Category Archives: General
Van Til the Controversialist (John R. Muether)
“Van Til the Controversialist” by John R. Muether
In 1976 Cornelius Van Til published an article entitled “Calvin the Controversialist” in a collection of essays in honor of John H. Gerstner, a former student of his. The article was a fitting tribute to Gerstner, himself no stranger to theological controversy and one with whom Van Til had crossed apologetic swords. Moreover, by writing about Calvin, Van Til wisely chose to appeal to his and Gerstner’s common theological forefather. In explaining Calvin’s life and work, Van Til noted that Calvin’s life of controversy began when he embraced Protestantism. As a Protestant, controversy was no option for Calvin. In outlining the contours of Calvin’s theology, Van Til underscored that throughout his work the Genevan reformer bore a practical and ecclesiastical burden. For Calvin, the Protestant Reformation was the recovery of the Christian story for the Christian community. …
The Van Til Project
The Van Til Project: Organizing the Letters of Cornelius Van Til
Working to catalogue and transcribe Cornelius Van Til’s letters to make them accessible to a wider readership.
The Montgomery Library of Westminster Theological Seminary curates a special collection of letters and other archival material pertaining to former professor of apologetics, Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987). Several scholars have browsed these archives over the years, including John Muether, who worked through them extensively during his research for Cornelius Van Til: Reformed Apologist and Churchman (P&R Publishing, 2008). But to this point, access has been restricted to a limited number of people on campus by virtue of the nature and location of the collection. …