Episodes

  • Israel, the Camaro, and the Faithfulness of God

    Israel, the Camaro, and the Faithfulness of God
    Apr 8 2026
    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
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    1 hr
  • The New Prophets: Authority, Experience, and the Collapse of Trust

    The New Prophets: Authority, Experience, and the Collapse of Trust
    Apr 8 2026
    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
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    1 hr
  • Ontological Argument: The Definitive Explanation

    Ontological Argument: The Definitive Explanation
    Apr 2 2026
    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
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    1 hr
  • Basement Theology: Dispensationalism (With Gavin)

    Basement Theology: Dispensationalism (With Gavin)
    Mar 17 2026
    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
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    1 hr
  • 1 - Through Theology in a Year - Miracles (Pilot Episode)

    1 - Through Theology in a Year - Miracles (Pilot Episode)
    Nov 18 2025
    #1 - Miracles (Pilot Episode) This is the pilot episode introducing our new journey through Craig S. Keener’s monumental two-volume work **Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts**. In this opening session, we talk through why this study matters, how we'll approach it in community, and what makes the topic of miracles so compelling—especially for those of us who sit in the non-charismatic tradition yet remain deeply curious. We explore how Keener frames the global reality of miracle claims, the philosophical assumptions we often bring to the table, and why reevaluating this topic can strengthen—not weaken—our understanding of God’s work in the world. This pilot also lays out the goals for the series: honest inquiry, careful theology, and a place where questions can breathe. 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 #Miracles #CraigKeener #TheologyUnplugged #Apologetics #ChristianPhilosophy #Supernatural #ThroughTheChurchFathers #CredoHouse #SystematicTheology
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    1 hr and 45 mins
  • 81 - Through Theology in a Year - The Self-Authentication of Scripture

    81 - Through Theology in a Year - The Self-Authentication of Scripture
    Nov 18 2025
    #81 - The Self-Authentication of Scripture In this episode, we explore what it means to say that Scripture is self-authenticating. If God is the highest authority, then His Word does not require validation from any external source. Drawing from Calvin’s understanding of the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit, we examine why divine revelation stands on its own authority. We walk through Deuteronomy 13, Deuteronomy 18, and Exodus 20:3 to build a biblical framework for recognizing God’s voice. Together, these passages form a clear foundation for understanding how God confirms His own Word. This session continues our journey through theology in a year as we ground our confidence not in shifting human institutions, but in the authority of God Himself. 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 #ThroughTheologyInAYear #SolaScriptura #BiblicalAuthority #SelfAuthentication #ReformedTheology #Scripture #Apologetics #CredoMinistries
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    1 hr and 45 mins
  • Roman Catholic Authority

    Roman Catholic Authority
    May 24 2025
    In this session, we explore the structure of Roman Catholic authority from a Protestant perspective. What is the Magisterium, and how does it function alongside Scripture and Tradition? What does apostolic succession really mean, and how is infallibility understood? This episode aims to unpack the internal logic of Rome's authority structure-not to caricature it, but to understand it. My goal is to help Protestants see how it fits together from within the Catholic system, while also offering points of reflection and challenge. If you've ever wondered why Catholics trust the Church in the way they do, this is a great place to start.

    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
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    1 hr
  • 78 - Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Why the Apocrypha Was Never Meant to Be Apocryphal

    78 - Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Why the Apocrypha Was Never Meant to Be Apocryphal
    May 23 2025
    In this episode, I step into unfamiliar territory as a Protestant: making the strongest possible case for the inclusion of the deuterocanonical books-those writings often labeled *Apocrypha* like *Tobit*, *Judith*, *Wisdom*, *Sirach*, and *1-2 Maccabees*. I walk through the theological logic of the Catholic position: the organic relationship between Scripture and Church, the role of apostolic tradition, and why early liturgical use might point to divine inspiration. What if these books weren't added later-but preserved for a reason? Then, I shift perspectives and respond from a Protestant point of view. I wrestle honestly with the question: How do we define canon? Does apostolicity matter more than usage? Can moral usefulness be confused with divine authority? No history yet-Athanasius, Jerome, Cajetan, and the rest will get their day. This episode is all about setting the theological stage. This is the best Catholic argument I know. And it deserves a serious Protestant answer. 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
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    1 hr