PODCAST · religion
Theology Unplugged
by C. Michael Patton
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.
Episodes
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Credo House Update and New Book Announcement
What's happening with Credo House? What does the future hold for the ministry, our books, and our ongoing theological projects? In this episode of Theology Unplugged, Michael Patton gives a general update on Credo House Ministries, current projects, and plans for the future. Michael announces the...
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When Intellect Fails: The Witness of the Mind and Heart
What happens when the mind can no longer give the certainty the heart needs? Can theology, arguments, and intellectual conviction carry us through seasons of doubt, suffering, and spiritual darkness? In this episode of Theology Unplugged, Michael reflects on the relationship between the mind and...
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90. Through Theology in a Year: The Headcrusher and the Unity of Scripture
How can the Bible be one unified story when it was written by more than forty authors across roughly fifteen hundred years, in different places, languages, cultures, and historical settings? In this episode of Theology Unplugged, Michael argues that the progressive unity of Scripture is one of…
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Talking Theology with My Daughter Kylee: Can the Church Replace Israel?
In this episode of Theology Unplugged, Michael is joined by his daughter Kylee for a lively and personal conversation about Israel, the Church, and the promises God made to Abraham. Michael reads and expands upon his recent article arguing that a promise may ultimately mean more than its original...
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89. Through Theology in a Year: The Bible Is Irrelevant
Is the Bible filled with irrelevant details? In one sense, yes—and that may be one reason to trust it. The biblical writers frequently preserve small, vivid, seemingly unnecessary details that do not advance the plot, establish a doctrine, or strengthen an argument. Why include them at all? In…
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88. Through Theology in a Year: Why the Gospels Are Embarrassing
Why do the Gospel writers preserve stories that appear awkward, damaging, or even embarrassing to the earliest Christians? If the Gospels were invented to persuade people to follow Jesus, why did their authors include details that made Jesus' family, His disciples, and some of His most important...
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87. Through Theology in a Year: Evidencing Inspiration
How can we be certain that the Bible is inspired? What evidence supports the Christian claim that the Scriptures are uniquely the Word of God? In this episode of Theology Unplugged, Michael begins examining the cumulative case for biblical inspiration, including Scripture's self-attestation, its...
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Will the True Church Please Stand Up?
What happens when we become convinced that our church, our tradition, or our denomination is the official gatekeeper of the kingdom of God? In this episode of Theology Unplugged, Michael explores a surprising pattern that runs throughout the Gospels. Again and again, the disciples appoint...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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Ontological Argument: The Definitive Explanation
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…
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Basement Theology: Dispensationalism (With Gavin)
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...
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1 - Through Theology in a Year - Miracles (Pilot Episode)
#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**. Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon –...
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81 - Through Theology in a Year - The Self-Authentication of Scripture
#81 - The Self-Authentication of Scripture
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Roman Catholic Authority
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…
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78 - Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Why the Apocrypha Was Never Meant to Be Apocryphal
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…
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Getting to Know Rome
In this first session of our series on Roman Catholicism, we explore its foundations from a Protestant perspective-graciously and truthfully. What is Rome? How did it develop? Why does it matter today? This series invites you to understand the structure, beliefs, and beauty of the Roman Catholic...
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77 - Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Historical Development of the Canon
In this session, we explore the definition and historical development of the biblical canon. What do we mean when we talk about "the canon of Scripture"? How did the Church recognize which books belonged in the Bible-and when? We will trace the formation of the canon through: - The early church's...
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What's in a Name? What You Need to Know About Pope Leo
Today we explore the legacy of one of the most powerful papal names in Church history-Leo. With the election of Leo the Fourteenth, many are asking what it means to choose that name. We walk through the legacies of Leo the First (Leo the Great), Leo the Third, Leo the Tenth, and Leo the...
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These Two Passages Are Completely Bizarre!
