Category Archives: K. Scott Oliphint

Van Til the Evangelist (K. Scott Oliphint)

Articles, General, K. Scott Oliphint

“Van Til the Evangelist” by K. Scott Oliphint

Unlike some readers of Ordained Servant, I never had the opportunity to study under Cornelius Van Til. My initial introduction to him came through his many writings. I immersed myself in those writings, seeing, for the first time in my Christian life, a man whose method (based as it was on Reformed theology) was able to decimate all pretensions and permutations of unbelief, including those residing in my own heart.

 

When I determined, as a result of reading Van Til, to attend Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, I had the opportunity to stay with him for a time. One of the advantages of staying with him was the occasion to walk with him on his “daily constitutional.” After almost thirty years, two things still stand out to me about those walks. (1) Even as an octogenarian, Van Til could maintain a rigorous pace. More importantly, (2) I remember that every one of Van Til’s neighbors, to whom I was introduced by him, said virtually the same thing to me: “I suppose he’s talking to you, too, about this Jesus.” …

Transcendental Meditation (K. Scott Oliphint)

Apologetics, Articles, K. Scott Oliphint

“Transcendental Meditation” by K. Scott Oliphint

A question recently came to me from a reader concerning what Cornelius Van Til called the transcendental method of apologetics. The question was whether or not this method could be explained in “simple terms.” This question obviously comes from an educated and informed reader. Whether or not it is a question that other readers might have will likely remain a mystery. However, since I committed to answering questions from readers, I am constrained to respond. …

Epistemology and Christian Belief (K. Scott Oliphint)

Articles, Epistemology, K. Scott Oliphint

“Epistemology and Christian Belief” by K. Scott Oliphint

The long-awaited third volume of Alvin Plantinga’s warrant series has arrived, and those who have looked forward to its publication will not be disappointed. Coming some seven years after the first two books in the series, this volume, being sufficiently different in its intent and subject matter, lives up to its already established reputation. It is vintage Plantinga—lucid, cogent, humorous, technical, enlightening, challenging, and entertaining—a combination rarely found in books of philosophy. …

The Old New Reformed Epistemology (K. Scott Oliphint)

Articles, Epistemology, K. Scott Oliphint

“The Old New Reformed Epistemology” by K. Scott Oliphint

What are the epistemological implications of a Reformed apologetic? The question is more easily asked than answered. Any Reformed approach to apologetics must be itself grounded in Reformed theology. In order to answer the questions, then, it would be helpful to see the epistemological implications of a Reformed theology first, in order, second, to link those implications to a Reformed apologetic. …

Jonathan Edwards: Reformed Apologist (K. Scott Oliphint)

Apologetics, Articles, K. Scott Oliphint

“Jonathan Edwards: Reformed Apologist” by K. Scott Oliphint

O, how is the world darkened, clouded, distracted, and torn to pieces by those dreadful enemies of mankind called words!

 

Though when Jonathan Edwards penned these words he was discussing morality, particularly of the Sabbath, his exclamation could just as easily be applied to the debates over his own words. Due to the sheer volume of Edwards’ publications as well as the depth of his insight, there seems to be no end to the potential debates with regard to the “real Edwards” on a given topic or position. Perhaps Jonathan Edwards’ many exegetes are the clearest example of the influence of one’s presuppositions on any interpretive endeavor.

 

The title of this article displays, at least implicitly, its twofold purpose. First, I will be attempting faithfully to explicate Edwards with a view toward a Reformed apologetic. More specifically, I will look briefly at Edwards’ ontology and then a bit more specifically at his view of man, particularly as that view relates to the unregenerate. Secondly, in explicating such a view, I will be attempting to distinguish Edwards’ insights from a so-called “classical” approach to apologetics and further to incorporate his work into a presuppositional or transcendental framework of apologetics. …

Cornelius Van Til and the Reformation of Christian Apologetics (K. Scott Oliphint)

Apologetics, Articles, K. Scott Oliphint

“Cornelius Van Til and the Reformation of Christian Apologetics” by K. Scott Oliphint

It would be difficult to overstate the primary and rad­ical sig­nificance that the late Professor Dr. Cornelius Van Til has had on Reformed thinking.  To have the opportunity to contribute to this volume will rekindle memories  of my discussions and correspondence with Dr. Van Til as he personally, and through his writings, reformed without my own thought.

 

Dr. Cornelius Van Til was born in the Netherlands in 1895.  When he was ten years old, his family came to the United States and settled among the Dutch immigrants on a farm in Indiana.  Van Til graduated from Calvin College, Princeton Theological Seminary and earned his Ph.D. from Princeton  University.  After teaching apologetics for one year at Princeton Theological Seminary, he left to become one of the founders of Westminster  Theological Seminary in 1929  where he taught apologetics for forty seven years.  Dr. Van Til went to be with Christ on April 17, 1987.  Having left  us physically, his influence will remain in the church until Christ comes again.  No one since Thomas Aquinas has had such an enormous impact on  Christ’s church in the area of apologetics.  Van Til, like Augustine and Calvin, has pressed the claims of Christ on His Church in a way that cannot be ignored by serious students of theology. …