Search — Theology Explorer

1 Peter 4:10-11 spiritual gifts utterances of God stewardship

1 Peter 4:10-11

Sections: debate_points, exegesis

1 Corinthians 14:12, 16, 29-31 edification tongues interpretation

1 Corinthians 14:12, 16, 29-31

Sections: exegesis, greek_analysis

Genesis 21:9-12 Sarah,Abraham,authority,obedience,women-leadership,egalitarian

Genesis 21:9-12

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis, greek_analysis

1 Corinthians 11:10-16 exousia,woman authority,angels,interdependence,mutual dependence,egalitarian,hair,covering,creation order,corrective,in the Lord

1 Corinthians 11:10-16

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis, greek_analysis

Acts 1:16-26 Judas,betrayal,foreknowledge,sovereignty,prophecy fulfillment,predestination,free will,apostolate,Matthias,Paul,twelve,lot,human initiative

Acts 1:16-26

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis, greek_analysis

1 Samuel 25:2-44 abigail,wisdom,diplomat,women leadership,david,nabal

1 Samuel 25:2-44

Sections: exegesis

2 Samuel 14:1-24 wise woman of tekoa,joab,women leadership,wisdom,absalom

2 Samuel 14:1-24

Sections: exegesis

Theology greek term

διακρίνω (diakrino)

to discern, to evaluate, to judge

greek

Discovering Biblical Equality Mary Conway naming as authority

Mary Conway's alternative approach to naming: it's an act of discernment, not authority, based on George Ramsey's 1988 paper.

Alternative egalitarian argument on naming

Gen 2 false dichotomy naming as authority

Mike's four problems with Ramsey's paper: (1) ignores Genesis 1-2 context, (2) confuses WHY a name was chosen with WHY Adam does the naming, (3) argues against magical naming instead of actual complementarian claims, (4) ignores that namers consistently have authority over the named.

Critique of Ramsey's paper on naming

naming as dominion George Ramsey Jacob naming places

Ramsey's inconsistency: he admits naming 'certifies the dominion of God over those places' when Jacob names locations, contradicting his own thesis.

Internal contradiction in Ramsey's paper

naming as authority common sense argument

Mike's rhetorical argument: even if naming is 'only discernment,' no one would accept a stranger renaming their child or village -- naming inherently involves authority.

Common-sense argument for naming and authority

Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Mike urges listeners to look up passages themselves rather than trusting scholarly summaries uncritically.

Hermeneutical exhortation

hermeneutics discernment

Mike Winger idea 2022-03-28

Both egalitarian explanations for the priesthood ban seem forced; Mike wanted to become egalitarian but was driven away by poor Scripture handling.

Assessment of egalitarian priesthood arguments

egalitarianism priesthood discernment

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-04

Problems with the 'other prophets judge prophecy' view

Mike argues against the interpretation that only other prophets test prophecy.

1 Corinthians 12:10 1 Corinthians 14:1 1 Corinthians 14:39 1 Corinthians 12:10 1 Corinthians 14:1 1 Corinthians 14:39

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-04

Women can have the gift of discernment but are restricted in its public exercise during church governance

Mike addresses the objection that his view means women cannot have a spiritual gift.

1 Corinthians 12:10 1 Corinthians 12:10 gift of discernment church governance

Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

1 Corinthians 14:29-35 — women silent in judging prophecy, not silent in general

Mike interprets the controversial silence passage.

1 Corinthians 11 John MacArthur 1 Corinthians 14:29-35 1 Corinthians 11 John MacArthur judgment of prophecy

Mike Winger idea 2018-02-14

Methodology: neither defending nor attacking Bethel — the goal is clarity by taking them at their word

Mike distinguishes his approach from two common failure modes in critiquing Bethel

Bethel Church discernment methodology hermeneutics

Mike Winger idea 2018-02-14

Avoiding guilt by association: Bill Johnson and Benny Hinn sharing a stage does not make them the same

Mike discusses how to be fair when evaluating someone who has associated with controversial figures

Bill Johnson discernment methodology Benny Hinn

discernment healing Todd White

Introduction: Mike frames the video as an evaluation of fake healing videos featuring Todd White, Tom Fischer, and others.

Opening statement establishing the topic and subjects of the livestream.

cessationism discernment healing

Mike clarifies he is not a cessationist and genuinely believes in divine healing, positioning himself as a credible evaluator rather than a skeptic.

Establishing his theological starting point before analyzing the videos.

discernment healing fraud psychological manipulation

The child's facial reaction after the supposed healing reveals discomfort and distress, not joy — suggesting he knew nothing had changed.

Analyzing the aftermath of the first healing video.

discernment healing fraud psychological manipulation

Subjects being 'healed' often give ambiguous answers ('h,' 'I feel a little better') rather than clear confirmations — reflecting social pressure to humor the healer rather than genuine healing.

Broader observation about healing contexts applied after the Tom Fischer example.

discernment healing miracles

Mike contrasts the analyzable nature of these healing videos with how he would expect a genuine miracle to look — a genuine healing would be indefensible regardless of analytical scrutiny.

Reflective statement after the Todd White leg-lengthening analysis.

discernment healing Todd White

Key challenge to Todd White: why are the only visible physical healings the ones (leg lengthening) that are easiest to fake, and the ones that fall apart under examination?

Direct accountability question posed to Todd White.

discernment healing Todd White

Christians who have been ministered to by Todd White can still receive genuine spiritual value from his true teachings while being discerning about his healing methodology.

Pastoral application for viewers who have encountered Todd White's ministry.

Matthew 18:15 discernment ministry ethics Matthew 18:15

Public teaching warrants public accountability — Matthew 18's private confrontation model applies to private sins, not to public doctrinal errors published on the internet.

Justifying the public critique of Todd White.

Matthew 7:21-23 discernment healing Matthew 7:21-23

Q&A: The Bible supports both sides — go out and pray for healing confidently, AND Jesus warned that false healers will claim to have cast out demons and healed in his name while he never knew them.

Viewer question about whether fake healing is condemned in the Bible.

discernment Todd White speaking in tongues

Q&A: Could demons be behind Todd White's healings? Mike thinks the visible examples are explainable by natural means; for unexplained cases the options are God acting despite doctrinal error, or demonic — but Christians should not default to 'demonic' for things that are merely unusual.

Viewer question from Jas Stewart about demonic involvement in Todd White's ministry.