In this episode, Michael introduces a new term for an old interpretive problem: Biblical Docetism. Borrowing from the ancient Christological heresy of Docetism—which denied the true humanity of Christ while affirming His deity—Michael argues that many Christians approach the Bible in a remarkably similar way. They affirm the divine origin of Scripture but neglect its genuinely human character, treating the Bible as though it simply dropped from heaven rather than being written through real authors in real historical contexts. Michael explores how this tendency manifests itself in everyday Bible study. Whether it is randomly opening the Bible to see what God has to say, assuming every verse applies directly to us, searching for hidden meanings and secret codes, neglecting the personalities of the biblical writers, or ignoring literary genre and historical context, these approaches often bypass the human element of Scripture altogether. The result is a view of the Bible that functions more like a magical object than a divine-human book. Along the way, Michael examines a variety of common hermeneutical mistakes that arise from this perspective, including over-literalization, misunderstanding progressive revelation, treating chapter and verse divisions as inspired, and assuming that everything recorded in Scripture is therefore endorsed by Scripture. He argues that many of these errors stem from the same underlying problem: an inability to appreciate the role of the human authors in the process of inspiration. Ultimately, Michael contends that a faithful doctrine of Scripture must mirror a faithful doctrine of Christ. Just as Christ is fully God and fully man, Scripture is both divine and human. To neglect either dimension is to distort the nature of God's revelation. Understanding this balance not only protects us from interpretive errors but also helps us hear more clearly what God intended to communicate through the human authors He inspired. 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

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

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 others? Or did God dictate every word mechanically to passive authors? Michael walks through the Natural, Illumination, Partial, Degree, and Mechanical Dictation theories of inspiration, explaining the strengths and weaknesses of each. Along the way, he argues that the historic evangelical doctrine of Verbal Plenary Inspiration avoids the errors of both extremes, affirming that Scripture is fully God's Word while remaining genuinely the work of human authors. The result is a view of inspiration that is analogous to the incarnation itself: 100% God and 100% man. 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

In this episode, Michael reflects on passion, conviction, and the danger of treating every issue as if it deserves the same level of intensity. In a culture where outrage gets clicks and every disagreement becomes a battlefield, Christians must recover a proper hierarchy of passion. Drawing from John Wesley's famous line about setting oneself on fire, Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 15 about matters "of first importance," and the reminder that "we see in a mirror dimly," Michael explores how conviction and humility belong together. The goal is not less passion, but better-ordered passion, with Christ and the Gospel occupying the most prominent place at the table. 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

In this session of Through Theology in a Year, we begin our study of one of the most foundational doctrines in all of Christianity: the inspiration of Scripture. What does it mean when Christians say the Bible is "God-breathed"? Does inspiration reside in the authors, the message, the readers, or the very words of Scripture itself? And why has this doctrine become such a defining issue within evangelical theology? In this lesson, we examine the biblical meaning of inspiration, paying special attention to Paul's use of the word theopneustos in 2 Timothy 3:16. We explore the major theories of inspiration, discuss where inspiration properly resides, and introduce the historic doctrine of Verbal Plenary Inspiration. Along the way, we consider the testimony of the early Church, the uniqueness of the Bible among all books ever written, and the implications of inspiration for biblical authority and trustworthiness. Understanding inspiration is essential because it serves as the foundation for everything we believe about Scripture. Before we can discuss inerrancy, authority, interpretation, or application, we must first answer a more basic question: What exactly is the Bible, and how did it come to us? 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

In this session of Through Theology in a Year, we explore one of the most important and misunderstood topics in modern Christianity: Bible translations. Why are there so many English Bibles? Why do some translations sound more literal while others read more naturally? And what are translators actually trying to accomplish when they create a new version of Scripture? In this lesson, we walk through the three major questions every translation committee must answer and examine the major approaches to translation philosophy, including formal equivalence, dynamic equivalence, and paraphrase. Along the way, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each method and provide examples of popular translations that fit within each category. Whether you are trying to choose a Bible for study, devotion, teaching, or outreach, this session will help you better understand the translation spectrum and the philosophy behind the English Bible in your hands. 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

Can a promise from God mean more than the original hearer understood without meaning less than what God actually said? This episode explores Isaiah 7, Genesis 15, Romans 11, sensus plenior, and why the faithfulness of God matters for the future of Israel.

Podcast culture is reshaping authority as trust in institutions collapses. This episode explores the shift from truth grounded in coherence to truth grounded in experience—and the rise of new “prophets.”

Ontological Argument: The Definitive Explanation In this episode, I walk through the ontological argument the way Anselm actually framed it—not the simplified version, but the real thing. God is defined as “that than which nothing greater can be conceived.” Once you understand that definition, the argument starts to press in on you in a way that’s hard to escape. If God exists only in the mind, then a greater being could be conceived—one that exists in reality. But that cannot be, because by definition nothing greater can be conceived. Therefore, God must exist not only in the understanding, but in reality. This all rests on a simple but powerful idea: existence is greater than non-existence. I argue in this episode that this isn’t just a clever philosophical trick—it’s airtight. Not because it forces you, but because once you truly grasp what is being said, you realize that denying it comes at a cost. This may be one of the most compelling explanations for God’s existence you’ve ever heard—because it doesn’t appeal to evidence outside of you, but to something unavoidable within reason itself. Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #TheologyUnplugged #OntologicalArgument #Anselm #PhilosophyOfReligion #ChristianTheology #Apologetics #GodExists #FaithAndReason #CredoCourses #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Basement Theology: Dispensationalism (With Gavin) This is something new—and honestly, something I should have started a long time ago. My nephew Gavin and I sat down in the basement, turned the cameras on, and had an unscripted conversation about dispensationalism. No prep, no polish—just real theology in real time. I’ll be the first to admit, it’s rough. The camera work needs help, the audio has some echo, and we weren’t even using our microphones the way we should have. But that’s not really the point. The point is this: Gavin wants to learn. And instead of waiting until everything is “ready,” we just started talking. That’s where theology actually begins—not in perfect systems, but in honest conversations. I’ve seen this before. When I used to talk with Tad, something changed. Theology became grounded, more accessible, more real. That’s exactly what’s happening here again. This is the beginning of something. If you like this format, let me know. We’ll keep doing more, keep refining it, and see where it goes. Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #BasementTheology #Dispensationalism #TheologyUnplugged #ChristianTheology #Discipleship #CredoHouse #ThroughTheChurchFathers