It’s subtitled “an Introduction to Apologetics”. After reading it, I’m prepared to recommend it as a starting place without reservation. Its writing is clear even if its concepts are deep. In other words, you might struggle a bit if it’s your first encounter with this material, but you’ll go farther in understanding than in many books three times its length. Sproul, with his philosophy background, is at his best here. I actually prefer him here over theological subjects though his brilliance is undeniable.

The first section of two chapters makes a biblical case for apologetics. He briefly explains historical reasons for the development of apologetics and then outlines its task. He further discusses the quandary of defense versus evangelism, which he defines as proof and persuasion. The bulk of the book, he says, is to defend the existence of God and the authority of the Bible. He also makes a good case against those who criticize apologetics. 

The next section of six chapters, which are the best of the book, cover the four principles of knowledge. If you are not familiar with this subject, you would never guess these four principles, but as you read, you are easily convinced of how essential they are. I am amazed by both the depth and the quantity of learning you receive in 40 pages here. It is laid out so flawlessly. He takes you step-by-step on a journey and convinces you every step of the way. I almost think that describing it would be like giving spoilers, and I figure you’d be better off to just enjoy it. I would further believe that if you mastered these 40 pages, you would be a long way down the road of understanding apologetics.

The next section of two chapters about natural reason and faith are really just overcoming the attacks against those four principles that have developed. These attacks fall to the ground like a stray bullet that hits nothing.

The following two sections really are about how we weather the later philosophical storms against belief in the existence of God. For example, some admit that there must be a higher being, but then try to negate His influence today. Others try radical ideas like saying God is an illusion, or that all that exists is self created, which Sproul explains is nonsense, or creation by chance which is pretty much the same thing, or the universe is God. He at length shows that only our God as a self-existent being explains reality. He then exposes the rogue philosophers who level these attacks.

The final section of the book is a robust defense in four chapters on the authority and trustworthiness of the Bible. Good stuff.

Sometimes you read a book that is fantastic and you lay it aside. Other times you read a great book and you know you will refer to it again and again. That is where I find myself on this book.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Every chapter deeper I got into this book the more it exceeded my expectations. Perhaps I expected that since this book is a textbook it would be a little stale, but I would now rate it as valuable as a read as it is a textbook. One reviewer said this book uses the template of Jesus crucified and risen in setting out to defend the faith rather than the Gospel which is used in most cases. That struck me as a non-distinction, which also lowered my anticipation, yet this book has effectively surveyed the past, brought us to the present, and stayed true to the Word of God.

The first section laid the foundation for apologetics in four chapters. That includes definitions, proof texts, examination of various approaches, and a fine review of the history of apologetics. These chapters teach us much, start the ball rolling on our grasping apologetics, and enlighten us on the successes and failures of apologists in the past. There’s also much to learn about how the culture at the time affected how apologetics was done.

The next section digs into theology in relation to apologetics in five chapters. Another pass is taken on the various approaches of apologetics so that we might glean what is good from each one. You will learn how far various methods can go, and where they might let you down in dealing with another person. I felt the chapters were ideal in helping pull out what was best from what apologists of the past have done. There’s also much emphasis on our living out our faith as a key in apologetics. I fear that is too often missed. In this theological section, apologetics are brought to the foot of the cross. Important information like how our sin nature corrupts human reason, our unrealistic expectations, and the absolute necessity of humility in apologetics. We are also taught to look at the whole person which will use reason to aim at the mind but will also look at the heart, or the whole of the person.

The final section looks at the practice of apologetics in four chapters. These chapters had brilliant insights into our age. What we call postmodernism, they call late modernism, but in any event, our times create new challenges in apologetics. The incredible amount of spin that goes on in our culture makes people think that our presentation of the Gospel is but our attempt to spin the facts to gain something from them. The authors give wonderful suggestions on how to deal with that difficulty in the most effective way. Kindness and humility are still essential.

There’s no doubt that this book beautifully succeeds in its advertised goal of being a quality textbook. To my mind, it too would win out as one of the best possible books for us to have to use in our own study of apologetics. I guarantee you it will be one of the first ones that I will reach for!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

This book is an experience. It takes an impenetrable subject for many and makes it fascinating. I found this volume far superior to a semester-long undergraduate class I took years ago. He makes it relevant, interesting, and all with a Christian guide to take you along. The writing style is engaging, enjoyable, and captivating. I only use the cliche “I couldn’t put it down” because I never dreamed that would be the case.

Taking seven great philosophers along with their most famous statements was a masterstroke in giving an introduction to philosophy in a small compass. Again, I opened the book thinking that would never work, only to discover it did.

He begins with Protagoras, who I knew nothing about, and taught me about using a measurement outside ourselves. He taught something about today. When he used a statement that many agree with,  including his students,  and then shocked us with the knowledge that it was a philosophy statement of a serial killer, you knew he had something worthwhile to say.

He brought Socrates to life. In fact, I feel I never knew him at all until this book. I learned too how we hear more of a caricature of these philosophers rather than what they really believed. It’s the same with Aristotle. We learn too that if we ignore the basic Law of Noncontradiction we give up everything we could ever know.

He well explained Augustine from a philosophic viewpoint while in no way damaging his theology. He made plain Descartes and Pascal too. He made me realize I had Kierkegard all wrong in that superb chapter.

All in all, this is a masterpiece.
 

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.