How and why do people believe? This comprehensive guide provides an overview of Christian apologetic approaches and thinkers in a way that even the nonspecialist can understand and practically apply. Even-handed and respectful of each apologist and their contribution, this book provides the reader with a formidable array of defenses for the faith.
2019 Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year: Apologetics • 2018 The Gospel Coalition Book Award: Evangelism & Apologetics Apologetics at the Cross describes a much-needed approach to defending Christianity that uses Jesus as a model and the letter of 1 Peter as a guiding text. This is a guidebook for how to defend Christianity with Christ-like gentleness and respect toward those who persecute the faith, making you a stronger witness to the good news of the gospel than many other apologetics books that focus on crafting unbreachable arguments. Joshua D. Chatraw and Mark D. Allen first provide an introduction to the rich field of apologetics and Christian witness, acquainting students and lay learners with the rich history, biblical foundation, and ongoing relevance of apologetics. Unique in its approach, Apologetics at the Cross: Presents the biblical and historical foundations for apologetics. Explores various contemporary methods for approaching apologetics. Gives practical guidance in "how to" chapters that feature many real-life illustrations. But their approach pays special attention to the attitude and posture of the apologist, outlining instructions for the Christian community centered on reasoned answers, a humble spirit, and joy; rather than anger, arrogance, and aggression. Chatraw and Allen equip Christians to engage skeptics with the heart as well as the mind. Conversational in tone and balanced in approach, Apologetics at the Cross provides a readable introduction to the field of apologetics. You'll be informed and equipped for engaging a wide range of contemporary challenges with the best in Christian thought.
This collection of papers and other materials from English philosopher Peter S. Williams develops a holistic vision for Christian apologetics centered around a biblical understanding of spirituality. Grounded in two decades of practical experience, here is a vision of apologetics that's interested in communicating through beauty and goodness as well as logic and arguments.
For almost 1,400 years, Christians have wrestled with appropriate ways to defend their claims to truth in the context of Islam. Dr. Suheil Madanat proposes that the answer lies neither in the antagonization of polemics nor apologetic arguments rooted in Western legal systems, but instead in utilizing the authority of Islamic law itself. While evidence for the resurrection has been legally examined since the seventeenth century, legal apologetics has primarily utilized secular law systems such as Anglo-American common law. In this study, Dr. Madanat tests evidence for the crucifixion and resurrection against Islam’s fixed theocratic law of Sharia. Offering an overview of the evolution and constitution of Islamic law, Dr. Madanat examines how eyewitness testimonies and confessions in the New Testament hold up against Islam’s strict standards for evidence. Authenticating the Gospels using the same standards Islamic scholars use to defend the authenticity of the Qur’an and Sunna, Madanat examines the testimonies of the four evangelists, the confessions of James and Paul, and the circumstantial evidence offered by archeology, church history, and the Christian impact on civilization. This book engages with Islam and its sacred texts seriously and with respect, providing a powerful resource for those interested in apologetics and comparative religion.
Helping you navigate the complex debate among Christians over postmodernism, Robert C. Greer maps four different paths marked out by Francis Schaeffer, Karl Barth, John Hick and George Lindbeck. Ultimately, he points to the true Subject who makes knowledge possible through the language of revelation and relationship with God.
Renewing the Christian voice, conscience, and imagination so that we can become compelling witnesses of the Gospel in today's culture. Christianity has an image problem. While the culture we inhabit presents us with an increasingly anti-Christian and disenchanted position, the church in the West has not helped its case by becoming anti-intellectual, fragmented, and out of touch with the relevancy of Jesus to all aspects of contemporary life. The muting of the Christian voice, its imagination, and its collective conscience have diminished the prospect of having a genuine missionary encounter with others today. Cultural apologetics attempts to demonstrate not only the truth of the Gospel but also its desirability by reestablishing Christianity as the answer that satisfies our three universal human longings—truth, goodness, and beauty. In Cultural Apologetics, philosopher and professor Paul Gould sets forth a fresh and uplifting model for cultural engagement—rooted in the biblical account of Paul's speech in Athens—which details practical steps for establishing Christianity as both true and beautiful, reasonable and satisfying. You'll be introduced to: The idea of cultural apologetics as distinct from traditional apologetics. The path from disenchantment with how we understand reality to re-enchantment with the reality of the spiritual nature of things. The practical tools of good cultural engagement: conscience, reason, and imagination. Equip yourself to see, and help others see, the world as it is through the lens of the Spirit—deeply beautiful, mysterious, and sacred. With creative insights, Cultural Apologetics prepares readers to share a vision of the Christian faith that is both plausible and desirable, offering clarity for those who have become disoriented in the haze of modern Western culture.