In today's episode, we dive into Genesis 6 and 1 Kings 22 to crash those neatly packaged theological assumptions. These passages remind us that God intentionally includes the bizarre and the unexpected in Scripture to keep us from getting too comfortable. Just because something is bizarre doesn't...
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The Most Basic Definition of Sin: Harmartiology for the Rest of Us
In this episode, we dive deep into one of the clearest and most haunting illustrations of sin in the Bible: Esau trading his birthright for "that red stuff." What compels us to give up what matters most for something so empty and fleeting? We'll unpack how sin functions like spiritual impulse...
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Can We Be Wrong in Heaven? Confessions of a Mystical Calvinist
In this episode of Theology Unplugged, C. Michael Patton explores one of the most personal and humorous tensions in his theological journey: what if we're still wrong in heaven? What if glorification doesn't mean omniscience, but sanctified curiosity? From being kicked out of a Calvinist…
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12 Sources Shape Your Every Belief
When we ask, "Who is God?", we often assume we're going straight to the Bible. But we're not. The truth is, every Christian pulls from at least 12 different sources-often unconsciously-when building their theology. In this episode, we look at how things like culture, tradition, emotions, friends,...
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The 4 Hidden Ways We Define "God" Without Realizing It
Before we ask Who is God?, we have to answer a more foundational question: What is God? In this episode, we walk through four ways people-consciously or unconsciously-define "God": 1. That Which We Worship - what we value most 2. A Celestial Being - something more powerful than us 3. The Creator...
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76. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Criteria for the Canon of Scripture
In this episode of Through Theology in a Year, C. Michael Patton explores how the canon of Scripture was recognized rather than arbitrarily chosen. He challenges some common fables of canonicity-like the idea that books were accepted based purely on age, apostolic authorship, or language-and...
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Debate with Constintina About Baptismal Regeneration, The Night Demons Came to My Roome, and Much More
In this episode of Theology Unplugged, I kick things off with a deep dive into the Pseudepigrapha-those fascinating ancient writings that didn't make it into the biblical canon, but still show up all over early Christian thought. Then I shift into a raw retelling of a recent demonic night…
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75. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Is the Canon Really Closed?
Today's episode asks one of the most foundational and unsettling questions in theology: Is the canon of Scripture actually closed? Not whether it should be or whether it feels closed, but whether anyone-church, council, or community-has the authority to close it. We walk through exploring the...
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God's Multi-Dimensional Ways to Engage Our Faith
In this episode of Theology Unplugged, we explore the spectrum of philosophical systems and how they shape our understanding of faith. From fideism to empiricism, existentialism to rationalism, we see that God engages with us through multiple avenues-not just one. What if He wants to make your...
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74. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Why So Many Bible Translations and How to Navigate Them
Episode 74 of 'Through Theology in a Year' takes you on a journey through the intricacies of manuscript evaluation and Bible translation. We'll explore the three key elements that add value to any discovered manuscript, and then dive into how translation committees decide on their specific...
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72. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Deliberate Changes to the Bible By Early Scribes?
Welcome back to 'Through Theology in a Year.' Today, we're diving into 'Textual Criticism #2' with a specific English example to illustrate how different mistakes, both unintentional and intentional, were made in the early Church. We'll explore why scribes might deliberately alter texts based on...
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44. Conversations with Tad: How Human Was Jesus?
In this episode of Conversations with Tad, we dive into the humanity of Christ-what it truly meant for Jesus to walk among us, experience temptation, feel sorrow, and even wrestle with human limitations. As we talk, Tad has a realization that Jesus wasn't just God in disguise but fully human in...
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43. Conversations with Tad: What Does it Mean to be a "Good" Christian?
Conversations with Tad is an ongoing dialogue between me and my good friend, Tad, as we explore faith, doubt, and the Christian journey. Tad became a Christian some time ago, and these conversations provide an honest and personal look at his experiences, struggles, and growth. We discuss…
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High Church, Low Church, and Everything in Between: Exploring Church Governance
What makes a church high church or low church? Is a formal, liturgical service more biblical than a simple, informal gathering? And how do different traditions-Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Congregational-approach church governance? In this episode, we explore the structures of church leadership,...
