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All (57) Mike Winger (57)
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Belleville's two claims about Miriam: she was 'sent to lead' Israel (Micah 6:4) and was so valued Israel wouldn't travel without her 'at the helm' (Numbers 12:1-16).

Presenting the egalitarian case for Miriam's leadership

Micah 6:4 Numbers 12:1-16 Linda Belleville Two Views on Women in Ministry Miriam
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Analysis of Belleville's second claim: reading Numbers 12:1-16 to test whether Israel refused to travel without Miriam.

Examining Numbers 12 in detail

Numbers 12:1-16 Linda Belleville Moses Miriam
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

The Numbers 12 passage is actually about God rebuking Miriam for usurping Moses's authority, not about her valued leadership.

Exegesis of Numbers 12

Numbers 12 Moses Miriam Numbers 12
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Conclusions from Numbers 12: Moses is a different kind of leader; Miriam is rebuked for trying to usurp his authority.

Drawing conclusions from Numbers 12

Numbers 12 Moses Miriam Numbers 12
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Marg Mowczko echoes Belleville: 'the Israelites refused to move on until she was restored to health' — but there is no refusal in the text.

Another egalitarian scholar making the same unsupported claim

Numbers 12:15-16 Miriam textual stretching Marg Mowczko
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Israel traveled by divine command (cloud and fire), never by democracy — refuting the claim that the people 'refused' to travel without Miriam.

Decisive rebuttal using Numbers 9:15-23

Numbers 12:15-16 Numbers 9:15-23 Linda Belleville Marg Mowczko Numbers 12:15-16
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Miriam was a prophetess; some incorrectly deny female prophets existed in the Bible.

Affirming the reality of female prophets

Numbers 12 Miriam prophetess Numbers 12
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Numbers 12 implies Miriam prophesied to the people in general, not just women — 'hasn't the Lord spoken to us also?'

Soft evidence that Miriam prophesied to men and women

Numbers 12 Miriam prophetess Numbers 12
Mike Winger idea 2022-11-11

Numbers 5:18 (apokalupto) is a different word from what Paul uses

Mike addresses another piece of evidence from hair-up proponents.

Numbers 5:18 Philip Payne apokalupto Numbers 5:18
Mike Winger idea 2022-11-11

Exceptions to hair length rules: Nazirite vows, philosophers, and the principle behind exceptions

Mike discusses how exceptions to the general rule were understood.

Numbers 6 Craig Keener Samson Epictetus
Mike Winger idea 2022-12-04

The Livy quote that CBE uses actually describes large numbers of men involved in Bacchus worship

Mike examines the actual Livy passage that CBE cites and finds it undermines their argument.

Livy CBE International Bacchus cult demographics
Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

No hard rules against women in business or politics, but no need to push for equal numbers

Mike navigates between patriarchalist restriction and egalitarian idealism.

Andrew Tate women in business women in politics
Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

Specific preference examples: male firefighters, female childcare workers

Mike gives concrete societal applications of gender preference.

gender preferences firefighters childcare
Mike Winger idea 2018-02-07

People forget wrong guesses and remember right ones — the psychological principle behind why cold-reading / divine guessing appears more accurate than it is.

Explanation of the cognitive bias that makes Todd White's guessing seem supernatural.

prophecy confirmation bias cold reading
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-18

David Mead's third Scripture abuse: Genesis 7:4 'seventeenth day of the second month' read as the year 2017

Mead takes Noah's ark entry date from Genesis 7 and treats it as a numerological code predicting the year 2017.

Genesis 7:4 false prophecy David Mead numerology
Mike Winger idea 2018-04-18

Q&A: Is biblical numerology nonsense? Distinction between symbolic numbers and predictive numerological systems

Question from Jessie Swanger.

hermeneutics numerology biblical symbolism
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

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 2018-04-25

AD 70 destruction of Jerusalem and the temple as historical context for Mark 13

Mike presents the second background concept: the historical event that is clearly in view in the Olivet Discourse.

AD 70 destruction of the temple Jerusalem sacked
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-13

Aseity (divine self-existence) and abstract objects: Mike denies abstract objects truly exist, resolving the problem

Viewer asking about God's aseity and how God can exist prior to abstract objects like the number one

nominalism aseity abstract objects
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-20

Summary conclusions: multiple lines of evidence converge against community tradition view

Mike draws conclusions from the four major evidence streams.

apologetics Gospel historicity community tradition view
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Unlikely origin of the disciples' belief in the deity of Jesus — fifth argument

McLatchie introduces the argument that the disciples' belief in Jesus's deity is historically inexplicable without the resurrection, given the Jewish context.

