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All (1129) Mike Winger (1129)
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

The 'dumping' rhetorical tactic: rapid-fire accusations without allowing responses

Mike identifies a debate tactic Aaron Ra uses in the opening of his video — making many rapid accusations before ever reaching substantive arguments

Apologetics methodology Debate tactics Rhetorical dumping
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Aaron Ra's claim: snakes and donkeys cannot talk — Mike's rebuttal

Ra claims the Bible is factually wrong because snakes and donkeys cannot talk, citing Genesis 3 and Numbers 22

Genesis 3 Numbers 22:28 Genesis 3 Numbers 22:28 Serpent in Eden
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Objection: the Bible incorrectly classifies whales as fish (Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40)

Ra claims the Bible is scientifically wrong for calling the creature that swallowed Jonah a fish when whales are not fish

Jonah 1:17 Matthew 12:40 Jonah 1:17 Matthew 12:40 Biblical Hebrew - dag
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Objection: bats are classified as birds in Leviticus 11 — Mike's rebuttal using Hebrew 'oph'

Ra claims the Bible incorrectly puts bats in the same category as birds in Leviticus 11

Leviticus 11 Taxonomy anachronism Bible and science Translation issues
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Translation limitations: English lacks words that exist in Hebrew/Greek (e.g., 'hand/wrist/arm')

In explaining the taxonomy issue, Mike illustrates how original-language words sometimes have no single English equivalent

Translation issues Biblical languages Semantic range
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Leviticus purification rituals were quarantine protocols, not magic healing spells

Ra claims the Bible teaches that ritual spells can purify and cure illness, when diseases are actually caused by pathogens

Leviticus 14 Leviticus 14 Purification rituals Quarantine laws
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Mosaic sanitation laws anticipated modern hygiene knowledge (fecal disposal, contamination)

Continuing the response to Ra's charge that rituals don't cure illness

Deuteronomy 23:12-13 Bible and science Mosaic law Bible and medicine
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Genesis 30 striped sticks — the Bible doesn't claim the sticks caused the spotted offspring

Ra claims the Bible teaches that looking at striped sticks will cause a cow to conceive spotted calves, proving biblical scientific ignorance

Genesis 30:38-40 Genesis 31:1 Miracles Misrepresentation of Scripture Genesis 30:38-40
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Aaron Ra's bold claim: 'Everything the Bible says about any field of science is laughably wrong'

Ra makes a sweeping claim that nothing in the Bible is scientifically accurate

Genesis 1 Job - water cycle Hebrews 11 Genesis 1 Bible and science Job - water cycle
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Isaiah 53: modern claim that it refers to Israel, not Messiah, is historically novel

Ra claims Isaiah 53 (the Suffering Servant) is about Israel personified, not Jesus, and that Jews have always understood it this way

Isaiah 53 Origen Messianic prophecy Isaiah 53
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Rabbinic Judaism is not biblical Judaism — it postdates Christianity and is a response to Messiah's coming

Ra implies that because modern Jews don't accept Jesus, Christians are misappropriating the Hebrew Bible

Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 Rabbinic Judaism Biblical Judaism
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Aaron Ra's list of unmet messianic prophecies — Jesus was not Jewish? He was not of tribe of Judah?

Ra presents a list of six messianic prophecies he claims Jesus failed to fulfill

Matthew genealogy Luke genealogy Messianic prophecy Genealogy of Jesus Matthew genealogy
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Messianic prophecy: Messiah must 'come to the temple,' not rebuild it — Malachi 3:1

Ra claims Messiah must rebuild the Jewish Temple and Jesus did not

Daniel 9 Malachi 3:1 Daniel 9 Messianic prophecy Malachi 3:1
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Jesus has influenced the entire world to worship the God of Israel — messianic prophecy fulfilled

Ra's list includes: Messiah must influence the entire world to acknowledge and serve one God

Messianic prophecy Universal worship of God Mission to the Gentiles
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Isaiah 53:5 — 'crushed for our iniquities': what does 'crushed' mean in context?

