The Mormon Defenders (Paperback)

by James Patrick Holding (Author) "Through this passage raises philosophical and theological issues beyond our scope, it is foundational for what presuppositions follow concerning the nature and attributes of God..." (more)
Key Phrases: actual preexistence, postmortem evangelization, theosis doctrine, New Testament, Jesus Christ, Old Testament (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Mormon Defenders offers for the first time in print responses to leading Latter-day Saint apologists who argue that theirs is a true Biblical faith. Calling upon top-notch scholarship, The Mormon Defenders demonstrates that the case for a "Biblical" Mormonism is rooted in misinterpretations of the Scriptures.

About the Author
James Patrick Holding is President of Tekton Apologetics Ministries. He holds a Masters degree in Library Science and has written articles for the Christian Research Journal and the Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Proaster Books] (August 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970906307
• ISBN-13: 978-0970906304
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,091,927 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sola Scriptura!, September 1, 2001

By A Customer

In the Mormon Defenders, JP Holding does an excellent job of showing that key Mormon doctrines cannot be supported by the 66 books of the Bible. Holding examines Scriptures used by Mormons in defense of their doctrines, as well as those used by evangelicals against them. Holding pulls no punches, and exposes where both groups misunderstand the Word. However, he does demonstrate that a proper understanding of Scripture simply does not support God as a man, deification (as taught by Mormons), and other Mormon doctrines.

The book is also well organized and easily digestable. Each chapter ends with an analysis of the Mormon claim that their doctrines were part of the early church, and were lost through apostasy due to the influence of Greek thought. Holding shows in each instance that this claim simply doesn't stand up under close scrutiny. In many cases, Greek though would have produced the exact opposite of evangelical ones. Finally, the chapters end with a summary of key points raised.

All in all, and excellent scriptural analysis of the failures of Mormonism.

26 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving Beyond the Basics, February 2, 2002

By	A Reader - See all my reviews

Most of what is published today on the subject of Mormonism is what I would call "first level" apologetic material. What I mean by that is that it deals with the very basic issues and conversations that will come up between your average evangelical Christian and your average Mormon. The Mormon Church has recognized this, and in recent years, has refined the sophistication level of their arguments, and thus, a Christian confronted with these new (and necessarily more complex) arguments may find themselves ill-equipped.

This is where this book steps in to fill the void by providing answers to the Mormon arguments on the "second" and "third" level of apologetics. As such, it is necessarily more difficult and complex than any first level book on the subject. However, I found it extraordinarily easy to follow, perhaps because I have long since moved beyond the basic stuff. If you are not yet familiar with the first level of information to counter Mormon apologists, this book is not for you, and you will probably find it over your head as did the last reviewer. If you have mastered the basic information, you will easily understand and appreciate this work.

19 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Scholarly Response to Mormon Apologetics, July 24, 2003

By	Lamont S (Lexington, Kentucky United States) - See all my reviews

In "The Mormon Defenders," James Patrick Holding untertakes a critical analysis of the veracity of 7 Mormon doctrines in light of evangelical Biblical scholarship. The Mormon doctrines of "Divine Embodiment," the Mormon understanding of the relationship of Jesus to the Father, "Preexistence," "Baptism for the Dead," "Salvation for the Unevangelized," the Mormon understanding of salvation(and the role of faith and works), and "Human Deification" are critiqued by Holding. The author's general approach in each chapter is to first analyze the usage of typical Biblical passages that Mormon apologists assert support their doctrinal beliefs. This is followed by discussions of certain passages that are utilized to refute specific Mormon doctrine(s). Then, the author discusses historical problems with the Mormon assertions that certain Christian doctrinal beliefs were changed(as the church allegedly went into apostasy). Holding also provides a helpful list of "Key Points" at the very end of each chapter.

The author is successful in providing solid answers to Mormon apologetical assertions as well as positing pertinent questions based on Scriptural and historical issues that must be satisfactorily answered if Mormonism is to establish a solid foundation upon which to rest its claim of being a divinely-inspired religion. More than being a valuable tool in "Christian vs. Mormon" apologetics, "The Mormon defenders" also provides information on concepts probably not well-known, even by most Christians. For instance, in chapter 2, Holding discusses the ancient Jewish "Wisdom" traditions in order to explain how the New Testament authors understood Jesus Christ's Role in the Godhead. Another example would be a discussion in chapter 6 of the "Semitic Totality" paradigm in describing the role of faith and works(with emphasis on baptism) in the Christian's life. From my personal experiences, these are concepts not greatly understood by many Christians and it is the resultant misunderstandings of these concepts that are often the cause of division in the Church. It probably cannot be stressed enough how important it is for all Christians, especially apologists and church leaders, to acquaint themselves with such important issues.

I highly recommend "The Mormon Defenders" for those interested in "higher-level" arguments that address common Mormon apologetic assertions as well as for those wishing to better understand some of the prominent social, cultural, and religious themes through which the Bible, and most particularly the New Testament, was written.