Articles by BibleThinker

Can you believe in Christ and NOT Be a Christian? Join Mike Winger and I as we break down 6 MAJOR religious groups that ALL claim to believe in Jesus and compare them to Biblical Christianity.
These six major groups, if not careful, can make you think that what they believe is the same as what you believe. Mike Winger and I will break down some of the similarities and differences of these six groups as we compare them against Biblical Christianity.
TIME STAMPS
00:00 – Opening remarks06:34 – Opening prayer07:40 – Group #1 – The Mormon Church22:18 – Group #2 – Jehovah’s Witnesses41:03 – Group #3 – Hebrew Israelites1:01:38 – Group #4 – Roman Catholicism1:26:43 – Group #5 – Seventh-Day Adventism1:49:32 – Group #6 – “Pop” Christianity2:07:54 – Final Remarks

Skeptics claim that Barabbas was invented by the Gospels for symbolic purposes. Skeptics say that Pilate would never have given in to the requests of the Jewish leaders to crucify Jesus. Skeptics say that Pilate would not have released prisoners, like Barabbas or Jesus, for the Passover feast. I’ll be answering all that today!But I have two other really important things to cover as well. One of them is the sad fact that the trial of Jesus before Pilate has been historically used to justify persecution of Jewish communities by those who name the name of Christ; the Jewish Messiah, ironically enough! The second issue is simply the point of the passage as it relates to the theology we are learning from the trial of Jesus.
Whether you are joining me for the live stream or watching afterward I hope and pray that this will be a blessing to you and increase your confidence in the truth of Scripture and the love of God for all people.
This is part 63 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 14:53-72.
Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture.

0:00 – Introduction1. 1:13 {Adam Buried Beneath where Jesus Crucified?} I heard on a program by the National Geographic that there’s a belief out there that Adam was buried beneath where Jesus was crucified. They say when Jesus died, His blood flowed down into the ground and through some cracks inside a tomb where Adam was buried, and Adam was resurrected from that. I am trying to find out where this belief even started, why it was started, and if there is any Biblical or Historical evidence to suggest that this ever happened. Have you ever heard of this, and do you know of any resources on this subject that might help me?2. 6:04 {About Bribery in the book of Proverbs} Can you please help me and my friend understand Proverbs 21: 14 about bribery? We read the references below the verse but still find it hard to understand. 3. 10:15 {Should I Attend a Calvinist Church?} The church that I currently attend is in search of a new pastor, and the one that will be voted in is a Calvinist. I don’t agree with Calvinism and question if I can submit to his authority/teaching. What do I do? Stay? Go? I don’t want to be divisive but want to stand on God’s truth in love.4. 14:09 {Faith vs. Works Contradiction?} I’m confused on two verses, Romans 4:3 and James 2: 21. I don’t believe the Bible has any contradictions, can you please clear up my confusion on this?5. 22:51 {Is God Faithful when We’re Faithless?} Is 2 Timothy 2: 13 saying God is faithful to us, or to Himself? I hear people thanking God that when we are faithless, He is faithful to us, but it seems to read the opposite.6. 25:26 {About God’s Will in our Lives} How do I know if I am living in the will of God for my life? Do wrong choices mean we have messed up Gods plan and we’re now living plan B?7. 29:32 {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.8. 34:40 {About the Wedding Feast/Garments} The man who was at the wedding feast without a wedding garment in Matthew 22: 11, is he like what would called a nominal Christian?9. 41:48 {About Cohabitation Before Marriage} What Scripture shows that 2 heterosexual Christians who love each other and intend to marry can’t cohabitate if they are celibate?10. 46:18 {How to Honor an Abusive Parent} My father was physically and mentally abusive when I was a child. Can I stop talking to him and still be honoring him?11. 49:19 {About Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia} What are your thoughts about assisted suicide and euthanasia?12. 52:55 {Is the Holy Spirit Jesus’ Father?} Might be a dumb question but if the Holy Spirit came upon Mary so that Jesus could be born, wouldn’t that make the Holy Spirit Jesus’ father?13. 54:59 {About “Pascal’s Wager”} What is Pascal’s Wager, and do you believe that it has been refuted?14. 59:10 {About Revelation – New Names/White Stones} What is the “new name” in Revelation 2: 17? Is it the individual’s new name that receives the white stone, or is it Jesus’ new name?15. 1:01:28 {Should Pro-Life = Immigration Support?} Do you think that being pro-life means that I should also support immigration/refugee resettlement due to the pro-life belief that children should be taken care of regardless of circumstances?16. 1:04:40 {Can a False Teacher Cast Out Demons?} What is the deeper meaning of Matthew 12:22-28? I’m a little confused. Can a false teacher cast out demons? If so, wouldn’t that be a kingdom that is divided against itself?17. 1:09:20 {Defense of the Trinity} Hi Mike! I fully believe in the Trinity due to ALL of Scripture. But 1 Corinthians 8:6 is a bit problematic and seems Unitarian. What do you make of it?18. 1:13:20 {Should our Shortcomings Disco

