Search — Theology Explorer

adam Gen 1:26-28 mankind terminology

Genesis 1:26-28 read and analyzed: the Hebrew word 'adam' refers to mankind (male and female), not just the male.

Genesis 1 analysis -- the creation passage

Discovering Biblical Equality Gen 1:28 Mary Conway

Mary Conway's argument that all plural imperative verbs in Genesis 1:28 include both man and woman with no restriction on any activity, including dominion.

Egalitarian argument from Genesis 1

Philip Payne adam Gen 5:2

Payne correctly refutes a bad complementarian argument that God naming the human race 'man' (adam) in Genesis 5:2 implies male leadership.

Payne identifies a weak complementarian argument

creation order Tom Schreiner Gen 2:7

Schreiner's point 1: God created Adam first, then Eve, significantly later -- this implies leadership through primogeniture.

Complementarian argument #1: creation order

adam Phyllis Trible Gen 2:22-23

Mike's refutation of Trible: 'adam' is never used as 'earth creature' in Hebrew; in Genesis 2 it always refers to a male; and Genesis 2:23 ('ish') proves Adam was already male.

Refuting Trible's sexually undifferentiated adam theory

creation order Gen 2 primogeniture

Primogeniture in Hebrew culture: the firstborn had greater authority; older people had more leadership -- this cultural context is key to reading Genesis 2.

Cultural background for Schreiner's creation order argument

creation order Gen 2 Gen 1

Egalitarian pushback: animals were made before Adam in Genesis 1, so creation order doesn't imply authority -- Mike's response: Genesis 1 and 2 are separate accounts, and primogeniture only applies among humans.

Egalitarian counter-argument to primogeniture

Tom Schreiner ezer kenegdo

Schreiner's point 3: Eve called Adam's 'ezer' (helper) -- complementarians argue this implies subordination, but Mike finds the egalitarian rebuttal strong on this point.

The 'ezer' (helper) debate

Discovering Biblical Equality Mary Conway ezer

Mary Conway and R. David Freedman's etymology argument: 'ezer' derives from a root meaning 'strength/power,' making Eve 'a power equal to man.'

Alternative etymology for 'ezer'

Mark Stephen Francois etymology fallacy R. David Freedman A Power Equal to Man

Mike's critique of Freedman's article: it uses circular reasoning (own translations to prove own translations) and has been refuted by Dr. Mark Stephen Francois.

Refutation of the 'ezer as power' etymology

Linda Belleville Gen 3:16 Craig Blomberg

Belleville's interpretation #2: translate 'he shall rule' as 'it shall rule' (neuter) -- the woman's own desire will rule over her, removing the husband's authority entirely.

Belleville's alternative translation of Gen 3:16

Both Belleville interpretations depend on reading 'desire' and 'rule over' as sexual/intimate -- this is the weak spot, examined through the Hebrew word 'mashal' (rule).

Testing the sexual interpretation against Hebrew word usage

mashal Gen 1:18 Gen 4:7

Song 7:10 Gen 3:16 teshukah Gen 4:7

Analysis of 'teshukah' (desire): lexicons show it could mean sexual desire or desire to dominate; it appears only 3 times in the OT.

Hebrew word study on 'desire' in Gen 3:16

Mike Winger idea 2022-05-30

Genesis 4:7 as the strongest parallel: nearly identical Hebrew to Gen 3:16 -- sin's 'desire' is to control Cain, and he must 'rule over' it. This is about control, not intimacy.

Key cross-reference for interpreting Gen 3:16

Gen 3:16 teshukah mashal

Hebrews 10:19-22 — believers can enter the holy places directly through Jesus's blood

Mike uses Hebrews to demonstrate that all believers have direct access to God without a mediator.

Hebrews 10:19-22 priesthood mediation Hebrews 10:19-22

Mike Winger idea 2022-05-30

No special group of Christians should serve as a bridge to God's grace for other Christians

Mike argues against any form of priestly mediation within Christianity.

Hebrews 6:19 Roman Catholicism mediation Hebrews 6:19

Mike Winger idea 2022-06-20

Jew/Gentile distinctions continued after conversion: Jews kept the law, Gentiles did not

Mike demonstrates that the Jew/Gentile pair retained functional differences in the early church.

Acts 10 Acts 15 1 Corinthians 7:18-20 Peter Acts 10 Jew/Gentile distinctions

kephale medical argument Stephen Bedale

Stephen Bedale's 1954 article: the origin of the 'head means source' argument

Mike traces the medical argument back to its scholarly origin.

kephale Discovering Biblical Equality Lynn Cohick

Lynn Cohick claims seeing authority in headship 'violates Paul's intention in metaphor'

Mike presents Lynn Cohick's argument from Discovering Biblical Equality.

kephale Wayne Grudem LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones)

Peter Glare, editor of the LSJ, writes to Grudem agreeing with his conclusions — 'the supposed sense source of course does not exist'

Mike presents the dramatic climax of the lexical argument — the LSJ's own editor sides with Grudem.

kephale Septuagint Richard Cervin

Glare: kephale translates Hebrew rosh meaning leader/chief; by NT times Septuagint usage was well-established; LSJ has 'inadequacies'

Mike continues reading Glare's letter with additional important points.

Mike Winger idea 2022-08-15

Sarah calling Abraham 'Lord' (Genesis 18:12) and what it means

Mike examines the only verse where Sarah calls Abraham 'Lord.'

Genesis 18:12 Sarah Genesis 18:12 kyrios

Mike Winger idea 2022-08-15

Problems with Davids' reliance on the Testament of Abraham

Mike conducts detailed analysis of the extra-biblical source Davids relies on.

