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All (16) Mike Winger (16)
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 2018-09-05

Historical fulfillment by Alexander the Great (332 BC): he literally threw the rubble of the mainland city into the sea to build a causeway to the island, fulfilling the 'they' section of the prophecy.

This is the long-term fulfillment — over 200 years after Ezekiel wrote — that even critical scholars concede predates Alexander.

Ezekiel 26 apologetics Bible prophecy Ezekiel 26
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-05

The 'fishermen will cast their nets there' image refers to fishing over the submerged ruins of the city — the city was thrown into the water, so nets were cast on top of it.

Winger addresses a frequently misunderstood phrase in Ezekiel 26.

Ezekiel 26 hermeneutics Bible prophecy Ezekiel 26
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-05

Ra's claim that 'the island was supposed to sink' is not in the text — Ra added that detail to the prophecy; Ezekiel says the city's materials would be cast into the water, not that the island would sink.

Winger identifies a specific case of Ra misrepresenting the Biblical text.

Ezekiel 26 Bible prophecy Ezekiel 26 Aron Ra
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-05

The 'never be rebuilt' clause: Phoenician Tyre was permanently destroyed. What replaced it was a Greek city under Alexander — a new foundation, new population, new identity — not a restoration.

This is the most debated element of the Tyre prophecy; Winger addresses it with historical citations.

Ezekiel 26 apologetics Bible prophecy Ezekiel 26
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-05

The Babylonian Talmud itself treats Zechariah 9:9 as Messianic — debating how to reconcile a glorious coming (Daniel 7) with a humble donkey-riding coming.

Winger uses a Jewish non-Christian source to establish the Messianic reading of Zechariah 9:9.

Zechariah 9:9 Daniel 7 Second Coming apologetics Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2018-12-01

Historical evidence that Herod the Great was extremely paranoid and murderous — he killed three of his own sons and executed hundreds on suspicion alone, making the Massacre of the Innocents entirely consistent with his character

Mike builds a positive case that Herod killing children in Bethlehem is historically plausible

Matthew 2 apologetics historicity Herod the Great
Mike Winger idea 2018-12-01

Refutation: Koine Greek is literally the 'common language' — the word koine means 'common' — it was a simplified lingua franca spread through Alexander the Great's empire, the exact opposite of an elite dialect

Mike corrects the Koine Greek claim with a university linguistics source

apologetics New Testament Koine Greek
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-20

Simon of Cyrene named with his sons Alexander and Rufus as eyewitness sourcing (Mark 15:21)

Another case study in named eyewitness sourcing from the passion narrative.

Mark 15:21 Matthew 27:32 Luke 23:26 eyewitness guarantors named individuals in Gospels passion narrative
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-20

Matthew and Luke drop Alexander and Rufus because their audiences may not know them (or they had died)

Explaining the synoptic variation in Simon of Cyrene accounts.

Mark 15:21 Matthew 27:32 Luke 23:26 named individuals in Gospels legendary name addition theory Mark 15:21
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-08

Ezekiel's prophecy about the destruction of Tyre is a favorite apologetic prophecy, confirmed by non-Jewish and non-Christian historical sources

Response to question about compelling prophecies that might impress atheists

Ezekiel apologetics Ezekiel Tyre
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Prophecy of the destruction of Tyre (Ezekiel 26)

McLatchie presents Ezekiel 26 as a case study in fulfilled non-messianic predictive prophecy.

Ezekiel 26 Ezekiel 26 Nebuchadnezzar Alexander the Great
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Objection and response: the pronoun shift in Ezekiel 26 and Zechariah 9

Addressing the objection that the plural pronoun in Ezekiel 26 still refers only to Nebuchadnezzar.

Ezekiel 26 Zechariah 9 Zechariah 7:1 Ezekiel 26 Alexander the Great prophecy of Tyre
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Socratic approach for witnessing to Mormons about pre-mortal existence: let them make their case first

Responding to Alexander Duncan's question about addressing Mormon belief in pre-mortal existence

Mormonism apologetics pre-mortal existence
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-22

The external evidence (compositional textbooks, Plutarch) is far weaker than claimed. The textbooks never explicitly say "it's acceptable to change historical facts." Plutarch's differences may just be mistakes, not intentional literary devices. Licona admits attributing devices to the Gospels that aren't even found in the textbooks or Plutarch.

Critique of the external evidence for literary devices

Plutarch Mike Licona Mike Licona
Mike Winger idea 2021-07-19

Richard Bauckham's thesis in "Jesus and the Eyewitnesses" is that names appearing in Mark's gospel identify living witnesses known to the community receiving the text. When Mark names Simon of Cyrene "the father of Alexander and Rufus," and Paul greets a "Rufus" in Rome (Rom. 16:13), this likely connects to the same family — confirming these are not invented characters but real people vouching for the account.

Named eyewitnesses in Mark as evidence of historical reliability; Bauckham's thesis

Richard Bauckham Jesus Simon of Cyrene