Numbers 23:19 Deuteronomy 21:23 resurrection deity of Christ Justin Martyr
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Suetonius's reference to "Chrestus" in Life of Claudius possibly refers to Jesus — but Suetonius is chronologically challenged if it does

Discussing Suetonius as a possible extra-biblical source for Jesus

historicity of Jesus extra-biblical sources Suetonius
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Parental authority over adult children: diminishes naturally with age; adult children make their own decisions while still honoring parents

Q from Joel Larson about how much authority a father has over adult children, and whether it differs for sons vs. daughters.

Genesis 2 Numbers 30 Genesis 2 honoring parents parental authority
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Numbers 5 — the Bitter Water trial does not describe an abortion; the NIV translation is mistaken on this point

Question from Dakota Ballard about pro-choice advocates using Numbers 5:27 to support abortion.

Numbers 5:27 Numbers 5 NIV abortion divine judgment
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Luke 23:34 'Father forgive them' likely refers to delayed judgment / forgiveness offered, not full salvific pardon

Responding to Reid's question about whether unbelievers are forgiven to some degree, referencing Luke 23:34

Luke 23:34 2 Peter 3:9 Numbers typology cities of refuge high priest
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Revelation 7:4 — the 144,000 are a literal future group of ethnic Jewish men

Question about what the 144,000 sealed in Revelation 7:4 means.

Romans 11 Revelation 7:4 Jehovah's Witnesses tribulation futurism
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Closing: upcoming content — Mark series, Douglas Moo on Passion Translation Romans, next Q&A

Closing remarks

Romans Psalm 110 Mark Douglas Moo Romans Psalm 110
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Baptizing children should not be delayed based purely on age — genuine faith at any age is sufficient

Question from April B about baptizing her 8-year-old who has made a genuine profession of faith

baptism salvation faith
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Ministry faithfulness in obscurity is intrinsically valuable regardless of audience size

Mike introduces himself and describes his Sunday night service in Bellflower, CA — typically 12-15 attendees despite massive YouTube reach — as an encouragement to small-ministry workers.

Matthew 25:14-30 Luke 16:10 Matthew 25:14-30 Faithfulness in ministry Parable of the Talents
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Hillsong's explosive growth is driven by an extra layer of intense positivity — the "Happy Meal" model of Christianity

Continued analysis of Hillsong's ministry model.

Hillsong Prosperity gospel / positivity gospel Ministry success metrics
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q9: Why did Paul permit Timothy to drink wine (1 Tim 5:23) if Timothy was under a Nazirite vow? Mike doubts Timothy was under such a vow

Viewer 'Christian Metal Head' asks about the apparent tension between Paul's instruction to drink wine and the Nazirite vow restrictions.

1 Timothy 5:23 Numbers 6:1-4 Timothy Samson Christian liberty
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

First century as the ultimate spiritual battleground for all creation

Summary conclusion on demonic activity question: the first century was uniquely intense because it was the decisive battleground of salvation history.

Gerasene demoniac spiritual warfare salvation history
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Romans 11:25-32 — partial hardening of Israel, fullness of the Gentiles, and end-times caution

Trevor T asks about Romans 11:25-32 and whether the rising number of Messianic Jews in Israel signals prophetic fulfillment.

Romans 11:25-32 eschatology Messianic Jews prophetic fulfillment
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

The Canaanite genocide: why God commanded Israel to kill rather than drive out or convert

Question from Lindsey Kelso about the moral difficulty of God commanding Israel to kill thousands of Canaanites.

Deuteronomy / Joshua conquest texts Theodicy Children and salvation Canaanite conquest
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Are the gods of other religions real? Three views: false polytheism, Heiserian divine council, and Pauline demonic identification

Q6 from Loretta Taylor: Numbers 33:3-4 says Yahweh executed judgments on Egypt's gods — does this mean gods like Allah and Zeus are real?

1 Corinthians 10:19-20 Numbers 33:3-4 Exodus plagues Michael Heiser elohim 1 Corinthians 10:19-20
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Apparent contradiction between Stephen's speech (Acts 7:4) and Genesis chronology of Terah and Abraham.

Question 2 from Rod D about Acts 7:4 vs Genesis 11:26, 32 and Genesis 12:4.

