About the Book
ECPA Christian Book Award 2021 Finalist: Biography & Memoir
Explore Apologetics through the Lives of History's Great Apologists
The History of Apologetics follows the great apologists in the history of the church to understand how they approached the task of apologetics in their own cultural and theological context. Each chapter looks at the life of a well-known apologist from history, unpacks their methodology, and details how they approached the task of defending the faith.
By better understanding how apologetics has been done, readers will be better able to grasp the contextualized nature of apologetics and apply those insights to today's context. The History of Apologetics covers forty-four apologists including:
Part One: Patristic Apologists
- Justin Martyr by Gerald Bray
- Irenaeus of Lyons by Stephen O. Presley
- Athenagoras of Athens by W. Brian Shelton
- Tertullian of Carthage by Bryan M. Litfin
- Origen by A. Chadwick Thornhill
- Athanasius of Alexandria by Jonathan Morgan
- Augustine of Hippo by Chad Meister
Part Two: Medieval Apologists
- John of Damascus by Daniel J. Janosik
- Theodore Abu Qurrah by Byard Bennett
- Timothy I of Baghdad by Edward L. Smither and Trevor Castor
- Anselm of Canterbury by Edward N. Martin and Steven B. Cowan
- Saint Thomas Aquinas by Francis J. Beckwith and Shawn Floyd
- Ramon Lull by Greg Peters
- Gregory Palamas by Byard Bennett
Part Three: Early Modern Apologists
- Hugo Grotius by Bryan Baise
- Blaise Pascal by Tyler Dalton McNabb and Michael R. DeVito
- Jonathan Edwards by Michael McClymond
- William Paley by Charles Taliaferro
- Joseph Butler by David McNaughton
Part Four: 19th C. Apologists
- Simon Greenleaf by Craig A. Parton
- John Henry Newman by Corneliu C. Simut
- Søren Kierkegaard by Sean A. Turchin and Christian Kettering
- James Orr by Ronnie Campbell
- B. B. Warfield by Kim Riddlebarger
Part Five: 20th C. American Apologists
- J. Gresham Machen by D. G. Hart
- Cornelius Van Til by K. Scott Oliphint
- Gordon Haddon Clark by Robert A. Weathers
- Francis A. Schaeffer by William Edgar
- Edward John Carnell by Steven A. Hein
Part Six: 20th C. European Apologists
- A. E. Taylor by Michael O. Obanla and David Baggett
- G. K. Chesterton by Ralph Wood
- Dorothy Sayers by Amy Orr-Ewing
- C. S. Lewis by Alister McGrath
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Matthew D. Kirkpatrick
- Lesslie Newbigin by Krish Kandiah
Part Seven: Contemporary Apologists
- John Warwick Montgomery by Craig A. Parton
- Charles Taylor by Bruce Riley Ashford and Matthew Ng
- Alvin Plantinga by James Beilby
- Richard Swinburne by Greg Welty
- William Lane Craig by R. Keith Loftin
- Gary R. Habermas by W. David Beck and Benjamin C. F. Shaw
- Alister E. McGrath by James K. Dew and Jordan Steffaniak
- Timothy Keller by Joshua D. Chatraw
Table of Contents:
Ch. 1 Justin Martyr (100-165) Gerald Bray (D.Litt., University of Paris - Sorbonne) is Research Professor of Divinity, History, and Doctrine at Beeson School of Divinity. He edited Galatians, Ephesians, the first volume of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture (IVP). His systematic theology God is Love was released by Crossway in 2012, and his historical theology God has Spoken was published in 2014. Beeson School of Divinity
Ch. 2 Irenaeus (130-202) John Behr (D.Phil., Oxford) is Dean, Rector, and Director of the Master of Theology Program and Professor of Patristics at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. PENDING
Ch. 3 Athenagoras Athens (133-190) W. Brian Shelton (Ph.D., Saint Louis University) is Provost and Professor of Theology and Church History at Toccoa Falls College. He has published principally on early Christianity in the west, including Martyrdom from Exegesis in Hippolytus: An Early Church Presbyter's Commentary on Daniel (Paternoster, 2008) and 'Irenaeus' in Shapers of Christian Orthodoxy (IVP, 2010). Toccoa Falls College
Ch. 4 Tertullian (160-220) Bryan Litfin (Ph.D., University of Virginia) is Professor of Theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He is author of Early Martyr Stories: An Evangelical Introduction (Baker, 2014) and Getting to Know the Church Fathers (Brazos, 2007). Moody Bible Institute
Ch. 5 Origen (185-254) Chad Thornhill (Ph.D., Liberty) is Associate Professor of Apologetics and Biblical Studies and Chair of Theological Studies at Liberty University. Liberty University
Ch. 6 Athanasius of Alexandria (296-373) Peter Leithart (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) PENDING
Ch. 7 Augustine (354-430) Chad Meister (Ph.D., Marquette University) is Professor of Philosophy and Theology at Bethel College. His publications include Contemporary Philosophical Theology (Routledge), Christian Thought: A Historical Introduction (Routledge), and The Cambridge Companion to Christian Philosophical Theology (Cambridge University Press). He is also General Co-editor of the books series, Cambridge Studies in Religion, Philosophy, and Society. Bethel College
Part 2: Medieval Apologists
