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Doubt
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Illustration of John the Baptist Doubting and What We Can Learn From Him

Each one of us carries doubts within our hearts, and it is those who deeply grapple with their faith who come to realize this truth. It often frightens us because we believe...

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Uncategorized
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Seminary in Your Pocket for $99 Right Now!

It doesn’t happen often anymore, but right now, this package is down to $99. Hurry! Included in Platinum Packages*: Christian Apologetics 101 by Doug Groothuis Digital...

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Anthropology
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The Subsistence of the “You” Argument for the Existence of God

Have you ever stopped to ponder the concept of personal identity? While our bodies are in a constant state of renewal, with every cell being replaced approximately every seven...

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Credo House Ministries
Christian Life
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Lessons From C. S. Lewis: Resting in God’s Forgiveness

The temptation of disbelief is never as strong as it is after a time—a substantial time—of panic attacks and/or hallucinations stemming from past trauma. The temptation to...

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Calvinism
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15 Things About John Calvin You May Not Know

John Calvin Had a Photographic Memory: It was said that he could recite long passages of Scripture and recall complex theological arguments with ease. His close friend and...

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Eschatology
2Comments

The Myth of “Abraham’s Bosom”

I remember when I was young, I was taught that there was a place called “Abraham’s Bosom.” The way it was explained to me made perfect sense at the time. You go to heaven if...

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Christian Philosophy
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A Mind-Blowing Christian Worldview

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Eschatology
43Comments

Quit Using the Word “Heaven”!

One of my pet peeves is the word “heaven.” I know it shouldn’t be. It is used in one form or another 457 times in the Bible (depending on your version). It...

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Church History
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15 Things You May Not Know About Zwingli

I am probably a Zwinglian in more ways in my theology than either Luther or Calvin. he is more influential to mainline Protestantism than most people realize. He was was a...

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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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