Classical Apologetics [Paperback]

John H. Gerstner (Author), Arthur W. Lindsley (Author), R.C. Sproul (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 1984

Must a person accept Christianity on faith alone, or is there a reasoned defense for being a Christian? The authors of this book hold that Christianity is eminently reasonable. The primacy of the mind in the Christian faith can be affirmed without denying the importance of the heart. This book embraces reason without rationalism, personal love without personalism, faith without fideism is our capacity to love Him. The book is divided into three parts. Section I is a prolegomenon dealing with the problems and methods of apologetics. Section II develops the theistic proofs and authority of Scripture. Section III is given over to a critique of presuppositionalism in apologetics, particularly with reference to the thought of Cornelius Van Til. Classical Apologetics will help the thoughtful Christian understand his or her faith better, and it will provide more solid grounds for sharing this faith with others.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Must a person accept Christianity on faith alone, or is there a reasoned defense for being a Christian? The authors of this book hold that Christianity is eminently reasonable. The primacy of the mind in the Christian faith can be affirmed without denying the importance of the heart. This book embraces reason without rationalism, personal love without personalism, faith without fideism is our capacity to love Him. The book is divided into three parts. Section I is a prolegomenon dealing with the problems and methods of apologetics. Section II develops the theistic proofs and authority of Scripture. Section III is given over to a critique of presuppositionalism in apologetics, particularly with reference to the thought of Cornelius Van Til. Classical Apologetics will help the thoughtful Christian understand his or her faith better, and it will provide more solid grounds for sharing this faith with others.

About the Author

Arthur W. Lindsley is Staff Specialist for the Coalition for Christian Outreach and Associate Staff at Ligonier Valley Study Center.

Dr. R. C. Sproul, president of Ligonier Ministries, and Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, teaches thousands of people each year via audio and video tapes, speaking engagements, and his growing radio ministry. He is the author of several books, including Basic Training, What's in the Bible, and Loved by God and is co-author of Classical Apologetics.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; 1st edition (July 6, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310449510
• ISBN-13: 978-0310449515
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #546,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. R.C. Sproul is the founder, chairman and president of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian education ministry located near Orlando, Florida. His teaching can be heard on the program Renewing Your Mind, which is broadcast on hundreds of radio outlets in the United States and in 40 countries worldwide. He is the executive editor of Tabletalk magazine and general editor of The Reformation Study Bible, and the author of more than seventy books and scores of articles for national evangelical publications. Dr. Sproul also serves as president of Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies and Reformation Bible College. He currently serves as senior minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's in Sanford, FL.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, just a little wordy at times, July 20, 2001

By 

Carl A. Redman (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Classical Apologetics (Paperback)

This was a rather intense read about classical apologetics. I would highly recommend it to those that have an interest or prior knowledge and understanding of apologetics. The book is divided into three sections:

--Classical Natural Theology, an overview of problem and method --Classical apologetics, the theistic proofs, the deity of Christ, and the infallibility of scripture --Classical critique of presuppositional apologetics

The first section seemed very wordy to me, and I had a hard time getting through it. The second was very interesting, and providing a great summary of different arguments, including the ontological, cosmological and teleological arguments for God. This chapter also has chapters dealing with the Spirit and Word of God.

The third section is probably the best section (although it still lacked brevity). Chapter 11 is the best chapter in the book; it has great summaries of Luther, Calvin, and Augustine's views on reason as it relates to faith. All should check out this chapter.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I would expect from their caliber, October 12, 2006

By 

Stratiotes Doxha Theon "2 Thes 2:15" (Richmond, Missouri) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Classical Apologetics (Paperback)

Despite my immense respect and love for the teachings of each of these authors, this work is their least impressive bit of scholarship. They seem to fall to their own presuppositions (pun intended) in making a paper tiger of the views they wish to counter. They provide a slanted version of the views they oppose then commence to tear it down. It seems doubtful to me that these gentlemen are intentionally taking this direction and so we are left to believe that they truly do not understand the views they are attempting to discredit. Perhaps it is the immense respect that Dr. Sproul has for his mentor, Dr. Gerstner, that leads him down this path - and his loyalty could even be commended. Dr. Gerstner is more difficult to explain since I find it unfathomable that he could resort to intellectual dishonesty in order to play the role of contrarian. His belief in the superiority of the classical approach is without doubt. His understanding seems to view the presuppositional and classical approaches as mutually exclusive creating a false dichotomy in which he is forced to defend one against the encroachment of the other. How he came to the belief in this dichotomy is never explained or expounded upon and that makes one wonder if he explored the topic in enough depth before making judgements. Again, however, I feel unequipped and hesitant to state what seems obvious to me in light of the intellect and depth of these teachers. It sends me away thinking I must be mistaken but there seems no way around what I sense from this work.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the magnum opus of apologetics!, May 12, 1999

By 

Kristian Lavrentidis ([e-mail]) (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classical Apologetics (Paperback)

This is without a doubt the foremost book on classical apologetics, and the first attempt ever to give a comprehensive critique of presuppositionalism. It summarizes both natural apologetics (the theistic arguments) and supernatural apologetics (the historical evidence for Scripture). Van Til is the main focus of the criticism, but other presuppositional writers like Clark, Dooyeweerd, Frame, and Knudsen are included. There is also a key chapter giving great detail to the evidence that Augustine, Luther, and Calvin were all evidentialists, despite popular charges that that they were not. This book is a must for anyone trying to understand apologetics and the issue involved between the two vastly different types of apologetics!