Ch. 8 John of Damascus (676-749) Daniel Janosik (Ph.D., London School of Theology) is Professor of Apologetics and Intercultural Studies at Columbia International University. His dissertation research was titled, John of Damascus: First Apologist to the Muslims. Columbia International University
Ch. 9 Theodore Abu Qurra (750-820) Byard Bennett (Ph.D., University of Toronto) is Professor of Historical and Philosophical Theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
Ch. 10 Timothy of Baghdad (727-823) Edward L. Smither (PhD, University of Wales-Trinity St. David; PhD, University of Pretoria) is Professor of Intercultural Studies at Columbia International University and the author of Augustine as Mentor: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders, Brazilian Evangelical Missions in the Arab World, and translator of François Decret’s Early Christianity in North Africa. Columbia International University
Ch. 11 Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) TBD
Ch. 12 Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Francis Beckwith (Ph.D., Fordham University) is Professor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies, and Associate Director of Graduate Studies at Baylor University; and Shawn Floyd (Ph.D., University of St. Louis) is Professor of Philosophy at Malone University. Baylor University; Malone University
Ch. 13 Ramon Lull (1232-1316) Greg Peters (Ph.D., University of St. Michael's College, Toronto) is Associate Professor of Medieval and Spiritual Theology at Torrey Honors Institute, Biola University. He is author of The Story of Monasticism: Retrieving an Ancient Tradition for Contemporary Spirituality (Baker, 2015), and Peter of Damascus: Byzantine Monk and Spiritual Theologian (Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 2011) Biola University
Ch. 14 Gregory Palamas (1296-1359) Byard Bennett (Ph.D., University of
About the Author :
Alister E. McGrath is a biochemist and Christian theologian born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and currently enjoys the Title of Distinction “Professor of Historical Theology” granted by the University of Oxford. He is the author of several books on theology and history, including In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible and How it Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture and The Twilight of Atheism: The Rise and Fall of Disbelief in the Modern World. He lives in Oxford, England and lectures regularly in the U.S. Joshua Chatraw (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as the director for New City Fellows and the Resident Theologian at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. His books include Apologetics at the Cross, Cultural Engagement, Truth in a Culture of Doubt, and Truth Matters. He is a fellow with the Center for Pastor Theologians and has served in both pastoral and academic posts during his ministry.
Review :
'The History of Apologetics is a must-have for the shelves of any serious student of apologetics. With an impressive list of contributors, it provides a comprehensive yet detailed survey of various approaches to the defense of the Christian faith from patristic to modern times. Of particular value is the diversity of approaches represented by the apologists included, with notable entries among the more modern figures including John Henry Newman, G. K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, and C. S. Lewis. This provides substantial content for approaches to defending the faith that engage with cultural issues and draw on imagination and the arts as a methodology. The result is a volume that genuinely presents the historical and ecumenical richness of apologetics as a discipline and will serve as a valuable foundation for working apologists.'
'This book contains richly developed surveys of the apologetic arguments and approaches of a wide array of the Christian faith's greatest and most influential advocates over the centuries. Though the book is easily readable, it is extraordinarily informative--like the best apologetic works themselves! I learned so much from reading this book, even with regard to authors whose writings I know. Highly recommended to every Christian and especially to clergy and scholars, for whom the task of Christian apologetics is an urgent call.'
'This is a most valuable guide to the history of Christian apologetics throughout the ages. Expert authors provide readable summaries that will be useful both to those being introduced to the subject and to those who wish to review the wide range of options.'
'This volume employs competent scholars to write about noteworthy apologists throughout the history of the church's intellectual engagement with the unbelieving world. Apologists shouldn't defend the faith in a historical vacuum since we ought to stand on the shoulders of giants. This is the most thorough history of its kind that I know of and will repay careful study for the defense of the faith given once and for all to the saints.'
