Classical Apologetics

26 Pages·2017·7.91 MB·English

Classical
Apologetics:
It Stands to Reason
Historical Roots
of Classical
Apologetics
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Bernard Ramm
1916-1992
According to Bernard Ramm
Varieties of Christian Apologetics
(cid:153) Systems Stressing Subjective Immediacy
(cid:153) Systems Stressing Natural Theology
(cid:153) Systems Stressing Revelation
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Thomas Aquinas Joseph Butler F. R. Tennant
1225-1274 1692-1752 1866-1957
Norman L. Geisler
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According to Norman Geisler:
Baker Encyclopedia of Christian
Apologetics
(cid:153) Classical
(cid:153) Evidential
(cid:153) Experiential
(cid:153) Historical
(cid:153) Presuppositional
Anselm Thomas Aquinas John Locke William Paley
1033-1109 1225-1274 1632-1704 1743-1805
B. B. Warfield C. S. Lewis John Gerstner Stuart Hackett
1851-1921 1898-1963 Norman Geisler 1914-1996 1925-2012
R. C. Sproul Peter Kreeft Winfried Corduan William Lane Craig J. P. Moreland
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Steven B. Cowan
According to Steven B. Cowan:
Five Views on Apologetics
(cid:153) Classical Method
(cid:153) Evidential Method
(cid:153) Cumulative Case Method
(cid:153) Presuppositional Method
(cid:153) Reformed Epistemological Method
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Richard Swinburne Stephen T. Davis
R. C. Sproul Norman Geisler William Lane Craig
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According to Kenneth Boa/Bowman
Faith Has Its Reasons
(cid:153) Classical (rationalistic) = Apologetics as
Proof
(cid:153) Evidential (empirical) = Apologetics as
Defense
(cid:153) Reformed (authoritarian) = Apologetics as
Offense
(cid:153) Fideism = Apologetics as Persuasion
Justin Martyr Anselm
AD 100-AD165 1033-1109
Thomas Aquinas Charles Hodge
1225-1274 1797-1878
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The Classical
Apologetics
Model
For some time, the Classical
model has been known as
the "two step" method.
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Christianity
God
With the increasing influence
of bad philosophy, it has
become necessary to add an
additional step at the
beginning.
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Historicity
and inspiration
of the Bible
Uniqueness of Christ
Christianity
Arguments for God's existence
Supernaturalism vs. Naturalism
Theism vs. Atheism vs. Pantheism
Possibility of miracles
God
First principles of metaphysics
Foundational elements of thought and reason
The nature of meaning and language
What it means for a statement to be true
How truth is known
Foundation
III. The Truth of Christianity
A. The Historicity of the Bible
1. Do We Have What They Wrote?
2. Did What They Write Happen?
B. What Does the Bible Say About Jesus?
Historicity 1. Messianic Prophecies
and inspiration
of the Bible 2. Life or miracles/Resurrection
Uniqueness of Christ 3. Lord, Liar, Lunatic
Christianity
C. What Does Jesus Say About the Bible?
1. What Jesus Affirmed About the OT
2. Jesus Pre-authenticates the NT
Arguments for God's existence
Supernaturalism vs. Naturalism II. The Existence and Attributes of God
Theism vs. Atheism vs. Pantheism A. Theistic Arguments
Possibility of miracles
1. Cosmological
God
2. Teleological (Design)
B. Philosophical Theology
1. Nature of God
2. God and Creation
I. Philosophical Foundations
First principles of metaphysics
Foundational elements of thought and reason A. Classical Empiricism
The nature of meaning and language B. Nature of Reality (Metaphysics)
What it means for a statement to be true
C. Reality and Knowability of Truth
How truth is known
D. Laws of Logic
Foundation
E. Argument
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