Ra claims Jesus was never 'crushed' as described in Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53:5 Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:5 Substitutionary atonement
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Isaiah 52:15 — kings shutting their mouths: shocked silence at the Messiah's work

Ra claims kings were never 'shut up' by Jesus, fulfilling Isaiah 52:15

Isaiah 52:15 Isaiah 52:15 Kings shutting mouths Sprinkling many nations
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Isaiah 53 'seed/offspring': Ra's internal contradiction — he can't use Israel as both subject and the seed

Ra claims Jesus had no descendants ('seed') as required, and that 'seed' in Isaiah refers to physical offspring of Israel, not Jesus's followers

Isaiah 53 - seed/offspring Suffering Servant Isaiah 53 - seed/offspring New birth / born again
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Isaiah 53:4 — people thought he was stricken by God, but he was actually suffering for others

Ra claims the passage says God struck Jesus, but that Jesus was never actually struck by God

Isaiah 53:4-5 Suffering Servant Substitutionary atonement Isaiah 53:4-5
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Isaiah 53:10-11 — 'prolonging his days' is a resurrection prophecy, not a failed prediction

Ra claims Jesus's days were never prolonged as Isaiah 53 predicts

Isaiah 53:10-11 Isaiah 53:9 Messianic prophecy Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:10-11
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Jesus dividing spoils: the co-heir theology of the New Testament

Ra claims Jesus never divided spoils with peers as Isaiah 53 requires

Isaiah 53 - dividing spoils Romans 8:17 Isaiah 53 - dividing spoils Co-heirs with Christ Romans 8:17
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Psalm 22: David was not a prophet? Mike rebuts and notes Psalm 22 clearly speaks of future events

Ra argues Psalm 22 is not messianic because (1) David was not a prophet, (2) the Psalms are in the 'writings' section not the 'prophets,' and (3) David never experienced anything like what's described

Psalm 22 Messianic prophecy Psalm 22 David as prophet
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Rashi and ancient rabbinic Midrash confirm Psalm 22 was understood as messianic

Were there any ancient Jewish authorities who read Psalm 22 as messianic?

Psalm 22:27 Messianic prophecy Universal worship of God Psalm 22:27
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Psalm 22's 'dogs' and 'bulls of Bashan' are metaphors for human enemies, not literal animals

Ra argues Psalm 22 depicts David being chased by literal dogs, making it inapplicable to Jesus

Psalm 22:16 Typology Psalm 22:16 Dogs of Psalm 22 - metaphor
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Psalm 22 describes crucifixion hundreds of years before it was invented

Continuing analysis of Psalm 22 as a crucifixion prophecy

Psalm 22 Messianic prophecy Psalm 22 Crucifixion prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Psalm 22:16 textual debate: 'like a lion' vs. 'they pierced' — three sources support 'pierced'

Ra claims 'they pierced my hands and feet' in Psalm 22:16 is a mistranslation — the correct Hebrew is 'like a lion they were at my hands and feet'

Psalm 22:16 Septuagint Psalm 22:16 Crucifixion prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Summary and closing: Aaron Ra's video is full of factual errors; encourage fact-checking

Mike wraps up Part 1 of his response (Part 2 planned for the following week)

Aaron Ra Apologetics methodology Critical thinking
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Q&A: What is the atheist's best argument against the God of the Bible?

Question from a viewer: what is the most effective atheist argument?

Apologetics Problem of evil Atheist arguments
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Q&A: Matthew 26:23 vs. John 13:26 — apparent contradiction at the Last Supper

Viewer question about differences between Matthew 26:23 and John 13:26 in identifying the betrayer

Matthew 26:23 John 13:26 Matthew 26:23 John 13:26 Last Supper
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Logos Bible Software recommendation for deep word studies

Viewer asks about Mike's Bible software

Logos Bible Software Accordance Bible Software Bible study tools
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Q&A: How do you persuade someone who refuses to engage with prophecy evidence?

Viewer asks how to get through to someone who won't listen to fulfilled prophecy arguments

Apologetics methodology Evangelism Holy Spirit's role in conversion
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Hosea 11:1 used in Matthew 2:15 — typological fulfillment vs. direct prophecy

Viewer question: how can Hosea 11:1 ('out of Egypt I called my son') be messianic when it is clearly about Israel in context?

Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:15 Typology Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:15
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Ancient rabbinical tradition: entire Old Testament is about the Messiah

Continuing discussion of Matthew's typological use of Hosea

Jesus in the Old Testament Ancient rabbinical interpretation Typology
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Q&A: Can an atheist legitimately argue about a God they don't believe exists?

Viewer question: isn't it a contradiction for an atheist to argue about God using a Bible they don't believe?

