“A Critique of the Evidentialist Apologetical Method of John Warwick Montgomery” by Greg L. Bahnsen
By means of three parables J. W. Montgomery attempts to supply some reason for drawing back from presuppositional apologetics. After examining his critique of Van Til’s position, we shall turn to a (non-parabolic) analysis of Montgomery’s own. …
“On Worshiping the Creature Rather Than the Creator” by Greg L. Bahnsen
Darwinism dawned and cast its glaring rays upon the life of the English novelist and poet, Thomas Hardy. Hardy discerned that the evolutionary theory was not a restricted biological hypothesis but a new worldview with profound theological consequences, as illustrated in A Plaint to Man (from God): …
“The Impropriety of Evidentially Arguing for the Resurrection” by Greg L. Bahnsen
It is indubitable that the resurrection of Jesus Christ has paramount significance for the history of redemption and for Christian theology (cf. Rom. 4:25; 1 Peter 1:3). It is also clear that this resurrection must be held by the Biblical Christian as one which took place in calendar time and involved Jesus’ empirical body (cf. Luke. 24:39; 1 Cor. 15:4). Moreover, a decisive refutation of the resurrection would shatter the validity of the Christian faith (cf. 1 Cor. 15:14, 17). Hence the Christian’s affirmation of Christ’s resurrection is not an empty assumption, dreamy speculation, or a timeless axiom. The Biblical faith is not indifferent to God’s acts in history, nor is it pessimistic about evidences. The dead bones of Jesus will never be found, and the believer need never fear investigation into the facts. All facts are created facts which can be properly understood only when given the interpretation the Creator intends; as such, all facts demonstrate the truth of Christianity. So any and all relevant evidence pertaining to Jesus Christ’s resurrection in history will be significant for the believer. And such evidence can have a role in his apologetical efforts. …
“Cornelius Van Til” (IVP Dictionary of Apologetics) by John M. Frame
Cornelius Van Til (1895-1987), Reformed theologian and apologist, was born in Grootegast, Holland. At the age of ten, he moved with his family to Highland, Indiana. The Van Tils affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, and Cornelius attended denominational schools, the Calvin Preparatory School, Calvin College and (for one year) Calvin Theological Seminary, all in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He transferred to Princeton Theological Seminary and earned his Th. M. there in 1925, followed by his marriage to Rena Klooster. He completed his Ph. D. at Princeton University in 1927. His dissertation, supervised by Archibald Allan Bowman, compared Reformed theology’s view of God with the absolute of philosophical Idealism. …
“Reforming Ontology and Logic in the Light of the Trinity: An Application of Van Til’s Idea of Analogy” by Vern S. Poythress
Reflection on John 1:1 can lead us in reforming our conceptions of fundamental philosophical categories and logic.
John 1:1 shows that understanding the Trinity involves three aspects inextricably. First, there is classification. Each Person of the Trinity is classified as God. Second, there is instantiation. Each Person is particular, an “instantiation” of God, distinct from the other Persons. Third, there is an associational aspect. Each Person exists in association and communion with the other Persons (“the Word was with God”). …
“What Is the Presuppositionalism of Cornelius Van Til? Apologetics in Action” by Vern S. Poythress
Dear A———:
I appreciate your inquiry.
I am sorry to hear of your distress. I am taking this opportunity to pray for you. My experience is that when people are in spiritual distress, only a limited amount can be done at a distance. I would encourage you to talk and pray with your pastor. Spiritual crises do not solve themselves by merely intellectual means. In fact, they tend to prolong themselves by intellectual means, because the intellect becomes a false godlike source of reliance.
I hesitate to say more about presuppositional apologetics, because you have already studied it. But people who study it on their own, and even some who study it in the classroom or with a mentor, frequently develop misconceptions. So let me say a few things that you may already know. If I am off base, please excuse it. …
“Van Til: The Theologian” by John M. Frame
In 1961, Cornelius Van Til reviewed a book by R. H. Bremmer called Herman Bavinck als Dogmaticus (Herman Bavinck the Theologian). Having run across this review in a recent perusal of the Van Til corpus, I asked myself whether someday there might be a book called Cornelius Van Til als Dogmaticus. …