Theology Unplugged

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 criteria for recognizing Scripture - The role of Church Fathers and early councils - The distinction b...

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 Thirteenth-tracing a line from theological clarity and imperial coronations to Reformation crisis and modern ren...

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 mean it's not real-our worldview as Christians must embrace the reality of the strange and supernatura...

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 buying-a split-second decision that feels urgent but ends in regret. I'll share a personal story about a s...

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 fellowship in the '90s to debating theology over coffee with Arminians like Paul Copan and Wesleyans like Thoma...

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, family, reason, pastors, creation, and theologians influence what we believe. Some of these are good....

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 (Unmoved Mover) - the source of all things 4. The Greatest Conceivable Being - the perfect, ultimate re...

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 instead shows how the early church organically received certain writings as authoritative. It's not about c...

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 terror-an intense dream that left me rattled and reflecting on the reality of spiritual warfare. After that, t...

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 definition of canon, examine where the idea of a "closed canon" comes from, and ask who-if anyone-had the...

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 faith more multi-dimensional? By understanding these frameworks, we can appreciate the richness of Christ...

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 approaches. From the NIV to the ESV, the King James Version to The Message, we break down the differences and...

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 their identity, motives, and audience. Tune in for an engaging discussion! Get involved: Michael's publ...

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 every way. This leads us into a deeper discussion on why Christ's humanity matters for our faith, how it...

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 theology, life, and what it means to follow Christ in a real and meaningful way. Whether you're a believer, a s...

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, the theological debates around them, and why we should be open to different expressions of worship and...

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, from Reformation confessionalism to modern biblical theology. We explore the great thinkers-Irenaeus, T...

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 of errors appear in manuscripts, and how do scholars identify and evaluate them? What materials were use...

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 contention: the nature of the Eucharist. We also discuss Zwingli's accusation that Luther deviated from Chalc...

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 equal or greater authority. By addressing common objections and reinforcing the biblical foundation of S...

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, infallible, and final revelation for matters of faith and salvation. While general revelation (nature and r...

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 certain respects, ultimately falls short. I argue that it is unnecessary, unbiblical, and there is a better...

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 the Magisterium. Michael walks through seven key arguments in defense of this position, presenting the...

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 "word for word identical" to Codex Leningradus sparked criticism. Michael explains why this statement was...

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 perspective was explored, including its rationale and implications for how Christians view authority in Scr...