Filter results by source database — Scripture Commentary, Theology, Mike Winger, or Pulpit. Click a tab to narrow to one database.

...more
All (7) Mike Winger (7)
Mike Winger idea 2018-03-21

Catholic debates always ultimately fall back to church authority / Magisterium rather than Scripture

Broader critique of Catholic apologetics methodology

church fathers sola scriptura Catholic apologetics
Mike Winger idea 2018-11-14

Q&A: Martin Luther — valuable reformer, but his later writings about Jewish people were horrible and must be rejected; the Reformation is not reducible to one man.

Q&A on Martin Luther in the context of the 501st Reformation anniversary.

church history Reformation Q&A
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-05

The Sanhedrin's three authority claims (succession from Moses, Moses's seat, oral tradition) are structurally identical to the Catholic magisterium's claims (apostolic succession, chair of Peter, sacred tradition).

Detailed parallel between Sanhedrin and Roman Catholic authority claims

Matthew 23 Mark 7:8-9 Roman Catholicism oral tradition papacy
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-05

Jesus's response pattern gives us a template: acknowledge the legitimate role (responsibility to teach) while rejecting the authority claims. The papacy has responsibility to teach God's Word but not the authority to determine truth.

How Jesus's response to the Sanhedrin applies to modern Catholic claims

Roman Catholicism sola scriptura papacy
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-12

Psalm 118:22-23 (rejected cornerstone) is quoted by the crowd entering Jerusalem AND by Jesus to the Sanhedrin — the "builders" (scribes/scholars in rabbinic literature) reject the stone, but God establishes it anyway. The "others" who receive the vineyard are the leaders of the Christian church.

The cornerstone quotation and who replaces the vine growers

James 3:1 Psalm 118:22-23 papacy James 3:1 leadership accountability
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-19

Jesus answers with a PRINCIPLE rather than yes/no: the coin bears Caesar's image (give it back), but YOU bear God's image (give yourself to God). This is a rabbinic "greater to lesser" argument that deflates their trap.

Analysis of "Render to Caesar" as a principled answer

Proverbs 15:28 image of God image of God papacy
Mike Winger idea 2025-05-09

Why Would God Allow a Pope?: Why would Christ allow someone to be appointed as His vicar on Earth? If the authority of the pope is illegitimate, how is that not the worst manifestation of blasphemy? How is it allowed by God?

Q&A question: Why Would God Allow a Pope?

blasphemy papacy