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Punting to the Eschaton

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Personal (Michael Patton)
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A short message on the six-year anniversary of my recovery

When my sister killed herself, my mom had her aneurysm, and then my dad died within a few short years, I thought I was fine. More than that, I thought I was handling...

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Credo House Ministries
Uncategorized
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Atheism is a Blind Leap of Faith in Disguise?

Introduction Atheism is often regarded as a rejection of religious belief, a position firmly grounded in evidence and reason. But is atheism itself free from faith? This blog...

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Christian Life
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The Value of Deconstructing Your Faith

Rebuilding a Lawnmower “With” My Dad Regrettably, my father hasn’t explicitly taught me much, as he seldom spoke. Most of what I’ve learned from him came through...

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Culture
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Look Whose Laughing Now: The Rise of Conservative Comedy

Everyone in our family knows how to get my wife, Kristie, to laugh. It is the most predictable thing about her. She loves to laugh, like we all do. But it is when she laughs...

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Bibliology
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The Myth of a “Closed” Canon: An Open Dialogue

Revisiting the Concept of ‘Closed’ Scripture The term ‘closed canon of Scripture’ often surfaces in theological discussions, but it might not...

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Culture
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The Butterfly Effect of Misunderstood Theology: A Reflection on Doctrinal Misrepresentation

Introduction: In today’s interconnected world, beliefs and ideologies spread like wildfire, often reaching vast numbers of people across society. The more popular a...

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Credo House Ministries
Theology Unplugged
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Conversations with Tad – Can Christians Go On Sinning After they are Saved?

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Difficult Issues in Scripture
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10 Most Controversial Issues in the Church Today

I have been in ministry for 25 years. Besides a six-year stint as a pastor at Stonebriar (great memories!), I have solely taught and produced theology courses (unless you...

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Theology Unplugged

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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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