Apologetics
Overview
In this important work, eminent Reformed thinker Cornelius Van Til offers a Christian apologetic that includes five chapters titled "The System of Christian Truth, The Christian Philosophy of Life, The Point of Contact, The Problem of Method," and "Authority and Reason." Van Til begins the work with the words, “Apologetics is the vindication of the Christian philosophy of life against the various forms of the non-Christian philosophy of life.”
Top Highlights
“Apologetics is the vindication of the Christian philosophy of life against the various forms of the non-Christian philosophy of life.” (Page 1)
“In short, there is an historical and there is a philosophical aspect to the defense of Christian theism. Evidences deals largely with the historical while apologetics deals largely with the philosophical aspect. Each has its own work to do but they should constantly be in touch with one another.” (Page 2)
“The Bible is at the center not only of every course, but at the center of the curriculum as a whole. The Bible is thought of as authoritative on everything of which it speaks. Moreover, it speaks of everything. We do not mean that it speaks of football games, of atoms, etc., directly, but we do mean that it speaks of everything either directly or by implication.” (Page 2)
“It is apparent from this that if we would really defend Christianity as an historical religion we must at the same time defend the theism upon which Christianity is based.” (Page 2)
“Christianity can never be separated from some theory about the existence and the nature of God. The result is that Christian theism must be thought of as a unit.” (Page 1)
Dr. Cornelius Van Til, served as a professor of apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, for 43 years. He retired in 1972, but remained as an emeritus professor until his death in 1987. Van Til, an immigrant from The Netherlands, was one of the most respected apologetic theologians of his time.
Van Til earned degrees from Calvin College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Princeton University on his way to becoming an Orthodox Presbyterian Minister. He served throughout the ministry and scholarly fields, including teaching as an instructor of apologetics at Princeton Theological Seminary and being heavily involved with the foundation of the Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy.
His most noted writings include The New Modernism, The Defense of the Faith, and Christianity and Barthianism. Much of his work with apologetics focuses on the presuppositions of humans, the difference between believers and non-believers, and the opposition between Christian and non-Christian worldviews.
More information about Van Til as a teacher and Reformed theologian is available in an article Eric Sigward wrote for New Horizons entitled "Van Til Made Me Reformed." Read the article as HTML or PDF (copyright 2004 by New Horizons; used by permission)
Reviews
5 ratings
Jacob Nannie
12/1/2020
It is missing proper page numbers, introduction by William Edgar, and index. This is mainly a problem for seminary students writing a book review last minute like myself. My only other complain is that Logos has it tiled "Apologetics" The actual title is "Christain Apologetics." These are very simple fixes that I hope Logos can update soon!
Donald P. Mosteller, Jr.
11/2/2017
David Wilson Jr
9/19/2015
David Leslie Bond
4/21/2014