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A History of the Systematic Theology Genre: From Justin Martyr to Grudem
In this episode of Theology Unplugged, we trace the history of systematic theology, from the early Apologists like Justin Martyr to modern biblical theology. Theology has evolved through philosophy, logic, Scripture, and experience, shifting from Platonic mysticism to Aristotelian scholasticism,...
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71. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Introduction to Textual Criticism
In this episode, we take a foundational look at textual criticism-the study of how the biblical text has been transmitted over time. Before we can confidently engage with Scripture, we must understand how it was copied, preserved, and passed down through history. Were there mistakes? What kinds…
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The Marburg Colloquy
In this episode, we dive into the Marburg Colloquy, exploring the pivotal theological debate between Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli. We'll examine the historical context of their Christological discussions, highlighting the fourteen points of agreement and the critical fifteenth point of...
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70. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - The Final Defense of Sola Scriptura
In this final episode on Sola Scriptura, we bring together the key arguments that demonstrate why Scripture is the final and ultimate authority for faith and practice. We examine the Bereans in Acts 17, Paul's words in 2 Timothy 3:16, and the historical problems with relying on the Church as an...
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69. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Misconceptions About Sola Scriptura
Many misunderstand Sola Scriptura-some reducing it to "Scripture is the only authority" and others dismissing it as an impossible standard. But what does Sola Scriptura actually mean? In this episode, we define Sola Scriptura as the doctrine that Scripture alone is the uniquely God-breathed,...
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68. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - The Ultimate Refutation of Roman Catholic Authority
In this episode, I present a decisive refutation of Roman Catholic authority, challenging the concept of apostolic succession and its claim to ultimate authority. Building on the six defenses I previously outlined for Roman Catholic theology, I demonstrate why this system, while pragmatic in...
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67. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Defense of Roman Catholic "Tri-Fold" Authority
In this episode of Through Theology in a Year, C. Michael Patton explores the Roman Catholic view of authority, often referred to as Sola Ecclesia or what he calls the "Tri-Fold" view. This theological framework relies on three interconnected sources of authority: Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and...
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The "Word for Word" Wesely Huff Controversy: Navigating the Dead Sea Scrolls
In this episode of Theology Unplugged, Michael unpacks the recent controversy surrounding Wesley Huff's debate with Billy Carson, which led to Huff's appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast. While Huff passionately defended the reliability of biblical manuscripts, his claim that the Isaiah Scroll is...
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66. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - Authority Across the Specturm
In session 66 of Through Theology in a Year, titled Authority Across the Spectrum, we examined various perspectives on authority in the Christian faith. Using detailed charts, we defined and compared Sola Scriptura with Sola Ecclesia, Dual Source Theory, Regula Fide, and Nuda Scriptura. Each...
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65. Through Theology in a Year with C. Michael Patton - The Fathers and Authority
In session 65 of Through Theology in a Year, titled The Church Fathers and Authority, we explored how early church fathers like Tertullian, Irenaeus, Chrysostom, Augustine, and Athanasius understood the concept of authority. Together, we examined their balanced perspectives, recognizing Scripture...
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Christianity vs. Other Religions
In this special edition, we step outside Through Theology in a Year to explore something different. First, we tackle Christianity versus other religions-what makes the Christian faith distinct in a world of competing beliefs? Then, we dive into an exciting new journey: Church Fathers in a Year,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
HOSTED BY
C. Michael Patton
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Theology Unplugged currently has 524 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Theology Unplugged 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...
How often does Theology Unplugged release new episodes?
Theology Unplugged releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 524 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
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Who hosts Theology Unplugged?
Theology Unplugged is created and hosted by C. Michael Patton.
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