Much has been written on apologetics of the Old Testament canon and historicity, investigating the Old Testament as an object of apologetics. However, this study is the first comprehensive investigation focusing on apologetics within the Old Testament--i.e., the Old Testament theological foundations of the discipline of Christian apologetics-- investigating apologetics as an object of the Old Testament. Taking seriously the biblical texts at its outset, the study presents a biblically based scheme of five types of apologetic strategy: narrative apologetics, prophetic apologetics, wisdom apologetics, "citatory" apologetics as antithetic proclamation, and exemplary apologetics. It focuses on the many explicit confrontations in dialogues, disputes, quotes, and responses, in both prose and poetical form, which are accompanied by an indirect dispute, taking substantial space within the historical parts of the Hebrew Bible. These theological themes are derived from the Old Testament itself, not adapted from the New Testament. This book serves to fill the gap of a proper biblical-theological foundation of the academic field of apologetics. It is a new challenge for all apologists who wish to take seriously the biblical theological foundation of their discipline. With its sole focus on the Hebrew Bible, this study speaks to Jewish scholars as well. It enriches the current discussion on Jewish apologetics, its beginnings and first developments.
ECPA Christian Book Award 2021 Finalist: Biography & Memoir Explore Apologetics through the Lives of History's Great Apologists The History of Apologetics follows the great apologists in the history of the church to understand how they approached the task of apologetics in their own cultural and theological context. Each chapter looks at the life of a well-known apologist from history, unpacks their methodology, and details how they approached the task of defending the faith. By better understanding how apologetics has been done, readers will be better able to grasp the contextualized nature of apologetics and apply those insights to today's context. The History of Apologetics covers forty-four apologists including: Part One: Patristic Apologists Part Two: Medieval Apologists Part Three: Early Modern Apologists Part Four: 19th C. Apologists Part Five: 20th C. American Apologists Part Six: 20th C. European Apologists Part Seven: Contemporary Apologists
The CSB Apologetics Study Bible helps Christians better understand, defend, and proclaim their beliefs in an age of increasing moral and spiritual relativism. This edition includes new articles and extensive apologetics study material from today’s leading apologists discussing relevant cultural issues. Features commentary from over 90 of the best apologetics thinkers of our day in one resource, including: Ted Cabal, Lee Strobel, Paul Copan, Norm Geisler, Hank Hanegraaff, Josh McDowell, Albert Mohler, J.P. Moreland, and many more—plus a special lead article from bestselling author Lee Strobel (The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for a Creator, and many more) entitled “How Apologetics Changed My Life.” FEATURES: Over 100 articles from apologists on today’s leading topics Study notes on every page to help explain difficult Bible passages “Twisted Scriptures” focusing on commonly misunderstood passages Index of special articles for quick and easy access in the front of the Bible Book introductions with special emphasis on apologetics Profiles of key Christian apologists, including Anselm, Athanasius, Augustine, Joseph Butler, C.S. Lewis, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Origen, William Paley, Blaise Pascal, and more Apologetics charts in the back of the Bible detailing the Bible’s credibility and key apologists Distinctive page layout and design Two-column text format Black-letter text 9.75-point type size Smyth-sewn durable binding Ribbon marker for easy referencing between pages Concordance Presentation page for gift-giving Full-color maps The CSB Apologetics Study Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others.