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Apologetics
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Parallels of Mythology: The Curious Case of Jesus and Elvis

Many skeptics, such as Richard Carrier, strain to make the very existence of Jesus a myth. They believe the best way to combat God is to erase Jesus completely from the record...

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Atheism
4Comments

Who Really Believes in Magic? Five Responses to the “God of the Gaps” Argument

Imagine sitting in a cozy coffee shop called Credo House, sipping on a Luther Latte, a delightful vanilla latte exclusive to this quaint establishment. You strike up a...

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Bibliology
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Sola Scriptura in the Early Church: 38 Quotes

Church Fathers on Scripture's Authority Explore the wisdom and insights of early Church Fathers regarding the authority of Scripture in this comprehensive blog. Delve into...

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Christian Philosophy
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From Jerusalem to Athens: A Christian Pursuit of Philosophy

On My Borrowing Philosophy Other Christians have once again accused me of borrowing philosophy from pagan thought. This argument is tired. It goes something like this:...

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Angels and Demons
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When Did God Create the Angels?

In the tapestry of Christian theology, the question of when angels were created is a thread that weaves through the Genesis narrative. Four intriguing viewpoints offer diverse...

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Christian Education
4Comments

Beyond Words: The Paramount Theological Imperative

Apophatic vs. Cataphatic Theology: An Introduction I have often talked about Apophadic theology, or the theology of negation. It attempts to describe the Divine not by stating...

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Theology Unplugged
2Comments

Conversations with Tad – 10: Charismatics and Calvinists

Warning. May have explicit language.

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Christian Life
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The Paradox of Proximity: Why Christians Often Loathe Each Other

Evangelical Theological Society The most intense and heated exchange I’ve ever seen in the church was at an Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) conference where...

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Church
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An Open Letter to Catholic Apologists: On the Fairness of Mutual Fallibility

Dear Catholic Friends, I hope I still have some of you who visit my blog. It has been a while since I have been so active, but my prayers are that we can continue the...

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Theology Unplugged

Theology Unplugged
Theology Unplugged

Get your weekly dose of one of the longest-running theology podcasts there is.

85. Through Theology in a Year: Can Scripture Mean More Than Its Author Intended?
byC. Michael Patton

In this episode, Michael explores one of the most fascinating questions in biblical interpretation: Can Scripture mean more than its human author intended? If God is the ultimate Author of Scripture, is it possible for Him to communicate truths that transcend the conscious awareness of the biblical writers while remaining faithful to their intended meaning?

Along the way, Michael introduces the concept of “Biblical Docetism”—a tendency among many Bible-believing Christians to emphasize the divine element of Scripture while neglecting its genuinely human character. Drawing an analogy from the ancient Christological heresy of Docetism, he argues that many interpreters approach the Bible as if it simply dropped from heaven, overlooking the personalities, literary styles, historical settings, and intentions of the biblical authors. This often results in serious hermeneutical errors and a misunderstanding of how God chose to communicate through human writers.

Michael also examines the doctrine of sensus plenior (“fuller sense”), asking whether a biblical text can legitimately mean more than the human author consciously understood. Can God intend meanings that transcend the author’s awareness? If so, what limits govern interpretation? The discussion leads to a deeper appreciation of the relationship between divine authorship, human authorship, and the nature of biblical inspiration itself.

Ultimately, Michael argues that Scripture, like Christ, possesses both a divine and human dimension. A faithful doctrine of inspiration must account for both without sacrificing either. The result is a richer understanding of how God speaks through His Word and why responsible interpretation requires attention to both the divine Author and the human authors He employed.

Get involved:
Michael’s public blog: https://credohouse.org
Courses and Manuscript Reproductions from Michael and other scholars: https://credocourses.com
Join us as we go through the great Fathers of the Faith in a year: https://throughthechurchfathers.com
Support me and get A LOT more stuff from C. Michael Patton: https://patreon.com/cmichaelpatton

85. Through Theology in a Year: Can Scripture Mean More Than Its Author Intended?
85. Through Theology in a Year: Can Scripture Mean More Than Its Author Intended?
2026-06-11
C. Michael Patton
84. Through Theology in a Year: Theories of Inspiration
2026-06-10
C. Michael Patton
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  • 85. Through Theology in a Year: Can Scripture Mean More Than Its Author Intended? 2026-06-11
    In this episode, Michael explores one of the most fascinating questions in biblical interpretation: Can Scripture mean more than its human author intended? If God is the ultimate Author of Scripture, is it possible for Him to communicate truths that transcend the conscious awareness of the biblical writers while remaining faithful to their intended meaning? […]
  • 84. Through Theology in a Year: Theories of Inspiration 2026-06-10
    In this episode, Michael examines the major theories of biblical inspiration and asks one of the most important questions in theology: Where does inspiration reside? Is Scripture merely the product of exceptionally gifted men? Does the Holy Spirit simply elevate human insight? Is only part of the Bible inspired? Are some passages more inspired than […]

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