Peter Davids Testament of Abraham E.P. Sanders

Mike Winger idea 2022-08-15

Craig Keener's addition: Abraham also 'obeys' Sarah (Genesis 16:2, 21:12)

Mike examines Keener's argument for mutual submission in the Abraham-Sarah relationship.

Genesis 21:12 Genesis 16:2 Craig Keener Genesis 21:12 Genesis 16:2

Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Analysis of Micah 6:4: the Hebrew word for 'lead' has God as the subject, not Miriam — Belleville stretches the text.

Rebutting Belleville's first claim about Miriam

Micah 6:4 Linda Belleville Miriam Septuagint

Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Textual issue in Isaiah 3:12: the Hebrew word for 'women' may actually be 'creditors' — the consonants are identical, only vowels differ.

Textual criticism of Isaiah 3:12

Isaiah 3:12 NET Bible Septuagint Isaiah 3:12

Mike Winger idea 2022-11-11

Does verse 7 imply women are not in God's image? No -- Genesis 1 clearly affirms both are

Mike addresses whether the passage teaches women are not in God's image.

1 Corinthians 11:7 Genesis 1:26-27 adam 1 Corinthians 11:7 Genesis 1:26-27

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-04

Hebrews 13:17 and 2 Timothy 2:2 -- elders watch over souls and guard doctrine

Mike cites additional passages showing elders' responsibility to guard what the congregation receives.

1 Timothy 3:2 Hebrews 13:17 2 Timothy 2:2 elder qualifications 1 Timothy 3:2 Hebrews 13:17

scholarly methodology egalitarian arguments historical reconstruction

What surprised Mike most: how bad egalitarian arguments are

Mike shares his biggest surprise from the research project.

Genesis 3:16 1 Timothy 2:12 Genesis 3:16 1 Timothy 2:12 egalitarian arguments

Specific examples of bad egalitarian arguments

Mike lists specific egalitarian interpretive strategies he found unconvincing.

Genesis 2 1 Corinthians 15:22 Romans 5:14-19 ezer Genesis 2 1 Corinthians 15:22

Adam bears primary responsibility for sin — 1 Corinthians 15:22 and Romans 5:14-19

Mike argues Adam's greater representational role and accountability shows his greater authority.

Ephesians 4:11 1 Peter 2:25 Hebrews 13:20 Ephesians 4:11 1 Peter 2:25 Hebrews 13:20

Definition of pastor: a shepherding/caretaking leadership term synonymous with elder

Mike defines how he uses the word 'pastor' based on scripture.

women in ministry series book of Hebrews series conclusion

Final summary: this video is application, not the full case — 39 hours of prior content available

Mike wraps up the content portion.

Mike Winger idea 2023-11-22

Linda Belleville's argument: elders don't have authority anyway

Mike addresses the egalitarian claim that NT church leaders had no special authority.

Hebrews 13:17 Matthew 18 1 Corinthians 5 Nympha argument from silence exousia

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-18

David Mead's methodology: mixing Bible with geopolitics, science, numerology, ancient languages, and Bible codes to make predictions hard to track

Mike describes the general methodology of end-of-world predictors, using Mead as the prime example. The complexity of the mixture is itself part of the rhetorical strategy.

hermeneutics David Mead numerology

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-18

Translation comparison of Isaiah 24:1: KJV 'upside down' vs. NKJV/ESV/NASB/NIV renderings expose Mead's selective use of an English idiom

Mike uses Logos Bible Software to compare translations live, demonstrating that the KJV's 'turn it upside down' is an English idiom not supported by a literal Hebrew rendering.

Isaiah 24:1 NIV hermeneutics David Mead

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

King Follett Sermon quote: Joseph Smith mocks orthodox scholars for teaching creation ex nihilo, claiming special knowledge via the Holy Ghost.

Direct quotation from the King Follett Sermon on creation, where Smith attacks the ex nihilo doctrine and claims superior knowledge.

Joseph Smith King Follett Sermon creation ex nihilo

Mike Winger idea 2018-01-24

Joseph Smith's claim that 'bara' means 'organize' is inaccurate; traditional Jewish and Christian scholarship has consistently supported ex nihilo creation.

Mike briefly rebuts Smith's Hebrew argument, pointing to the scholarly consensus and encouraging viewers to research it themselves.

hermeneutics Joseph Smith creation ex nihilo

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-14

Hebrew 'Elohim' is even more flexible — used for angels, human judges, deities, and the God of Israel

Extending the semantic range discussion to the Hebrew word for God

semantic range Elohim Hebrew vocabulary

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-28

1 Chronicles 20 or 23 — translation differences between NKJV, ESV, and NASB: Mike defers to post-livestream comment response

Q&A — Joseph May's question about translation discrepancies in 1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 20 translation differences 1 Chronicles 20 NKJV

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-28

Question from 'Pine Creek Doug': do you accept the scholarly consensus that six of Paul's letters are forgeries? — Mike does not accept this

Q&A — atheist YouTuber Doug from 'Pine Creek' asks about Pauline authorship

Hebrews authorship New Testament Paul the Apostle Pauline authorship

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-28

Hebrews is not attributed to Paul by Mike; all other epistles he considers genuinely Pauline

Mike's personal view on Hebrews authorship within the Pauline authorship discussion

Hebrews authorship Hebrews New Testament Paul the Apostle Hebrews authorship

Jonah 1:17 Matthew 12:40 Jonah 1:17 Matthew 12:40 Biblical Hebrew - dag

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

Leviticus 11 Taxonomy anachronism Bible and science Translation issues

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

Translation issues Biblical languages Semantic range

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

Genesis 1 Job - water cycle Hebrews 11 Genesis 1 Bible and science Job - water cycle

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

Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 Rabbinic Judaism Biblical Judaism

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 53:5 Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:5 Substitutionary atonement

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

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

Psalm 22 Messianic prophecy Psalm 22 David as prophet

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