Theology Unplugged

C. Michael Patton
  • 4.1 (92)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Semiweekly

Join C. Michael Patton and friends for Theology Unplugged, a weekly podcast that dives deep into Christian theology, exploring challenging questions, and offering insightful discussions to deepen your faith. Discover the truth, embrace the journey, and engage with thought-provoking topics every week.

  1. 2d ago

    86. Through Theology in a Year: Biblical Docetism

    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

  2. Jun 11

    85. Through Theology in a Year: Can Scripture Mean More Than Its Author Intended?

    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

    49 min

  3. Jun 10

    84. Through Theology in a Year: Theories of Inspiration

    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

    40 min

  4. Jun 5

    If Everything Is in Italics, Nothing Is in Italics

    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

    32 min

  5. May 29

    83 - Through Theology in a Year - The Inspiration of Scripture

    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

    1h 45m

  6. May 19

    82 - Through Theology in a Year - Bible Translations

    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

    1h 45m

  7. Apr 8

    Israel, the Camaro, and the Faithfulness of God

    Israel, the Camaro, and the Faithfulness of God Can a promise from God mean more than the original hearer understood without meaning less than what God actually said? In this episode of Theology Unplugged, we look at one of the most important questions in biblical interpretation: how should Christians understand Old Testament promises in light of Christ, progressive revelation, typology, and the New Testament? The issue is not whether Scripture can have a fuller meaning. It can. The question is whether that fuller meaning can erase or reverse the original meaning of the promise. Using Isaiah 7, Genesis 15, Genesis 17, Galatians 3:29, and Romans 11, we explore the principle of sensus plenior, the “fuller sense” of Scripture. Isaiah’s prophecy to Ahaz had a real meaning in its own historical setting, but Matthew later shows its greater fulfillment in the virgin birth of Christ. It meant more than Ahaz understood, but it did not mean less. That same principle becomes especially important when we come to the promises made to Abraham. In Genesis 15, God alone passes between the divided animals, taking the covenant burden upon Himself. In Genesis 17, the land promise is described as an “everlasting possession.” So when many Christians believe ethnic Israel still has a future, they are not denying that the church shares in the blessings of Abraham. They are saying God will fulfill the promise as Abraham understood it, because God Himself swore to do it. And yes, this is where the Camaro illustration comes in. If a father promises his son a 1969 Camaro SS and later gives him a bicycle named “Camaro,” that is not deeper fulfillment. That is a bait and switch. This episode argues that the promises of God are stable because God works through language as we understand it. Scripture may mean more than the original hearer grasped, but it cannot mean less. 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 #Israel #AbrahamicCovenant #Dispensationalism #BiblicalInterpretation #SensusPlenior #Romans11 #Genesis15 #ChristianTheology #Eschatology #ThroughTheChurchFathers

    1 hr

  8. Apr 8

    The New Prophets: Authority, Experience, and the Collapse of Trust

    The New Prophets: Authority, Experience, and the Collapse of Trust Podcast culture is telling us something—and it’s not just about who people are listening to, but why they trust them. As voices like Joe Rogan and Shawn Ryan rise, trust in institutions continues to collapse. Government, media, and even scientific authorities are no longer seen as stable sources of truth. But this does not mean truth itself is disappearing. It means confidence in those who interpret and deliver truth is fading. In this episode, I make a critical distinction: science isn’t collapsing—trust in interpreters of science is. Science is a method. But people don’t live by methods—they live by meaning. And when the messengers lose credibility, people begin looking elsewhere for something to anchor their understanding of reality. The deeper issue is that we are no longer building complete worldviews. Instead, we are assembling beliefs like a playlist—pulling ideas from wherever they resonate without asking whether they actually fit together. But a real worldview must answer real questions: What is ultimate reality? How do we know anything? Are there real morals? What is our purpose? What happens after death? When those questions go unanswered, a vacuum is created. And that vacuum never stays empty. This is where the “new prophets” begin to emerge—not from institutions, but from experience. And in a world that no longer trusts shared authority, experience itself begins to take the throne. This episode sets the stage for understanding how we got here—and why what replaces truth may be far more dangerous than what we lost. 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 #Worldview #Truth #Authority #Postmodernism #Apologetics #ChristianTheology #FaithAndReason #CredoCourses #ThroughTheChurchFathers

    1 hr
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About

Join C. Michael Patton and friends for Theology Unplugged, a weekly podcast that dives deep into Christian theology, exploring challenging questions, and offering insightful discussions to deepen your faith. Discover the truth, embrace the journey, and engage with thought-provoking topics every week.

Information

  • Creator
    C. Michael Patton
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    511
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © C. Michael Patton
  • Show Website
    Theology Unplugged

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