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Anthropology
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Why AI Can Never Know the Color Red

AI might learn to mimic our voices, our art, even our emotions. But it will never truly become. This post explores the animic quality—an irreducible human...

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Church History
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St. Vincent Evaluates Which Church Today He Is Going to Belong To

St. Vincent of Lérins stands at the crossroads of modern Christianity, searching for the church that has matured faithfully—preserving the Gospel without adding distortions or...

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Christology
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Roman Catholic Church – The Ultimate Protestant Overview

Understanding Roman Catholicism: A Protestant’s Irenic Exploration What happens when a Protestant pastor takes an honest, peaceable look at Roman Catholic doctrine—not to...

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Apologetics
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Can Theology and Evangelism Work Together? This Visual Tool Says Yes

  Evangelism Was the Driving Mission of the Greatest Theologian Jesus performed many miracles and accomplished many extraordinary things, yet the Gospels make it clear that...

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Epistemology
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Theology in the White Spaces: Five Mysteries That Refuse to Be Solved

Before we solve theology’s puzzles, we must acknowledge the pieces God hasn’t given us. These white spaces aren’t flaws—they’re invitations to worship. In this post, I explore...

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Mormonism
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Is the Doctrine of the Trinity Essential for Salvation: Why God Revealed Himself as Trinity

Mystery, Confession, and the Boundaries of Christian Faith Listen to this blog here. I Don’t Know—And That’s Where We Begin I don’t know whether or not the doctrine of the...

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Church History
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The Legacy of Leo: A History of the Papal Namesake

With the election of Leo the Fourteenth, the Church once again invokes a name rich with history and meaning. From Leo the First—“the Great”—who faced down Attila the Hun and...

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Addiction
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Impulse Buying for the Soul – The Unknown Lasting Effects of Sin

Sin isn’t just breaking a rule — it’s trading God’s best for something worthless. Like Esau, we often settle for “red stuff,” chasing quick relief over lasting joy. But God,...

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Calvinism
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Confessions of a Mystical Calvinist

Here’s a suggested **excerpt** for your post: What if we’re still wrong about some theology in heaven? In this honest and humorous reflection, I explore what it means to be...

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Theology Unplugged

Theology Unplugged
Theology Unplugged

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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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