A Short History of Christian A Short History of Christian ApologeticsApologetics

John Oakes, PhDJohn Oakes, PhDARSARS

8/27/20108/27/2010

New Testament ApologeticsNew Testament Apologetics

Apologists in the Early ChurchApologists in the Early Church

Medieval and Resaisance ApologeticsMedieval and Resaisance Apologetics

Modern Apologists and Apologetic Modern Apologists and Apologetic ApproachesApproaches

New Testament ApologeticsNew Testament Apologetics

JohnJohn John 20:30 Public miracles and signsJohn 20:30 Public miracles and signs 1 John 1:1 That which our hands have touched we 1 John 1:1 That which our hands have touched we

proclaim. (against Gnosticism)proclaim. (against Gnosticism) PeterPeter

Acts 2:14-38Acts 2:14-38 PropheciesProphecies Wonders and signsWonders and signs ResurrectionResurrection

1 Peter 3:15-16 The Urgency of Apologetics1 Peter 3:15-16 The Urgency of Apologetics Gently and respectfullyGently and respectfully With a clear conscienceWith a clear conscience

2 Peter 1:16-20 Prophecy 2 Peter 1:16-20 Prophecy → More certain→ More certain

NT Apologetics (cont.)NT Apologetics (cont.)

PaulPaul Acts 17:22-34Acts 17:22-34

God is Creator (Stoicism)God is Creator (Stoicism) God is near (Epicurianism)God is near (Epicurianism) God is Judge (Dualism)God is Judge (Dualism) ResurrectionResurrection

Luke: Historical EvidenceLuke: Historical Evidence Luke 2:1-3, 3:1-2, 3:23-38Luke 2:1-3, 3:1-2, 3:23-38

Apologists in the Early ChurchApologists in the Early Church

Justin “Martyr”Justin “Martyr” Logos TheologyLogos Theology Fulfilled ProphecyFulfilled Prophecy

Irenaeus (ca. 125-200)Irenaeus (ca. 125-200) ““Against Celsus” (Pagan philosopher)Against Celsus” (Pagan philosopher) ““Against Heresies” (Gnosticism)Against Heresies” (Gnosticism) Fulfilled prophecyFulfilled prophecy

Origen (ca. 185-254)Origen (ca. 185-254) Plunder the EgyptiansPlunder the Egyptians NeoplatonismNeoplatonism

Origen’s School in Alexandria

Early Church Apologists (cont.)Early Church Apologists (cont.)

Jerome (347-420)Jerome (347-420) Against Porphyry (Daniel)Against Porphyry (Daniel)

Daniel originally in HebrewDaniel originally in Hebrew Babylonia, Persia/Media, Greece, RomeBabylonia, Persia/Media, Greece, Rome

Augustine (354-430)Augustine (354-430) Against Manichees (Faustus)Against Manichees (Faustus) Natural theologyNatural theology Faith before reason.Faith before reason.

Jerome

Scholasticism and Medieval ApologeticsScholasticism and Medieval Apologetics

Anselm (1033-1109)Anselm (1033-1109) Ontological ArgumentOntological Argument

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Aristotlean Logic. Truth is ReasonableAristotlean Logic. Truth is Reasonable ““Summa Theologica”Summa Theologica” Cosmological, Teleological ArgumentCosmological, Teleological Argument ““Classical” ApologeticsClassical” Apologetics

Martin Luther (1483-1546)Martin Luther (1483-1546) Faith before reasonFaith before reason

The Age of Reason—The EnlightenmentThe Age of Reason—The Enlightenment

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) Experiential evidenceExperiential evidence Pascal’s wagerPascal’s wager

Joseph Butler (1692-1752)Joseph Butler (1692-1752) Against deists: faith is reasonableAgainst deists: faith is reasonable

William Paley (1743-1805)William Paley (1743-1805) Natural Theology (against deism)Natural Theology (against deism)

Oops…..Oops…..

Young Earth CreationismYoung Earth Creationism Henry Morris “The Genesis Flood”Henry Morris “The Genesis Flood”

Modern ApologistsModern Apologists

James Orr WorldviewJames Orr Worldview

Cornelius Van Til PresuppositionalCornelius Van Til Presuppositional

CS Lewis Trilemma, EvidentialCS Lewis Trilemma, Evidential

Norman Geisler Classical Norman Geisler Classical

Francis Schaeffer ExperientialFrancis Schaeffer Experiential

Alvin Plantinga FideismAlvin Plantinga Fideism

Josh McDowell Historical, Legal proofsJosh McDowell Historical, Legal proofs

William Lane Craig ClassicalWilliam Lane Craig Classical