Michael J. Svigel
@svigel.bsky.social
Theology professor, department chair, patristic scholar, writer, husband, father. Passionate about the one Lord and his church.
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Michael J. Svigel
@svigel.bsky.social
· Nov 29
‘THE FATHERS ON THE FUTURE’—About 30% history and patristic eschatology, 20% systematic and practical theology, and 50% biblical theology, exposition, and exegesis.
Theology 101: If I seek to be rich and famous rather than righteous and faithful, I may end up rotten and filthy.
February 14, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Theology 101: If I seek to be rich and famous rather than righteous and faithful, I may end up rotten and filthy.
“Parenting is easy,” says the one who is too young to have parented much or too old to remember.
February 14, 2026 at 2:07 AM
“Parenting is easy,” says the one who is too young to have parented much or too old to remember.
Theology 101: Regardless of whether we are premillennial, amillennial, or postmillennial, one day we will all look back to the fulfillment of Revelation 20–21 as the culmination of our deepest hopes.
February 13, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Theology 101: Regardless of whether we are premillennial, amillennial, or postmillennial, one day we will all look back to the fulfillment of Revelation 20–21 as the culmination of our deepest hopes.
Theology 101: “The Church’s definitions of doctrine are only the railings which guard against falling into the abyss on both sides; they are like the buoys which mark off the proper channel.” (F. A. Philippi)
February 13, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Theology 101: “The Church’s definitions of doctrine are only the railings which guard against falling into the abyss on both sides; they are like the buoys which mark off the proper channel.” (F. A. Philippi)
Theology 101: I sometimes wonder how many of our well-planned, well-executed, innovative strategies for church growth are actually schemes for stealing members from other orthodox, Bible-believing churches.
February 12, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Theology 101: I sometimes wonder how many of our well-planned, well-executed, innovative strategies for church growth are actually schemes for stealing members from other orthodox, Bible-believing churches.
Theology 101: “By grace you have been saved, not because of works, but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.” (Polycarp of Smyrna, c. AD 110)
February 12, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Theology 101: “By grace you have been saved, not because of works, but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.” (Polycarp of Smyrna, c. AD 110)
Theology 101: Church, it’s best not even to flirt with Mr. State. Certainly don’t date him or marry him. I know he appears strong and handsome, and he says he has your interests in mind. He will use you, abuse you, and two-time you in a heartbeat. He always has; he always will.
February 11, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Theology 101: Church, it’s best not even to flirt with Mr. State. Certainly don’t date him or marry him. I know he appears strong and handsome, and he says he has your interests in mind. He will use you, abuse you, and two-time you in a heartbeat. He always has; he always will.
When someone says, “No offense, but…” prepare to be offended.
When someone says, “With all due respect…” prepare to be disrespected.
When someone says, “Not to be rude, but…” prepare to be belittled.
When someone says, “With all due respect…” prepare to be disrespected.
When someone says, “Not to be rude, but…” prepare to be belittled.
February 11, 2026 at 4:06 AM
When someone says, “No offense, but…” prepare to be offended.
When someone says, “With all due respect…” prepare to be disrespected.
When someone says, “Not to be rude, but…” prepare to be belittled.
When someone says, “With all due respect…” prepare to be disrespected.
When someone says, “Not to be rude, but…” prepare to be belittled.
Theology 101: If your church’s sanctuary is perfect for putting on a concert but lousy for observing communion, you got it backwards.
February 10, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Theology 101: If your church’s sanctuary is perfect for putting on a concert but lousy for observing communion, you got it backwards.
Theology 101: We are not commissioned merely to make believers by sharing a message, coaxing a response, and moving on. We are commissioned to make disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe Christ’s commands.
February 10, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Theology 101: We are not commissioned merely to make believers by sharing a message, coaxing a response, and moving on. We are commissioned to make disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe Christ’s commands.
Theology 101: Looking into my heart or examining my works for assurance of my salvation leads not to faith but to doubt. Looking to the person, work, and words of Christ alone gives me assurance.
February 10, 2026 at 5:15 AM
Theology 101: Looking into my heart or examining my works for assurance of my salvation leads not to faith but to doubt. Looking to the person, work, and words of Christ alone gives me assurance.
Gotta remind myself of this daily:
“If you can’t [post] somethin’ nice...don’t [post] nothin’ at all.” (Thumper)
“If you can’t [post] somethin’ nice...don’t [post] nothin’ at all.” (Thumper)
February 10, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Gotta remind myself of this daily:
“If you can’t [post] somethin’ nice...don’t [post] nothin’ at all.” (Thumper)
“If you can’t [post] somethin’ nice...don’t [post] nothin’ at all.” (Thumper)
Theology 101: When God established fellowship with His image-bearers, He didn't open a doorway to heaven; He planted a garden on earth.
February 10, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Theology 101: When God established fellowship with His image-bearers, He didn't open a doorway to heaven; He planted a garden on earth.
