Search — Theology Explorer

Calvinism R.C. Sproul TULIP

Introduction to TULIP as a summary of Calvinist theology

Mike opens the Q&A by addressing a Facebook question from Paul Rem about the five points of Calvinism.

Calvinism Sola Scriptura Reformed Theology

Mike affirms the Five Solas but says they do not make him a Calvinist

Mike clarifies his relationship to Reformed theology before walking through TULIP.

Proverbs Genesis 24 Proverbs Marriage The One

God as matchmaker — Mike rejects "the one" theology applied universally

Q from Haruhi Anderson about the doctrine that God has one divinely chosen spouse for every Christian.

Oneness Pentecostalism Marriage Trinitarianism

Trinitarian-Oneness Christian marriage — Mike counsels against it

Q from Ash Cash about whether a Trinitarian Christian should marry a Oneness Pentecostal.

Isaiah 53 Isaiah 52 Isaiah 53 Hermeneutics Isaiah 52

How to construct a biblical theology — start with contextual reading plus the doctrine of inspiration

Q from Nick (Quint/Quiet) about building a biblical theological method.

Judges Judges Just War Pacifism

Just War theory — Mike affirms it; pacifism in all scenarios is evil

Q from Dan Dan about whether an Armenian Christian can go to war in defense against genocide.

John 1:1 Trinity Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation

Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation renders John 1:1c as "a god" rather than "God"

Mike opens the episode by addressing the JW translation of John 1:1 before taking live questions.

John 1:1 Trinity Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation

JW theology denies the Trinity and the deity of Christ; NWT is their translation tool to support this denial

Mike explains the theological motivation behind the JW translation of John 1:1.

John 1:1 John 1:18 Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation Deity of Christ

John 1:18 further exposes JW inconsistency — theos without article used twice but not rendered "a god"

Mike shows a second example from John 1 that undermines the JW argument.

Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation Bible translation

NWT translators' identities were kept secret; a former JW leader revealed they were not qualified

Mike addresses the credibility problem with the NWT's translation committee.

Jehovah's Witnesses New World Translation spiritual abuse

JWs are victims of their organization's false teaching, not perpetrators

Mike closes the JW section with a pastoral appeal.

Jeremiah 31 Matthew 5:17 Galatians 3 Jeremiah 31 New Covenant fulfillment of the law

The Old Covenant is "eternal" in the sense that Christ fulfilled it — fulfillment, not destruction, transitions to the New Covenant

Question from Jason and Alana about how the Old Covenant can be everlasting yet superseded.

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Oneness Pentecostalism: critique of modalism and concern about authoritarian/bully theology

Question from Stephen Serrano about Oneness Pentecostalism.

Trinity heresy Oneness Pentecostalism

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Three arguments against drunk-in-the-spirit theology: self-control is a fruit of the Spirit; accusers were unsaved; Scripture describes the gifts

Mike's comprehensive rebuttal of drunk-in-spirit theology.

Acts 2 Galatians 5:23 Acts 2 self-control charismatic gifts

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Genesis 1-11 allegorical interpretation does not necessarily violate John 5:44-47 or deny salvation

Responding to a question from Cat Chat about whether allegorical reading of Genesis 1-11 equals rejection of Christ per John 5

John 5:44-47 Genesis 1-11 salvation John 5:44-47 Genesis 1-11

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 do speak about Satan, contra the scholarly majority

Responding to a question from Nathanael H about whether these passages reference Satan

Isaiah 14 Ezekiel 28 biblical theology Satan Isaiah 14

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

All believers are indwelt by the Spirit at salvation, but degrees of Spirit-filling differ among believers

Responding to a question from Sarah P about whether salvation and Spirit baptism are the same event

Acts 6 Acts 2 John 20 Acts 6 Acts 2 Holy Spirit

Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

LDS Book of Abraham — Joseph Smith's evolving theology from monotheism toward polytheism

A viewer asks about doing a verse-by-verse study on the LDS Book of Abraham.