These are my tips on Bible versions as well as where to read depending on what’s going on in your life. Please share your recommendations in the comments as well! This is just one question from a long interview I did for the moderators of the r/Bible subreddit. They asked their subreddit to send me a bunch of questions and I spent a lot of time preparing so that I would be able to offer the best answers I could. I’ll be posting these answers as individual videos so keep an eye out for the rest in the set. I’m Mike Winger and my goal is to help you learn to think biblically about everything!

Can we prove the Holy Spirit is a person and not just an “active force” as the Jehovah’s Witnesses claim?Can we prove that the Holy Spirit is actually God and not just Gabriel the angel as the Muslims claim?Today we’ll do that and more as we look at a ton of verses that teach us about the nature and work of the Holy Spirit. I think you’ll find that the most often ignored person of the Trinity is not only clearly taught about in the Bible, He is a blessing to know about.
Here’s my study on what the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is. https://youtu.be/KmCHX8-2Smo
I have live videos every Monday and Friday at 1pm Pacific Time. Monday is a Bible study and Friday is a Q&A.
Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture.

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:0:00 – Introduction
1. 0:52 {Offering Counsel in Difficult Situations} I’m in a master’s program with Liberty University for clinical mental health counseling. During our training, we were asked how we would handle certain difficult situations, such as if a LGBTQ couple would request help strengthening their relationship, or request help advocating for adoption rights, or advocating for trans. people. Can you please give me some biblical principles to follow, to help me counsel these people in a caring way without condoning unbiblical behavior?2. 11:14 {Advice for a Difficult Marriage} Any advice on how to help a brother in Christ (who’s also a preacher) not leave his marriage because he’s miserable and he claims “God doesn’t want him miserable”?3. 19:19 {Refuting JW Theology} A Jehovah’s Witness said that all the letters in the NT addressed to saints are for the 144,000 (example: Romans 1:7). How do I show that a saint is a believer, and that the NT should be applied to everyone?4. 26:00 {Does Modalism Jeopardize Salvation?} Does modalism lead to other fallacies? If someone believes in Christ except they don’t believe that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each distinct, could their salvation be in jeopardy?5. 30:00 {Witnessing to Abuse Victims} A friend was sexually abused by her family including her mother, foster family, the school priests, and her first husband. Understandably, she refuses to believe in any God. How can I witness to her?6. 33:22 {Are man-made Covenants Biblical?} Are man-made covenants for pastoral ordination biblical (specifically, covenants binding oneself to denominational doctrines and principles)? The Salvation Army requires this for their pastors.7. 37:19 {Should Believers Expect to Hear/Feel God?} I have never “felt”/”heard” from the Holy Spirit/God. I believe in and follow Jesus, but I feel like I am missing something. Should a Christian be literally hearing/feeling something from God?8. 45:23 {About the Overcomers in Rev.} What are your thoughts on the overcomers mentioned by Jesus in Revelation 3:5-12? Would you consider these to be believers in general, a specific group of believers, or some other group?9. 50:47 {Do Angels Sing?} Do angels sing? Or is worshipping via singing something unique to humanity? Thank you so much for your ministry. It really is encouraging for me and my wife. How can we be praying for you and your family?10. 54:22 {Can we find Proof of Jesus’ Existence?} I heard there are more proofs that Jesus is a real person than there are for people like King Tut, etc. is this true? If so, is there somewhere I can go to find those proofs?11. 1:01:02 {Is Satan an Actual “being”?} What would you say to the brethren that suggest that Satan is not actually a being? People argue that the OT doesn’t describe him as a singular being but something of the human mind.12. 1:03:44 {Same Spirit but Different Opinions?} Discerning the Spirit: I’m having a hard time understanding how Christians are all supposed to have the same Holy Spirit but we are so divided on so many issues.13. 1:06:30 {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?14. 1:12:59 {Jesus’ Genealogy/Lineage} How historically plausible is it that the Jesus‘ genealogies in Matthew and Luke authentically trace back to the Exile, Kind David, Abraham, and so on?15. 1:16:02 {About Same-Sex Attraction} As a Side B/Celibate same-sex attracted Christian, do you believe God can change my attraction to eventually desire to marry a woman?16. 1:21:21 {Encouragement through Chronic Illness} I’m newly diagnosed with a very debilitating chronic illness. How do I continue to serve the Lord in my role as a wife and mother and serve the body o

