Camden, Jonathan and Jared chat about books on apologetics.
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Books on Apologetics
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21 Responses to “Books on Apologetics”
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I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve. (Romans 16:17-18)
I don’t agree with Kyle, when he stated he would never recommend Lee Strobel. I don’t read Strobel, but he has done some good work in putting together some of the evidences (I’m particularly thinking of a Case for Christ). The book you guys may have been thinking about early on in the program is Reasons for Faith: Making a Case for the Christian Faith, Eds. Geisler and Meister, Forewarded by Strobel. Unfortunately, they do not live up to the title, as it is not a defense of the Christian Faith.
A very good program would be if you guys would discuss one of the chapters in that book titled simply The Transcendental Argument, by Sean Choi. Choi critiques Bahnsen argument in his debate with Stein.
The reason why I would not recommend Lee Strobel is because there are better books for Apologetics, and as soon as someone puts their faith in ‘evidences’ then the apologetic is bankrupt. I am not saying that it is useless, rather that it only seeks to be de jure instead of de facto. I would recommend Lee Strobel to someone who already is a Reformed Van Tilian simply because it is a reaffirmation of the truth that Christians hold to in the first place, but I would refrain from suggesting it as a foundational treatise for the “Case for Christ.”
I agree Jonathan. Strobel’s book was very instrumental in my own life, and it certainly has a place, but I would not put it as a foundational apologetic work. We must always remember that connotation cannot be separated from denotation. This certainly is not the intent or spirit of The Case for Christ, but the apologetic method tends to lead one in that direction. Proving the resurrection doesn’t “mean” anything in particular, apologetically. A Stoic, for instance, would simply say Jesus’ resurrection must have been an atomic swerve. We cannot separate the fact/event of the resurrection from the meaning given to it from God’s Word. This is the heart of Lane Tipton’s essay in Revelation and Reason.
I benefited from this episode gentlemen. I’m trudging my way though Always Ready before I advance to Bahnsen’s Van Til Reader. I find Bahnsen, while helpful and precise, to be painfully repetitive in this volume; however, it’s been helpful to reorient my thinking on some things.
Keep up the good work.
Kyle (I believe it was Kyle) said he would never recommend Strobel, except for critique.
Stobel would not be on my list of general apologetic works, either. But, if someone was looking for answers on a particular evidential issue, I would turn those guys who have done the work in these areas (Habermas, et. al). I certainly don’t disagree with Tipton’s article on Acts 17, I believe the meaning needs to accompany the event.
Sorry guys, I’m getting my names mixed up. I guess I should have been saying Jared, not Kyle!
Listening now.
Lee Strobel’s strength I think (I’ve read Case for Christ and Case for a Creator) is pointing you to other sources. He interviews a bunch of different people — now, go read what those people have written.
Van Til’s Defense of the Faith is a class notes and syllabus pulled together and published, eh? How many other times have we seen strong books like this? I can think of Vos’s Biblical Theology and MGK’s Kingdom Prologue just off the top of my head.
There is a Kyle Oliphint. If I’m not mistaken, it’s Jared’s uncle. Good discussion guys. Love Van Til!!!!!
Just a clarification, I would recommend Stroebel, especially with a hint of garlic in a white sauce, light ont he cream over al dente penne pasta and a nice red wine.
Excellent show!
By the way, I would throw into the mix “The Reformed Pastor and Modern Thought.” This is where Van Tillianism came home for me.
Interesting. I picked this one up a few months ago, but haven’t made my way through all of it yet. The Psychology of Religion is another interesting, yet oft forgotten, one from Dr. Van Til.
Yes, Kyle Oliphint is my uncle but no, I wasn’t the one who mentioned Stroebel. That was Jonathan Brack (see above). I agree that Strobel and others of that school may have a helpful place in simply informing some Reformed readers of what else is out there, but if we’re talking content and methodology there is no reason at all to read that over Van Til, Bahnsen, etc.
And yes, Kyle does like to read apologetics books over a nice, candlelit Italian dinner.
Who wouldn’t? Just as long as he doesn’t take his Van Til books out on a date. That would be a little bit over the line.
Hi Guys,
This was a very helpful program for me. I’m just slightly getting my feet wet with presupositionalism and have ordered The Battle Belongs to The Lord. I can see (hear) how you all enjoy discussing apologetics and seem to know just about everything. I’m not a seminarian so how can apologetics help me when talking with my mechanic, plumber, shopkeeper or a highschool teacher. Does apologeticts have any value outside of the seminary or is it not really for the people in the pew and only for philosophers.
Thanks for the programs, much appreciated.
Mike
UPDATE.
I now have the book – The Battle Belongs to The Lord – and can already see it answers my previous questions. This looks to be a most helpful book. It could also be useful for group study, and I am going to approach our leadership about this.
I just wanted to comment on the very inadequate way I put this: ‘seem to know just about everything.’ I want to say I am not in any way whatsoever implying that you are a bunch of ‘know it alls’. Camden often says ‘I did not know that’. What I meant was, I feel acutely my own lack of knowledge and understanding in so many areas.
I very much enjoy the broadcasts and do actually learn a lot. Thanks again for all your work.
Mike
Mike,
Thanks for the comments. I’m glad you’re finding The Battle Belongs to the Lord helpful. Related to your earlier comment, I’d listen to the middle part of Christ the Center 104: Listener Co-Hosts when we spoke with Gabe Fluher. Gabe is an associate pastor that works with youth and has had an interesting experience teaching and using apologetics with young people.
Hi Camden,
Thanks for the pointer, I’ll check it out.
Have any of you ever read “The Certainty of the Faith” by Richard B. Ramsey, and “Does God Believe in Atheists?” by John Blanchard? If so, what did you think of them?
I read “The Certainty of the Faith” and for the most part enjoyed it. I thought is was broadly presuppositional and not as thoroughly reformed as it could have been, but overall a good book.
What were your impressions of the Blanchard book? Overall, I thought it was a thorough and generally devastating critique of atheism.
I haven’t read the Blanchard book. I’ll have to take a look.