Mormonism Joseph Smith Book of Abraham

1 John 5:16-17 hermeneutics eisegesis salvation

Sin leading to death in 1 John 5:16-17 — interpretation depends on prior theology

Question about whether 1 John 5:16-17 implies one can lose salvation.

Romans 5:12 Romans 8:20-22 young earth creationism Fall of Man Romans 5:12

Death before the Fall: Romans 5 and 8 address human death, not animal death

Question about whether macro-evolution is consistent with Scripture given death entered through sin.

2 Peter 2:5-6 Sodom and Gomorrah hell annihilationism

2 Peter 2:5-6 does not settle the annihilationism debate

Question about whether 2 Peter 2:6 implies annihilation on final judgment day.

Matthew biblical theology Matthew kingdom of God

Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are synonyms in the Gospels

Question about whether the two phrases refer to different things.

Romans 10:1-4 John 5:46 Moses soteriology Messiah

Dual covenant theology is unbiblical; Jewish people need Jesus — Romans 10:1-4 and John 5:46

Final question about whether Jews can be saved without believing in Jesus through a special covenant.

1 Corinthians 7:14 semantic range marriage sanctification

"Sanctified" in 1 Corinthians 7:14 does not mean saved; it describes the practical, behavioral influence a believing spouse has on an unbelieving one and on the children.

Meaning of "sanctification" in 1 Corinthians 7:14

Hebrew Roots Movement Gentiles covenant theology

Jewish feasts were commanded for Jews in Israel, not universally for all people; Gentiles were never given the Mosaic law and are not obligated to keep the feasts.

Question: why don't Christians celebrate Jewish holidays?

cessationism Holy Spirit tongues

Mike identifies as charismatic (gifts active today, cessationism rejected) but not hyper-charismatic; he opposes fabricating gifts and "Acts 2.0" theology.

Question clarifying what Mike means by calling himself charismatic

1 Corinthians 12 tongues charismatic theology gifts of the Spirit

Using frequency of tongues-speaking as a spiritual credential is spiritually abusive; Mike refuses to disclose personal charismatic experiences in that context.

Spiritual abuse in hyper-charismatic circles around tongues-speaking

Bill Johnson Discernment / Heresy Worship Music and Discernment

Bethel's primary export is false revival — fake gifts, prophecy, healings — mixed with genuine-sounding worship music that ranges from theologically neutral to theologically dangerous.

Mike's own view on Bethel, offered after establishing the meat-in-marketplace frame.

Romans 9-11 Shmuley Boteach Anti-Semitism and the New Testament Romans 9-11

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's claim that the NT contains anti-Semitic propaganda and forged passages is theologically foolish — it substitutes his personal agenda for textual criticism and makes him the effective authority over Scripture.

Q: What do you think of Shmuley Boteach's claim that the NT has anti-Semitic propaganda Christians should reject as forgeries?

Acts of the Apostles Romans 9-11 Romans 1:16 — Jew First Acts of the Apostles Romans 9-11 Jewish Salvation / Two-Covenant Theology

The NT is pro-Jewish rather than anti-Semitic: Romans 9-11 teaches the future salvation of all Israel, the gospel goes to the Jew first, and Jesus and all the original apostles are Jewish.

Counter-argument to the anti-Semitism charge against the NT.

Romans 10:1-4 Galatians — Law as Condemner Paul Romans 10:1-4 Jewish Salvation / Two-Covenant Theology

Romans 10:1-4 refutes the idea that Jews can be saved apart from Jesus: Paul's heart's desire is that his Jewish kinsmen be saved — meaning they currently are not — despite their genuine zeal for God.

Q: How do I respond to family who believe Jews will go to heaven even if not saved by Jesus?

Romans 1:16 — Jew First Galatians — Law as Condemner Jewish Salvation / Two-Covenant Theology Romans 1:16 — Jew First Galatians — Law as Condemner

Everything possible is theologically wrong with two-covenant theology (Jews saved by law, gentiles by Christ) — it is unloving to Jewish people because it withholds their own Savior from them.

