1 Corinthians 15:23 Paul resurrection bodily resurrection

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Warning against seeking comfort in progressive or unorthodox theology as a false catharsis; such teachers typically demonize biblical Christianity to wedge in their reinterpretations.

Q&A response about walking with a friend questioning traditional beliefs, specifically mentioning Greg Boyd.

biblical authority apologetics discernment

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Cessationism is more common in Reformed theology but not universal; John Piper and Paul Washer are examples of Reformed non-cessationists.

Q&A response on whether cessationism is tied to Reformed or dispensationalist theology.

John Piper John Piper cessationism continuationism

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-24

Application of atonement through faith is not a "secondary act of atonement"

Mike responds to the Calvinist rhetorical slogan that non-Calvinism requires a second atonement act.

atonement Calvinism unlimited atonement

Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

Ezekiel 18:31 — God urges Israel to make new hearts and turn from wickedness

Mike cites a second Ezekiel passage reinforcing God's gracious invitation in the face of wrath.

Ezekiel 18:31 repentance God's wrath divine mercy

Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

Q&A: Did Jesus perform miracles as God or purely as a human in right relationship with God?

Viewer raises a Christological claim used to support charismatic miracle theology.

Bill Johnson miracles Christology

Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

Q&A: Why doesn't the death penalty for homosexuality apply today? — Old Testament law and Christ

Viewer asks why the Old Testament death penalty for various sins does not apply under the new covenant.

new covenant progressive revelation the cross

Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Q&A: Is it wrong to wear a cross necklace? No, unless it becomes an idol or icon for protection

A viewer asks whether wearing a cross necklace is sinful. Winger says no in principle, but warns against specific misuses.

atonement Islam idolatry

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Part 3: The circumcision-baptism parallel argument for infant baptism introduced

Winger introduces the strongest paedo-baptist argument: baptism parallels circumcision as a covenant sign.

baptism covenant circumcision

Mike Winger idea 2020-01-29

Michael Heiser's divine council work is valuable but Winger has reservations about core claims

Q&A: brief evaluation of Michael Heiser's scholarship

Michael Heiser Old Testament theology divine council

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

When at a liberal university with false Bible teaching, prepare to refute — don't fight every battle prematurely

Question from Nathaniel at a liberal Christian university where Scripture and the gospel are consistently undermined.

discernment wisdom Christian education

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Catholic claim that marriage outside the Church is invalid is wrong — it is not sacramental but is still a real marriage; the Catholic doctrine of 7 sacraments is historically late

Question from Lindsey whose husband's Catholic family claims they are not really married because they were not married by the Catholic Church.

Roman Catholicism church history marriage

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

1 John 5:16-17: sin leading to death likely refers to physical death, not Catholic mortal/venial sin distinction

Q from Sarah Nordberg about the meaning of sin leading to death vs. sin not leading to death in 1 John 5:16-17.

1 John 5:16-17 atonement repentance mortal sin

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Communion/eucharist: real and important but not transubstantiation; early church writings are secondary to Scripture; John 6 is not about communion

Q from Chris Middleton about Mike's views on communion/eucharist and how much weight early church writings should carry.

John 6 Council of Trent doctrinal development communion

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

God's "regret" in Genesis 6 and 1 Samuel 15 is addressed in Mike's dedicated video; open theism is a problematic response to this

Q from Floatydoc about how God, who knows all things, can make decisions he later regrets (Gen 6; 1 Sam 15).

Genesis 6 1 Samuel 15 Genesis 6 1 Samuel 15 divine repentance

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Christians can serve God faithfully under any form of government; government structure is a secondary issue

Part of the discussion on socialism vs. biblical justice.

sin nature government political theology

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

The Enneagram lacks true ancient origins and was developed by a modern mystic with dangerous theology

Response to Katrina asking about the Enneagram and its origins (desert fathers vs. Catholic origins).

discernment Enneagram mysticism

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Timing argument: blessings purchased at the cross are not all present realities — healing is partially now, fully later

Disagreement with hyper-charismatic "claim healing now" theology, despite agreeing healing is in the atonement.

healing eschatology Holy Spirit

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

How to start reading the Bible — begin with the Gospels, Acts, Romans, Hebrews; not Genesis-to-Revelation in order

Question from Dallin Byrd about the best starting point for Bible reading.

Romans Acts Hebrews Romans Acts Hebrews

Lutheran Church progressive Christianity church tradition

Lutheran church: internal struggle between biblical faithfulness and progressive drift

Q&A from Peter Williams about the Lutheran Church, liturgy, and the gospel

theology church tradition liturgy

Liturgy is not inherently a hindrance; the theology beneath it is the critical question

Conclusion on the liturgy question

John 1 John 1 economic Trinity creation through Christ

John 1 — the Logos made all things; parallel to Genesis 1 and Hebrews 1

Cross-reference supporting the creation-through-Son theology

Revelation 2-3 church history Revelation 2-3 seven churches of Revelation

Jesus's letters to the seven churches in Revelation show the visible church often fails to represent Christ

Biblical support for why church failures do not disprove Christianity

Matthew 13 church history visible vs invisible church Parable of the Wheat and Tares

Parable of the Wheat and Tares explains the presence of ungodly people within the visible church

Second biblical resource for answering the bloody-church-history objection

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Advice for young ministers: teach verse-by-verse through whole books rather than purely topical studies

Question from Andrej Pollock about practical advice for a young man called to ministry in a small church

Galatians Galatians preaching methodology verse-by-verse teaching

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Advice for young ministers: root out pride continually — comparing yourself to other ministers is a major red flag

Continued advice for Andrej Pollock on young ministry pitfalls

humility preaching methodology ministerial formation

Philippians 1 Roman Catholicism eisegesis intermediate state

Roman Catholic purgatory interpretation uses Paul as an exception case rather than normative

Addressing the Roman Catholic counter-reading of Philippians 1

eschatology rapture premillennialism

Eschatology overview — premil, amil, postmil positions and the difficulty of unfulfilled prophecy

Question from Mariano Rogers asking which eschatological view is most correct

discernment biblical accuracy The Chosen

The Chosen series — artistic interpretation, not Scripture; worth watching with discernment

Question from Dilly Guy about Mike's view on The Chosen

Galatians 3:23-24 Paul paidagogos covenant theology

Galatians 3:23 — the Law as guardian/nanny: imprisoned under law until Christ

Question from Jesse Jack about Galatians 3:23 and being confined/imprisoned by the law

Bethel Church discernment Bill Johnson

Feel-good phrases like "you are enough" and "Jesus came to bring a piece of heaven to earth" — ambiguous theology

Question from Ben Johnston about a pastor using feel-good slogans

Bethel Church discernment false doctrine

Approaching a pastor using feel-good theology — gracious challenge, define the terms

Practical advice for Ben on speaking to a feel-good theology pastor