Michael J. Svigel
@svigel.bsky.social
420 followers 87 following 730 posts
Theology professor, department chair, patristic scholar, writer, husband, father. Passionate about the one Lord and his church.
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svigel.bsky.social
‘THE FATHERS ON THE FUTURE’—About 30% history and patristic eschatology, 20% systematic and practical theology, and 50% biblical theology, exposition, and exegesis.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: I’m surprised at the number of folks who reject the perspicuity of Scripture who seem to embrace the perspicuity of the church fathers. Like, you can’t understand the Bible without the Fathers, but with minimal effort you’re a patristic scholar?
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: Depraved humanity’s godless attempts at ascending out of darkness result in descending deeper into the abyss.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: If somebody introduces himself or herself as an “eschatologist,” run. Don’t ask questions. Don’t look back. Just run.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: God owes me nothing, I owe him everything; I can’t pay him anything, he paid everything.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 301: In light of the “futurist view of Revelation started in the 16th century” absurdity, I’m more convinced that I didn’t write the book on eschatology most people want, I wrote the book on eschatology most people need.

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svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: Now they’re saying the futurist view of Revelation was invented by a Jesuit in the 16th century. Listen, people, Irenaeus’s Against Heresies Book 5 is available for free online and anybody can read it. Hippolytus’s on Christ and Antichrist is, too. Good grief!
svigel.bsky.social
This original intent, tragically, was by-and-by betrayed by damning legitimate opinions within historic diversity of doctrine and dogmatizing demonstrable doctrinal novelty.
svigel.bsky.social
It was not their intent to settle disputes over matters for which true Christians enjoyed freedom of opinion and diversity from the start; nor was it their intent to dogmatize new doctrines developed in the course of history.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: The express intent of the first ecumenical councils was to confess in unity as the church catholic—against novelties of heretics—the apostolic faith believed everywhere, always, and by all.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: The promises of God are just as reliable as the promises of politicians aren’t. Place your faith, hope, and love in the right one.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: Anybody who says “It can’t get much worse than this” hasn’t read Revelation. Anybody who says “It doesn’t get any better than this” hasn’t read Revelation.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: No, Church History is not “the study of how everybody misinterpreted the Bible until we came along.”
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: “Paul does not preach the gospel for his daily bread; he eats his daily bread that he may preach.” (Bernard of Clairvaux)
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: You can’t have it both ways—you can’t “resist the antichrist” in the abstract while failing to resist the things the spirit of antichrist promotes: flattery, apostasy, lawlessness, destruction, materialism, self-exaltation, deception, warmongering, arrogance, and blasphemy.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: "He alone has made solid progress in the Gospel who has acquired the habit of meditating continually on a blessed resurrection.” (Calvin)
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: Imagine if God promised to meet you every week at the same place to feed you spiritually. Would you make it a priority to show up?

He has.

And you should.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: If you’ve ever sung a song in church that brought you to tears, then you’ve proven that reciting written prayers or praises can be just as heart-felt as your unscripted words. Corporate liturgy is good, actually.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: “Where God builds a church, the devil erects a chapel by its side.” (Schaff)
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: “There is nothing better than peace, by which all warfare among those in heaven and those on earth is abolished.” (Ignatius of Antioch)
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: I can’t recall ever making a wise decision out of hatred, fear, or anger.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 301: Before saying “In Heaven we will praise God before his throne for all eternity” ever again, please, for the love of what is good and true, please read at least chapters 4, 14, and 20 of this book.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: The God-man was born of a virgin; the God-man kept the Law; the God-man taught by word and deed; the God-man died for our sins; the God-man rose from the dead; the God-man ascended to heaven; the God-man is exalted on high; the God-man will return as judge and king.
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: “Who has redeemed another’s death by his own, but the Son of God alone? For even in His very passion He set the robber free. For to this end had He come, that, being Himself pure from sin, and in all respects holy, He might undergo death on behalf of sinners.” (Tertullian)
svigel.bsky.social
Theology 101: If a teacher of the Word—who explains the oracles of God—will be to a high standard and strict judgment, how much more will a prophet—who claims to be speaking the very oracles of God—be held to a higher standard and stricter judgment.