The Bible turns out to use this term to mean something very different than what I was originally taught. The “baptism of the Spirit” is not a secondary experience that Christians have after salvation, it is something that happens to everyone who is saved, when they believe.
This is just one question from a long interview I did for the moderators of the r/Bible subreddit. They asked their subreddit to send me a bunch of questions and I spent a lot of time preparing so that I would be able to offer the best answers I could. I’ll be posting these answers as individual videos so keep an eye out for the rest in the set.
I’m Mike Winger and my goal is to help you learn to think biblically about everything!
I go live every Monday and Friday at 1pm. Monday is usually a vs by vs teaching and Friday is a live Q&A where I take questions from the live chat on YT.

How Proverbs 30:1-4 is a prophecy about Jesus.
Here’s my whole playlist on How to Find Jesus in the Old Testament. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlpQauXiTU&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO
I have live videos every Monday and Friday at 1pm Pacific Time. Monday is a Bible study and Friday is a Q&A.
Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture.

0:00 Why this matters3:44 Meet Alex Hewitson and Dr. Brad Bitner6:16 Alex’s approach to reviewing Col in TPT7:39 Brian Simmons’ wild claims about TPT10:21 What are the different kinds of translations?11:45 TPT is not a real translation13:38 Are we being too critical of translations?15:52 Broad Street publishing misleading people18:20 Simmons badly wrong about “Aramaic”32:24 Simmons makes stuff up about “tetelestai”37:04 Testing Simmons’ claims about “love language”41:04 Why is TPT longer than other Bibles?44:02 Simmons translates the same Greek phrase in many different ways46:58 Adding and subtracting from the Bible50:19 TPT radically expands the Bible54:21 Seeing the agenda behind TPT59:30 What concerns me about the people who endorse TPT?1:01:41 TPT using joint verse numbers1:04:08 Divine titles are weird in TPT1:13:52 How TPT softens hard teachings from the Bible1:17:22 Translators should be invisible. Simmons is not.1:19:13 Failure to quote scholars1:20:35 Simmons uses outdated resources1:23:48 Is Simmons a scholar or not?1:28:08 Testing the “secrets” Brian says are coming from God1:32:32 Brian Simmons homonyms are deeply concerning1:38:30 God’s wrath is changed1:40:40 Changing the meaning of Col 1 vs 91:43:38 Italics in TPT are problematic1:45:18 TPT wrong on slaves and masters1:48:24 TPT wrong on husbands and wives1:54:17 TPT wrong on children and parents1:56:15 Adds “prophetic songs” to Colossians2:01:36 “Buzz words” in TPT don’t belong2:04:52 Basic grammar errors show Simmons shouldn’t be translating2:09:19 Simmons’ style replaces the biblical authors style2:12:35 What they really think of TPT2:14:43 Should TPT be sold in Christian bookstores?2:15:47 Can someone get saved reading TPT?2:18:10 How will TPT impact you if you use it?
Dr. Brad Bitner’s academia profile https://wscal.academia.edu/BradBitner
Here’s every video and paper in The Passion Project (including Alex’s paper) https://biblethinker.org/index.php/the-passion-translation

Mark is one of the favorite books of skeptics of Christianity. They will sometimes say that it has “low Christology” (a low view of who Jesus was) and suggest that this is evidence that belief in the deity of Christ came not from Jesus and the apostles teachings but from other people “developing” Christianity afterward. Others will claim that orthodox Christian teaching about how Jesus died on the cross to suffer the just punishment of our sins so that we could be forgiven, as an atoning sacrifice, is an invention of Christians coming centuries after the time of Christ and the apostles. One of the reasons I love the book of Mark is because a careful study of it shows that all of those claims are false. In today’s study we will look at Jesus on trial before the high priest and we’ll see that there are two major lessons that Jesus wants to teach everyone about the nature of the Messiah. The Messiah is divine and the Messiah must suffer and die for the sins of others. Not only do these two teachings refute how some have distorted the Gospel of Mark, these teachings are actually central to the whole Gospel. They come at the climax of Mark’s message and they reveal that the divine nature and the atoning work of the Messiah are absolutely essential in the Gospel of Mark.
I love this stuff!
This is part 62 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 14:53-72. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF