Christian Apologetics [Paperback]

Cornelius Van Til (Author), William Edgar (Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: P & R Publishing; 2 edition (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875525113
• ISBN-13: 978-0875525112
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Principle, Tiring Presentation, October 25, 2003

By 

David R. Bess (Charleston, WV) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christian Apologetics (Paperback)

This title is the first one I have read by Van Til. I am beginning to understand why he is seen as such a classic apologist. His principle is timeless -- one's pre-suppositions and worldview must begin with the truth of the Scriptures. He shows why other systems of thought are flawed, in that they do not have their foundation on the Word of God.

While his principle here, profoundly stated, is timeless, his presentation is tiring. This book is hard to read and to follow. Perhaps if Van Til's work had been more recent his presentation would have been easier to digest.

Van Til also makes his point by focusing on Arminians and Catholic thought systems, rather than on secular thought systems. The author gives the impression that he is defending his own reformed position, rather than defending historic, biblical Christianity. While he IS defending the Christian faith, using a wider variety of examples would have made defense clearer and more compelling.

This book is NOT for the faint of heart. Van Til is a deep thinker and a dogmatic, reformed theologian. I recommend it only to those people who have a strong interest in apologetics in general or in Van Til in particular.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introduction to Van Til and His Method, February 12, 2004

By 

Camden M. Bucey "camdenbucey" (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christian Apologetics (Paperback)

This book is an excellent introduction to Cornelius Van Til's presuppositional apologetic. Written as an introductory work for his students at Westminster Seminary, it includes the theological foundations of the method and the philosophical, epistemological, and methodological issues surrounding apologetics.

Van Til spends much of this book explaining the shortcomings of the Roman Catholic and Arminian apologetic methods while demonstrating how the Reformed presuppositional framework is the proper framework to employ when apologizing from a Biblical worldview.

I recommend this book to any person looking for a solid introduction to Van Tillian thought written by Van Til himself and including insightful comments by William Edgar, professor of apologetics at Westminster Seminary.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Small but insightful..., September 30, 2004

By 

M. P. Ryan (Bowen Is, BC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christian Apologetics (Paperback)

Originally a basic text for his introductory course in apologetics, today this small but insightful book will undoubtedly serve to introduce a new generation of students to Van Til's distinctive approach to Christian apologetics. Although a good starting-place for understanding Van Til's thought in general, yet the real strengths of this book are its clarity and conciseness (two qualities only heightened by Edgar's respectful editorial hand). Now typeset and published with translated foreign terms and annotative footnotes that open up Van Til's meaning to even the neophyte, this work is sure to become a popular entry-way into presuppositional apologetics. Modifications aside, another reason that makes purchasing this second edition worthwhile is Bill Edgar's introductory essay. An essay that in only fifteen pages manages to: set Van Til in apologetic and ideological context, clarify presuppositional apologetics against still too common misconceptions, and offer a prefatory tour of the content, style and features of this volume. A compliment to Edgar's Westminster predecessor and a genuine improvement over the first edition, I hope this newly packaged text achieves a wide reading and that additional volumes in what was the "Cornelius Van Til Collection" can receive similar treatment in due course.