Theology 101: If faith without works is like a dead man, works without faith is like a zombie. Don’t be a spiritual zombie or a spiritual corpse. Live by the power of the Spirit of life.
February 9, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Theology 101: If faith without works is like a dead man, works without faith is like a zombie. Don’t be a spiritual zombie or a spiritual corpse. Live by the power of the Spirit of life.
Theology 101: Amazing, the sudden reform that occurs in the distance between a parked car and the church door. Amazing, the sudden backsliding that occurs between the church door and a parked car.
February 9, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Theology 101: Amazing, the sudden reform that occurs in the distance between a parked car and the church door. Amazing, the sudden backsliding that occurs between the church door and a parked car.
Theology 101: There are two kinds of Christians in need of reformation: those who fail to live up to the truth they proclaim and those whose proclamation fails to measure up to the truth. Neither group is beyond repentance and reform.
February 9, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Theology 101: There are two kinds of Christians in need of reformation: those who fail to live up to the truth they proclaim and those whose proclamation fails to measure up to the truth. Neither group is beyond repentance and reform.
Halftime show?! I didn’t make it half a minute into the actual show.
February 9, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Halftime show?! I didn’t make it half a minute into the actual show.
Them: “During the superbowl halftime, are you going to switch to the alternate—”
Me: “Let me stop you right there. You lost me at ‘during the Super Bowl.’”
Me: “Let me stop you right there. You lost me at ‘during the Super Bowl.’”
a man in a suit and tie is standing in an office with a plant in the background .
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is standing in an office with a plant in the background .
media.tenor.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:29 AM
Them: “During the superbowl halftime, are you going to switch to the alternate—”
Me: “Let me stop you right there. You lost me at ‘during the Super Bowl.’”
Me: “Let me stop you right there. You lost me at ‘during the Super Bowl.’”
Apparently there was some sports event on TV tonight that I totally missed. And I also missed out on a great source of outrage and indignation. I’ll try to do better next time.
Actually…
Actually…
a man is making a funny face and says i don 't care !
ALT: a man is making a funny face and says i don 't care !
media.tenor.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:21 AM
Apparently there was some sports event on TV tonight that I totally missed. And I also missed out on a great source of outrage and indignation. I’ll try to do better next time.
Actually…
Actually…
Theology 101: Christians should no more desire the kingdoms of this world than did their Lord (Matthew 4:8-9). The closer we cozy up with the rulers of this world, the farther we stray from the Kingdom of the Son.
February 9, 2026 at 3:53 AM
Theology 101: Christians should no more desire the kingdoms of this world than did their Lord (Matthew 4:8-9). The closer we cozy up with the rulers of this world, the farther we stray from the Kingdom of the Son.
Theology 101: It’s not gnostic to distinguish spiritual from physical baptism any more than it is to distinguish humanity and deity in Christ. To conflate the two is to fall into a monophysitic view of baptism. Incarnational theology distinguishes without separating, unites without conflating.
February 9, 2026 at 3:34 AM
Theology 101: It’s not gnostic to distinguish spiritual from physical baptism any more than it is to distinguish humanity and deity in Christ. To conflate the two is to fall into a monophysitic view of baptism. Incarnational theology distinguishes without separating, unites without conflating.
Theology 101: The church, in fulfilling its calling as the conscience of the kingdoms, needs to foster a culture of accountability—not to the lowest common denominator, but to a higher calling of public virtue.
February 9, 2026 at 3:16 AM
Theology 101: The church, in fulfilling its calling as the conscience of the kingdoms, needs to foster a culture of accountability—not to the lowest common denominator, but to a higher calling of public virtue.
On social media, a person’s wicked and ignorant ideas that used to be whispered without accountability in their tiny echo chambers are now broadcast with an amplifier.
February 9, 2026 at 2:42 AM
On social media, a person’s wicked and ignorant ideas that used to be whispered without accountability in their tiny echo chambers are now broadcast with an amplifier.
Theology 101: Expecting Christians to follow Christ’s teachings is not being legalistic.
Expecting Christians to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit is not being progressive.
Expecting Christians to live by classic Christian morality is not being radically right-wing.
Expecting Christians to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit is not being progressive.
Expecting Christians to live by classic Christian morality is not being radically right-wing.
February 8, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Theology 101: Expecting Christians to follow Christ’s teachings is not being legalistic.
Expecting Christians to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit is not being progressive.
Expecting Christians to live by classic Christian morality is not being radically right-wing.
Expecting Christians to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit is not being progressive.
Expecting Christians to live by classic Christian morality is not being radically right-wing.
Theology 101: One says true eschatology is Christ-centered, another kingdom-centered, another New-Covenant-centered, another future-Israel-centered, another New-Creation-centered, another body-of-Christ-centered. I say, in true eschatology, the first involves all the others.
February 8, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Theology 101: One says true eschatology is Christ-centered, another kingdom-centered, another New-Covenant-centered, another future-Israel-centered, another New-Creation-centered, another body-of-Christ-centered. I say, in true eschatology, the first involves all the others.