Book Review: R.C.Praoul, Classical Apologetics

Spraoul, R.C. Classical Apologetics: A Rational Defense of the Christian Faith and a Critique of Presuppositional Apologetics, London: Routledge, 2003. Paperback

ISBN: 0-203-98707-1.

Pages-369

Price-US$79.34

Authors

R. C. Sproul is president of Ligonier Valley Study Centre in Stahlstour Pennsylvania. He is also adjunct professor at systematic theological and apologetics at reformed theological seminary in Jackson, Mississippi.

John H. Gerstner is visiting professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, guest lecturer at Geneva College, and professor at large at Ligonier Valley Study Center.

Arthur W. Lindsley is staff specialist for Coalition for Christian outreach and associated staff at Ligonier Valley Study Center.

The first section of the book is a prolegomenon dealing with the problem and methods of apologetics, the second was very interesting, and providing a great summary of different arguments, including the ontological, cosmological and teleological arguments for God. This section 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. The scope of this book focuses primarily on the rational aspects of Christianity. Throughout this work the authors affirm the primacy of the mind in the Christian faith.  To suggest the primacy of the mind is outrageous to some, particularly to those who equate rationality with rationalism. They also affirm the primacy of the heart. 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 embraced reason without rationalism, personal love without personalism, faith without fideism. The more we know of God, the authors claim, the greater is our capacity to love Him.  This is a solid exposition of classical apologetics, which considers the reality and necessity of the use of evidence in approaching some non-believers with Christian truth claims. It offers a strong, and IMHO valid, critique of Van Tillian Presuppositionalism. Even the evidence we have that God exists derives from God. A concept which has somewhere been lost by our authors is that of man's total depravity, including the noetic effects of sin. They tell us that rational apologetics as "pre-evangelism" can establish the cognitive clarification of Christianity and bring the natural man to an intellectual assent, but to take him beyond that to a personal trust in the heart, emotions, and will is solely the work of the Holy Spirit (pp. 21-22). Scripture teaches otherwise. The problem with fallen men is not simply in their will and emotions. They have just as much "become vain in their reasoning" like fools (Rom. 1:21-22). Will such "natural men" use their "natural reason" to receive the things of the Spirit? They cannot (1 Cor. 2:14). In terms of reasoning from nature to God, Paul said this about the natural man: "There is none that understands; there is none that seeks after God" (Rom. 3:11). The work of the Holy Spirit is just as much needed to bring intellectual assent as it is to produce emotional trust. By suggesting otherwise, our author's conception of apologetics is untrue to their Reformed theology. Their book on apologetics is flawed by a number of philosophical lapses as well. When positions taken by philosophers are represented in the book, they are too often oversimplified, jumbled, or handled with little more than slogans (rather than analysis). I would highly recommend it to those that have an interest or prior knowledge and understanding of apologetics.