Atheist arguments Moral argument for God Logical consistency
Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Q&A: Minimum requirements for a prophecy to count as fulfilled

Viewer asks what minimum criteria a prophecy must meet to be considered fulfilled, referencing Aaron Ra's outro

Apologetics methodology Criteria for fulfilled prophecy Biblical prophecy standards
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Introduction: purpose of responding to popular skeptical attacks on the Bible

Mike introduces the article 'Six and a Half Reasons Why the Bible Is Not Divinely Inspired' from the Friendly Atheist website (Patheos), which had over 15,000 shares.

apologetics biblical inspiration online skepticism
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Clarification: the Bible claims inspiration, not dictation

The article under review assumes God 'wrote' the Bible. Mike corrects this mischaracterization before engaging the specific arguments.

biblical inspiration dictation theory verbal plenary inspiration
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Reason 1 refuted: Bible organization is not a valid test for inspiration

The skeptic argues the Bible is a 'hopeless mess' that is not well organized and should be arranged by topic (creation, relationships, parenting, prayer, etc.).

Song of Solomon Psalms Proverbs Sermon on the Mount biblical organization anachronism
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Reason 2 refuted: The Bible contains extensive practical advice; specificity is about utility, not inspiration

The skeptic argues the Bible does not give specific enough practical advice — for instance, a chapter organized by killing scenarios (war, self-defense, execution).

Proverbs marriage apologetics Proverbs
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Reason 3 refuted: The '41,000 interpretations' claim is a sourcing error; difficulty of some passages ≠ general cryptic nature

The skeptic claims the Bible is cryptic and subject to 41,000 different interpretations, citing a Wikipedia article.

inspiration tests 41000 denominations Christian denominations
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Reason 4 refuted: The psychological power of contradiction lists outweighs their actual evidential force; contradictions would not disprove inspiration anyway

The skeptic links to the Skeptic's Annotated Bible list of hundreds of alleged biblical contradictions.

James 2 James 2 inspiration tests biblical contradictions
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Reason 5 affirmed and answered: Fulfilled prophecy is the correct test for biblical inspiration, and the Bible passes it

The skeptic argues that an inspired Bible would contain specific, verifiable prophecies — but calls biblical prophecies 'feeble in the extreme.'

Ezekiel Matthew 24 fulfilled prophecy Ezekiel Matthew 24
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Reason 6 addressed: Scientific foreknowledge in the Bible — prophecy is superior to scientific insight as apologetic evidence

The skeptic argues an inspired Bible would contain scientific knowledge humans couldn't have had (e.g., quantum mechanics, germ theory). Mike largely treats this as a restatement of Reason 5.

Genesis 1 Hebrews 11:3 Genesis 1 inspiration tests scientific foreknowledge
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

The 'God only acts in the Middle East' meme refuted as incoherent special pleading

Between numbered reasons, the article inserts a meme claiming all of God's actions in the Bible occur in a tiny geographic circle around the Middle East, ignoring Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

geographic objection special pleading meme apologetics
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Reason 7 (the 'half reason') addressed: The Bible does contain beautiful poetry; the Judges 19 example is a misrepresentation

The skeptic argues the Bible lacks beautiful, heart-rending poetry and cites Judges 19 (the Levite's concubine) as a counterexample of ugliness.

Genesis 1 Isaiah 53 Song of Solomon Genesis 1 Isaiah 53 Song of Solomon
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Summary conclusion: Five reasons are false and irrelevant to inspiration; two are legitimate tests the Bible passes

Mike wraps up the main article before taking Q&A.

fulfilled prophecy biblical inspiration inspiration tests
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Q&A: Satan's final judgment — is Satan already in the lake of fire because of the cross?

Viewer question: Did Christ's victory at the cross cast Satan into the lake of fire? Is Satan now just a puppet?

Revelation eschatology Revelation preterism
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Q&A: 1 Corinthians 7:12 — is Paul's 'I, not the Lord' statement inspired Scripture?

Viewer question: Should we consider 1 Corinthians 7:12 inspired since Paul explicitly says it is his opinion, not the Lord's?

1 Corinthians 7 1 Corinthians 7 marriage apostolic authority
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Q&A: Why study the Bible if God writes his word on our hearts?

Viewer question citing the New Covenant promise (Jeremiah 31 / Hebrews 8): if God writes his word on our hearts, why do we need the Bible?

Jeremiah 31 Hebrews 8 Hebrews 4:12 Holy Spirit Jeremiah 31 Hebrews 8
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Q&A: Are there essential Christian beliefs that are genuinely hard to understand for non-scholars?

Viewer question about whether ordinary Christians can understand the Bible's core doctrines without academic credentials.

hermeneutics Trinity biblical clarity
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Q&A: Matthew 2:23 — which prophet foretold Jesus would be called a Nazarene?

Viewer question about a fulfilled prophecy citation in Matthew that has no clear Old Testament source.

Isaiah Matthew 2:23 fulfilled prophecy Isaiah Matthew 2:23