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Anthropology
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The New Birth: What Nicodemus Should Have Known

Nicodemus and the New Birth: A Mysterious Concept John 3:1-10 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and...

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Abortion
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The Day I Debated Obama – The Definitive Argument Against Abortion

Introduction Traducianism might be a term you’ve never heard of, but it addresses something crucial—how our souls come into existence. I believe the following provides a...

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Apologetics
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False Teaching from Peter in John 21? If the First Pope Got it Wrong, to Whom do Catholics Turn

Introduction In John 21:20-23, we encounter a fascinating incident involving Peter and “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” traditionally understood to be John. The passage reads:...

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Charismatic
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A Defense of the Continuation of Prophecy Today

Today I gave a defense of the continuation of prophecy. These are nine reasons why those who believe so, think God still speaks today. It’s a strong argument. I don’t hold to...

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Apologetics
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Teaching the What, Why, AND How of the Christian Faith

Introduction In the Christian faith, we often place a strong emphasis on teaching what to believe. We instruct others on essential doctrines like the Trinity, the Atonement,...

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Apologetics
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Lost in Plain Sight: The Unseen Spiritual Crisis in our Backyard

In 2011, a Christianity Today reporter interviewed Billy Graham at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, about life and faith. Seated in his chair, Graham was asked,...

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Bibliology
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A Complete Guide to Bible Interpretation: Moving from “What Did it Mean” to “How Does it Apply”

Introduction One of the most foundational skills we can develop in our study of Scripture is the ability to move from understanding what the Bible meant in its original...

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Church History
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7 Ecumenical Councils in a Nutshell

Here is a basic overview of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. I tried to make it memorable: 1. 325 (Nicaea): Christ is one substance (homoousios) with the Father. No, He’s not a...

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Anxious
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The Night Before: Luther’s Anfechtung Before His “Here I Stand” Speech

“Orchestrated by Satan, But Permitted by Christ” “Orchestrated by Satan, but permitted By Christ.“ This is what Martin Luther called it: “Anfechtung,” a German...

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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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