The Defense of the Faith, Abridged Edition
Overview
In this book, a revision and abridgment of an earlier work, Van Til seeks to discover the most biblical and effective way to present Christ to unsaved people. He writes in the introduction, “First, the main contents of the gospel of grace is briefly set forth in terms of theology (Chapter 1). Then this same gospel is set forth in terms of philosophy (Chapters 2–4). Finally, this gospel is presented to the ‘natural man’ in order that he might be saved (Chapters 5–11).” Along the way, Van Til contrasts his position with that of Roman Catholicism and the neo–orthodoxy of Karl Barth and his followers.
Product Details
Publisher’s note: “This edition is less comprehensive in scope than the original. However, the omission in this printing of material dealing with men who are little known outside of Christian Reformed circles, will actually increase the value of this work for textbook use in seminaries, Bible schools, and university philosophical departments. Actually the main argument of the author is more readily available."
- Revised and abridged by R. J. Rushdoony and R. G. DeMoss. Chapters 10–12 and 14 were deleted; chapter 9 was condensed.
- The Defense of the Faith is among his most noted writings.
- Publisher: P&R
- Publication Date: 1967
About Cornelius Van Til
Dr. Cornelius Van Til, served as a professor of apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, for 43 years. He retired in 1972, but remained as an emeritus professor until his death in 1987. Van Til, an immigrant from The Netherlands, 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 teaching as an instructor of apologetics at Princeton Theological Seminary and being heavily involved with the foundation of the Philadelphia-Montgomery Christian Academy.
Other ther most noted writings include The New Modernism, and Christianity and Barthianism. Much of his work with apologetics focuses on the presuppositions of humans, the difference between believers and non-believers, and the opposition between Christian and non-Christian worldviews.
More information about Van Til as a teacher and Reformed theologian is available in an article Eric Sigward wrote for New Horizons entitled "Van Til Made Me Reformed." Read the article as HTML or PDF (copyright 2004 by New Horizons; used by permission)
Top Highlights
“The point of contact for the gospel, then, must be sought within the natural man. Deep down in his mind every man knows that he is the creature of God and responsible to God. Every man, at bottom, knows that he is a covenant-breaker. But every man acts and talks as though this were not so. It is the one point that cannot bear mentioning in his presence.” (Page 94)
“The whole world lies in darkness. Modern philosophers follow one another about in circles within the hollow of a sphere that they have built about themselves. They will never question their common assumption of human autonomy. Therefore those who know that they were themselves in that state but have been taken out of it by grace must proclaim that grace to those who are in darkness still.” (Page 6)
“The basic structure of Christian theology is simple. Its every teaching should be taken from the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as being the words of prophets and apostles spoken on the authority of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man, the Saviour of sinners.” (Page 7)
“Protestant Christians ought therefore to celebrate the grace of God their Savior unto them by noting carefully from what they have been saved and to what they are called. Their method of apologetics should be in line with their theology.” (Page 4)
“None of them have a Christ who can help sinners in need. Nothing short of the Christ of the Scriptures, as presented in historic Reformed theology, can challenge men to forsake their sin and establish them in truth and life.” (Page 5)
- Title: The Defense of the Faith—Abridged Edition
- Author: Cornelius Van Til
- Publisher: P&R
- Print Publication Date: 1967
- Logos Release Date: 2008
- Era: era:Contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Apologetics; Reformed Church › Doctrinal and controversial works
- Resource ID: LLS:CVTDEFFTHAB
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-02T19:25:33Z
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.