Search — Theology Explorer

Deuteronomy 22 Deuteronomy 22

Proof of Virginity Required?: In Deuteronomy 22: 13-21, why were the women to be stoned to death if they didn’t present proof of virginity? Was it the same for the men?

Q&A question: Proof of Virginity Required?

Keep All but 1 Commandment?: Why do Christians try to keep all 10 commandments except the 4th one? I hope this doesn't sound rude.

Q&A question: Keep All but 1 Commandment?

Rejecting the Message due to Credentials: Any advice for lay people doing public ministry that get attacked by non-believers on the basis of their credentials? I feel I am capable of interpretation and ministry despite never having been to seminary.

Q&A question: Rejecting the Message due to Credentials

Does the Devil Know Our Thoughts?: Can the Devil interpret what a non-believer may be thinking or what's on their mind? Can he understand what a person is thinking?

Q&A question: Does the Devil Know Our Thoughts?

Couldn’t the Bible be More Clear?: Do you honestly think the Bible couldn't have been more clear about important moral issues where the church has been very wrong (treatment of gays, etc.)? What does that say about authorship?

Q&A question: Couldn’t the Bible be More Clear?

homosexuality

Was Jesus Only Condemning the Religious?: I often hear people saying that Jesus was speaking to and condemning the religious only, not speaking to the world. How would you respond to this sentiment?

Q&A question: Was Jesus Only Condemning the Religious?

Jesus

Is God Deterministic?: If Jesus in the Old Testament was intentional by God, does that mean that God is sometimes deterministic? For example, did God orchestrate Joseph’s life?

Q&A question: Is God Deterministic?

Joseph Jesus

How to “Build Up” One Another: What does “building others up” with your words really mean? Does it mean that you should compliment people and just say nice things to them? Does it mean more, or something entirely different?

Q&A question: How to “Build Up” One Another

1 Corinthians 8 1 Corinthians 8

Has the HS Been Left Out?: Why is the Holy Spirit not mentioned in the greetings of Paul, and why He is left out in such statements like 1 Corinthians 8:6?

Q&A question: Has the HS Been Left Out?

Mike Winger idea 2024-01-26

The Granville Sharp’s Rule: How reliable is the Granville Sharp's rule? Is it implemented outside of New Testament writings?

Q&A question: The Granville Sharp’s Rule

Interpreting the Book of Acts: How do we interpret the book of Acts? Is it a reasonable interpretation that it’s merely a transitional period and that we have to be careful how much doctrine we take from it?

Q&A question: Interpreting the Book of Acts

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-09

Where is the 2nd Coming in Scripture?: Where does it say in the Bible that the Messiah will have a second coming? Does Jesus tell His disciples that He won’t be fulfilling all of the Old Testament prophecies just yet?

Q&A question: Where is the 2nd Coming in Scripture?

Jesus second coming prophecy

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-16

Removing Shoes on Holy Ground?: What is the significance of people taking their shoes off in the presence of God in the Old Testament?

Q&A question: Removing Shoes on Holy Ground?

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-16

Overcoming the Pressure of Comparison: How do I stop comparing myself to others? As a college student, I’m surrounded by a highly competitive environment and I find myself comparing my grades and career to others. How do I overcome this?

Q&A question: Overcoming the Pressure of Comparison

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-16

(Just for fun!) BONUS Q: In LOTR Return of the King, it is mentioned that 3 days are needed to gather more forces. Before Aragorn leaves. However, only 1 day seems to pass. How do you reconcile this?

Q&A question

Mike Winger idea 2024-02-23

Strategic Evangelism to Strangers: How do you initiate sharing the Gospel with a stranger? Is it best to be direct (e.g., “Can I share the Gospel with you?”), or would you recommend a more gradual approach?

Q&A question: Strategic Evangelism to Strangers

angels

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 2024-02-23

Living Productively & Overcoming Bad Habits: My apartment is a mess, I wake up late, I eat junk food, I'm too lazy to read the Bible and I feel like I know a lot about God, but I don't feel like His daughter. How can I turn my life around?

Q&A question: Living Productively & Overcoming Bad Habits

Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

Godly Womanhood/Biblical Femininity: How does godly womanhood differ from godly manhood outside of marriage? How do we define biblical femininity, especially for the unmarried woman? Does discipleship look different for women?

Q&A question: Godly Womanhood/Biblical Femininity

marriage

Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

The LXX More Reliable for Typology?: Is the Septuagint more reliable for finding Jesus in the Old Testament? S. Douglas Woodward & others say that messianic passages & timelines in the Masoretic Text were altered in 2nd century to keep Jews from converting to Christianity.

Q&A question: The LXX More Reliable for Typology?

Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2024-03-08

What to Do if Your Pastor is Female: I've watched your Women in Ministry series and come to basically the same conclusions you have. However, I'm part of a church with a female lead pastor. How do I handle this?

Q&A question: What to Do if Your Pastor is Female

women in ministry pastoral ministry

Mike Winger idea 2024-03-15

Marital Relations during Menstruation?: Is it a sin to have marital relations during the menstrual cycle? In Leviticus 18: 19, 24-25, it indicates that this is an abomination. But Leviticus 15: 24 puts it in the category of ritual uncleanness.

Q&A question: Marital Relations during Menstruation?

Mike Winger idea 2024-03-15

Winger defends his call for egalitarians to repent, distinguishing it from Calvinism disagreements because egalitarianism directly harms marriages and church leadership structure. He also calls patriarchalists to repent for teaching women are inherently more easily deceived.

Q&A question from someone who agrees egalitarians should repent but asks if the same applies to Calvinism as a secondary issue.

women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism

Mike Winger idea 2024-04-05

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

Mike Winger idea 2024-04-05

Different Methodologies for Missions: There's a lot of debate in missions right now about methodologies (i.e., church planting movements vs. more slow-paced approaches). How should we think through both sides biblically?

Q&A question: Different Methodologies for Missions

church planting

Mike Winger idea 2024-04-05

Does God still Speak through Dreams?: Does God still communicate through dreams? Is there any New Testament examples of God doing so, apart from Mary and Joseph?

Q&A question: Does God still Speak through Dreams?

Joseph

Mike Winger idea 2024-04-19

God’s Name in Vain: What does it mean to not mention God's name in vain?

Q&A question: God’s Name in Vain

Mike Winger idea 2024-04-19

About OT Quotes in the NT: How should we understand inerrancy for New Testament passages that appear to quote the Old Testament, but no clear reference can be found? (e.g., James 4:5, Matthew 2: 23).

Q&A question: About OT Quotes in the NT

James James 4 Matthew 2 James James 4 Matthew 2

Mike Winger idea 2024-05-17

The Unrighteous Entering the Millennium?: In the Premillennial view, who are the unrighteous (not saved) that enter into the Millennium? During the sheep/goats judgment, it seems like all the goats get sent to their eternity in Hell.

Q&A question: The Unrighteous Entering the Millennium?

millennium hell

Mike Winger idea 2024-05-17

Standing Firm for Christ at Work: My work environment is very vulgar and toxic. It's "easier" for me to blend in and not honor Christ with my language and attitude. How can I have more confidence and not give in?

Q&A question: Standing Firm for Christ at Work

Mike Winger idea 2024-05-24

Winger rejects the 'covering' argument that a senior male pastor can authorize female elders/pastors under his headship. A husband is the head of his wife — an elder is NOT the head of other elders. 1 Timothy 2 says 'I don't allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man,' period — not 'without a male head.'

Q&A: advice for a member of a church with a male lead elder pastoring alongside ordained female elders who often teach on Sundays.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 1 Timothy 2:12 women in ministry complementarianism headship

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

Asking Others for Help When Needed: I have an illness that leaves me physically and mentally fatigued. My wife and I need a lot of help but struggle with asking. How do I ask for help in a way that is God-honoring and not selfish?

Q&A question: Asking Others for Help When Needed

marriage

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

Mike Winger idea 2024-06-21

Political Signups in Church?: Do you think churches should allow political signup ballots for certain bills in the church? I had an older woman come up to me and ask me to sign. For context, it was about gas and electricity.

Q&A question: Political Signups in Church?

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

Commentary Recommendations: What is your go-to commentary?

Q&A question: Commentary Recommendations

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?

Mike Winger idea 2024-07-05

Are All of Paul’s Writings Inspired?: What should we make of Paul saying "I, not the Lord" as if he's just giving his own opinion, while also believing that all Scripture (which includes that statement) is Holy Spirit inspired (1 Corinthians 7)?

Q&A question: Are All of Paul’s Writings Inspired?

1 Corinthians 7 1 Corinthians 7

Does God Make Mistakes?: I often hear the argument, “If God doesn't make mistakes when it comes to gender, then what about people with disabilities?" How would you respond?

Q&A question: Does God Make Mistakes?

Applying PSA on Earth?: If the doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement is just, would it be just for an earthly judge to impute the guilt of a murderer to an innocent volunteer and sentence the volunteer to death instead of the murderer? If not, why?

Q&A question: Applying PSA on Earth?

atonement

The Best Argument for God: What do you think is the best evidence/argument there is for God?

Q&A question: The Best Argument for God

apologetics

Salvation in the OT: How were people saved in the Old Testament before Jesus? And if they were saved without believing in Jesus, then why did it change?

Q&A question: Salvation in the OT

Jesus salvation