Summary judgment on two-covenant soteriology.

Justin Martyr Polycarp Church Fathers

Church fathers have historical value — especially the earliest second-century writers — but should not be granted extra theological authority; they are windows into early church history, not infallible teachers.

Q: How much utility should we find in the church fathers? Should we view them with extra credibility?

Church Fathers Christus Victor Gustaf Aulén

Christus Victor is a beautiful and biblical doctrine, but Aulén's treatment is total anachronism that butchers both Christus Victor and penal substitutionary atonement by falsely presenting them as competing alternatives.

Final comment on the Christus Victor / PSA debate, wrapping up question 20.

Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes 9:5 hermeneutics atheism biblical interpretation

Ecclesiastes as internal critique of atheist/godless worldview, not normative theology

Explaining why Ecclesiastes 9:5 ("the dead know nothing") does not define the dead's actual state

exclusivity of Christ New Age positive thinking

Blanket positivity thinking leads to rejection of God's judgment and Jesus' exclusivity

Continuing Q10 on positivity as moral category

hermeneutics eschatology epistemology

Q12: Fear of studying theology — not studying is not safer; intellectual humility in study

Response to viewer afraid of making mistakes when studying eschatology

epistemology theological error intellectual humility

Calibrated theological humility: hold beliefs with appropriate confidence, expect some error, keep learning

Continuing Q14 on following heart vs. conscience vs. Scripture

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

The canonicity of Jude is not threatened by its quotation of extra-biblical sources like Enoch and the Testament of Moses

Question from Trumdial about whether Jude's citations of Enoch and Testament of Moses indicate it is a Gnostic forgery

Jude Gnosticism canon Jude

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Mike's view of sin nature: we are not guilty at birth, but our nature is bent toward temptation — distinct from Augustine's inherited guilt

Brief clarification on sin nature theology within the Hebrews 2:17 discussion

original sin infant salvation sin nature

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Hillsong assessed as a mixed-bag ministry — not progressive, but tilted toward intense positivity over theological substance

Question from Christian Galindo about whether Hillsong is a progressive church with sound theology.

Bethel Church Hillsong Brian Houston

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

The temple's empty space at the center of worship is the model for where all prayer and worship must be directed — God alone, with no mediating object

Continued answer on icons/images, drawing on the temple design.

1 Timothy 2:5 1 Timothy 2:5 Temple theology Ark of the Covenant

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

The King Follett Sermon reveals Joseph Smith's radically unbiblical theology — God was once a man, humans become gods

Supporting evidence in the Mormonism discussion.

Mormonism Joseph Smith King Follett Discourse

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Advice for online youth pastor: engage real youth in person; use apologetics and comparative theology to reach skeptical students

Final question from Dragon Fist 900, a biblical studies major pursuing online youth ministry.

youth ministry evangelism apologetics

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike declines to comment on Coptic/Oriental Orthodox theology due to insufficient knowledge, but raises concerns about Eastern Orthodox extra-biblical tradition and recounts a personal experience of a woman who left his church for an Eastern Orthodox group and could no longer articulate the gospel.

Response to viewer question about Coptic/Oriental Orthodox theology

Eastern Orthodoxy gospel Sola Scriptura

Exodus 4:24 Moses Exodus 4:24 Circumcision

Background to Exodus 4:24 — circumcision as covenant sign and Moses's failure to circumcise his son.

Question from Dave Baran about why God sought to kill Moses in Exodus 4:24 and what Zipporah meant by "bloody husband."

James 2 James 2 Christian essentials Salvation theology

Who is a brother or sister in Christ? Core doctrines required: the identity and saving work of Jesus — his real existence, death, resurrection, and forgiveness of sins through faith.

Question from Rosie A. about the minimum beliefs required to consider someone a fellow Christian.

Genesis Romans 5 Genesis Romans 5 Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve as historical people: consistency as a Christian requires affirming their historicity, but salvation does not depend on this doctrine.

Question from Loretta Taylor about whether Christian faith requires Adam and Eve to be literal historical people.