Reasons for Faith

by John H. Gerstner

Publisher:

Reformation Trust

, 2014

Overview

This classic defense of Christian belief from John H. Gerstner speaks to the “thinking public,” and college students in particular. Gerstner avoids technical jargon, and speaks directly to practical issues of faith and doubt. The pastor and professor works his way from general theism to particular Christian belief, addressing criticisms and objections along the way. He addresses the questions about the Bible’s authenticity, miracles, prophecy, and social and scientific objections using biblical archaeology, Christian history, classic philosophy and theology, as well as his own personal experience.

With Logos Bible Software, this volume is enhanced with cutting-edge research tools. Scripture citations appear on mouseover in your preferred English translation. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Powerful topical searches help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Tablet and mobile apps let you take the discussion with you. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Key Features

• Defends the historic Christian faith from a variety of objections
• Draws on biblical archaeology, philosophy, Christian history, and personal experience
• Addresses issues of faith and doubt with a readable, straightforward style
• Targets college students and the thinking public

Contents

• Introduction
• On the Existence of God
• On the Truth of Christianity
• A Consideration of Some Objections to Christianity
• Conclusion: The Pragmatic Test

Top Highlights

“To summarize. Much that we call evil only appears to be so because our finite judgment lacks perspective. But even real evil may frequently, perhaps always, be of benefit to ourselves and others. If, however, there be a kind of evil which is absolutely and irreducibly evil, it is traceable to man, not to God. And the only mystery about evil is why God tolerates it—a ‘mystery,’ mark you (something known but incapable of being perfectly understood) rather than a ‘problem’ (something incapable of being understood even partially).” (Page 20)

“Skepticism produces two diagonally opposed outlooks, as we shall see. First, the skeptic maintains, no one can know anything (except, of course, the skeptic, who knows this much). And then he finds himself concluding that since no one knows anything, everyone’s knowledge is as good as everyone else’s. So very tolerantly he says your knowledge is true for you and my knowledge is true for me precisely because no one knows anything anyway. It therefore comes to pass that because no one knows anything, everyone knows everything.” (Page 26)

“The theory is self-contradictory. It professes to be skeptical about everything, but, as a matter of fact, it is not at all skeptical of its own skepticism. It has no doubt that everything is doubtful.” (Page 27)

“David Hume once argued that there is more evidence for regularity in nature than for irregularity (supernaturalism); therefore, regularity and not irregularity must be the truth of the matter.” (Page 90)

“Purpose is not the result of the need to survive; survival is the result of purpose.” (Page 36)

Product Details

• Title: Reasons for Faith
• Author: John H. Gerstner
• Publisher: Reformation Trust
• Print Publication Date: 2014
• Logos Release Date: 2015
• Pages: 138
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Apologetics
• Resource ID: LLS:RSNSFTHGERSTNER
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-12T05:29:04Z

About John H. Gerstner

John H. Gerstner (1914–1996) was professor of church history at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Knox Theological Seminary and an authority on the life and theology of Jonathan Edwards. He pastored several Presbyterian churches before accepting a professorship. He earned his MDiv and ThM from Westminster Theological Seminary and his PhD from Harvard. Among his students were R.C. Sproul, Arthur Lindsley, and Walter Kenyon.