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Eastern Orthodox
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Why I Don’t Think the Church Is Called to Be as Unified as We Think

Introduction In John chapter 17, Christ prays for His followers, saying, “that they may be one as we are one.” This prayer has often been interpreted as a call for...

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Christian Philosophy
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Six Pillars of Trust: Building Confidence in Theological Voices

When I first became committed to the things of the Lord, I was a sponge. I absorbed whatever anyone was offering, as long as they said they loved Jesus. I bought anything that...

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Anthropology
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Punting to Mystery: A Calvinist Reflection on Free Will and Divine Sovereignty

Introduction I’ve been mulling over an idea for many years, one I’ve written about before but am now trying to articulate more clearly. It centers on the notion of...

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Credo House Ministries
Church History
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44. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton: The Protestant Tradition

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Apologetics
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The Joyful Cost of Evangelism: Embracing the Mission with Resilience

At the turn of the twentieth century, Theodore Roosevelt wrote these gripping words in his riveting book The Strenuous Life: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth...

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Addiction
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Biblical Lists of Sins in Reverse

10 Commandments in Exodus 20:3-17 in Reverse You shall have no other gods before me. Reverse: Trust only God for everything. You shall not make for yourself an idol. Reverse:...

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Calvinism
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Reconciling Free Will and Divine Sovereignty: A Three-Dimensional View from a Two-Dimensional World

Imagine a world where you had to choose between two truths that seem equally valid but seemed utterly contradictory. In the realm of the Christian faith, this isn’t just...

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Depression
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Giving Up On Life

About thirteen years ago, right after my dad died, I felt like I gave up on life. I wasn’t going to end my life because I knew from experience the impact that would have on my...

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Theology Unplugged
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Theology Unplugged Q/A

Find everything I do at my Patreon.

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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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