Acts 7:4 Genesis 11:26 Genesis 11:32 Stephen Abraham Acts 7:4
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Abstract objects like numbers are timeless and immaterial but lack causal powers; a mind fits the criteria of being spaceless, timeless, non-material, AND capable of causing something.

Conceptual analysis — why the cause is a mind

abstract objects conceptual analysis causal powers
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-19

Points 6-7: (6) Lamb was one year old (prime of life) — Jesus began ministry at 30, the age of full maturity for priestly/sacrificial service. (7) Lamb selected on 10th of Nisan — Jesus entered Jerusalem on the same day (Triumphal Entry, Palm Sunday). The crowd cried "Hosanna" (Psalm 118) = "save us" — presenting himself as the Messianic King. He was then "inspected" for 4 days through questioning by religious leaders, found faultless.

Points 6-7 — age, selection date, triumphal entry

Psalm 118 Passover Passover triumphal entry
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

Should new believers read the whole Bible? Yes, eventually. But start with the Gospel of John (written for the purpose of producing faith), then the rest of the NT. Read Psalms and Proverbs for wisdom/worship. Genesis for foundations. Don't start at Genesis 1 and try to plow through — you'll bog down in Leviticus. A reading plan helps maintain consistency.

Bible reading plan for new believers

John 20:31 Gospel of John Gospel of John new believers
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-02

Deuteronomy 19:11-13 shows the death penalty must be enacted even over compassion — "your eyes shall not pity him" — and failing to punish murderers spreads their guilt onto the entire community.

OT law reinforcing the death penalty with protections and communal guilt

Deuteronomy 19:11-13 Numbers 35:30-31 death penalty Deuteronomy 19:11-13 Numbers 35:30-31
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-02

God's justice is BOTH restorative AND retributive — using restoration to eliminate punishment is itself unjust. The solution to wrongful convictions is to reform the death penalty, not abolish it.

Restorative vs. retributive justice, and the wrongful conviction problem

Revelation 6:10 Roman Catholicism death penalty Revelation 6:10
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-14

Psalm 51:16-17 ("God does not delight in sacrifice") is situational to David after murdering Uriah — he can't just offer a bull and fix things. The only thing he can offer is a broken spirit. It's not a blanket rejection of the sacrificial system.

Q6: Does Psalm 51 mean God doesn't want sacrifices?

Psalm 51 David repentance Brian Zahnd
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-28

Bible Contradiction?: Can you explain the what appears to be contradiction in 1 Kings 7: 26 and 2 Chronicles 4:5, due to the different numbers?

Q&A question: Bible Contradiction?

suffering biblical reliability
Mike Winger idea 2021-06-04

About the Age of Accountability: Does Numbers 14: 29 give us any biblical reason to believe the age of accountability to be 20? In Numbers 14: 18-19 Moses pleads with God, and God pardons the sins of the children 19 and younger.

Q&A question: About the Age of Accountability

Moses
Mike Winger idea 2021-07-23

Is Biblical Numerology Really Biblical?: What are your thoughts about “biblical numerology”? Are certain numbers in Scripture intended by God to carry hidden theological significance for us to find, or is this a man-made and potentially dangerous thing to look for while studying?

Q&A question: Is Biblical Numerology Really Biblical?
Mike Winger idea 2021-10-15

Does Scripture Promote Evil Things?: I’ve been challenged with the accusation that the Bible “promotes killing, rape, and slavery,” quoting Numbers 31: 15-18. I don’t want to simply prove them wrong; that doesn’t address this person’s heart. Would you please help?

Q&A question: Does Scripture Promote Evil Things?
Mike Winger idea 2021-10-15

About the Book of Numbers: What is the best way to read the book of Numbers? What’s some really cool stuff about it and how it ties to JESUS?

Q&A question: About the Book of Numbers

Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2021-10-22

Do Numbers & Leviticus Contradict?: In Numbers 5, there is a test for an unfaithful wife. In verses 27-28 however, the punishment called for appears to differ from that in Leviticus 20: 10 which calls for death. Am I missing something?

Q&A question: Do Numbers & Leviticus Contradict?

Numbers 5 marriage Numbers 5
Mike Winger idea 2021-12-10

How Does God Speak to Us?: How does God communicate to us outside of the Bible? Does He speak through mediums like words, numbers, coincidences, etc.?

Q&A question: How Does God Speak to Us?
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