An Introduction to Systematic Theology: Prolegomena and the Doctrines of Revelation, Scripture, and God, 2nd ed.
The theological foundations of Van Til’s defense of the faith are set forth here as the unified system of truth to which believers are committed and with which nonbelievers need to be confronted.
Writes Van Til: “The Christian faith as a whole, as a unit, must be set over against the non-Christian faith as a whole. Piecemeal apologetics is inadequate, especially for our time. A Christian totality picture requires a Christian view of the methodology of science and philosophy, as well as a Christian view of theology.”
Thus Van Til explores the implications of Christian theology, particularly for philosophy, as he discusses epistemology, general and special revelation, and the knowledge and attributes of God.
Cornelius Van Til taught apologetics for more than forty-five years at Westminster Theological Seminary. This newly edited and typeset edition features an introduction and explanatory notes by William Edgar.
- Seeks to set forth Van Til’s defense of the faith
- Explores the implications of Christian theology with discussions on epistemology, general and special revelation, and the knowledge and attributes of God.
- Argues piecemeal apologetics is inadequate, especially for our time.
- Chapter 1: The Idea and Value of Systematic Theology
- Chapter 2: The Method of Systematic Theology
- Chapter 3: Christian Epistemology
- Chapter 4: Christian Epistemology: The Position of Charles Hodge
- Chapter 5: Christian Epistemology: The Positions of Herman Bavinck and Valentine Hepp
- Chapter 6: Christian-theistic Revelation
- Chapter 7: Present General Revelation about Nature
- Chapter 8: Present General Revelation about Man
- Chapter 9: Present General Revelation about God
- Chapter 10: Special Revelation
- Chapter 11: Scripture
- Chapter 12: The Inspiration of Scripture
- Chapter 13: The Incomprehensibility of God
- Chapter 14: The Apologetic Import of the Incomprehensibility of God
- Chapter 15: Innate and Acquired Knowledge of God
- Chapter 16: The Names and Incommunicable Attributes of God
- Chapter 17: The Triunity of God
- Chapter 18: The Communicable Attributes of God
One of Van Til’s two or three most important books, this is certainly a must-read for anyone who is trying to understand Van Til today. He challenges Christians to think in a distinctively biblical way. That biblical way opposes and challenges all religions and secular philosophies, all ideologies that place the ultimate source of truth and value in human beings rather than in God. Thoroughly re-edited, with an excellent introduction by William Edgar.
John M. Frame
The copious explanatory notes by Dr. Edgar are invariably helpful and will serve to enhance the singular value of this great work for the present and coming generations.
Richard B. Gaffin Jr.
- Title: An Introduction to Systematic Theology: Prolegomena and the Doctrines of Revelation, Scripture, and God
- Author: Cornelius Van Til
- Edition: Second Edition
- Publisher: P&R
- Print Publication Date: 1974
- Logos Release Date: 2022
- Pages: 409
- Era: era:modern
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Theology, Doctrinal
- ISBNs: 9780875527895, 0875527892
- Resource ID: LLS:NNTRDCT2D119187
- Resource Type: Systematic Theology
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-01-03T22:57:05Z
Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987) was one of the most respected apologetic theologians of his time. Van Til earned degrees from Calvin College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Princeton University on his way to becoming an Orthodox Presbyterian Minister.
He served throughout the ministry and scholarly fields, including serving as a professor of apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary and being heavily involved with the foundation of the Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy.
His most noted writings include The New Modernism, The Defense of the Faith, and Christianity and Barthianism which can all be found in The Works of Cornelius Van Til (40 vols.). Much of his work with apologetics focuses on presuppositions, the difference between believers and non-believers, and the opposition between Christian and non-Christian worldviews.