House Wayne H - Reasons for our hope : an introduction to Christian apologetics

Although I part ways with the authors on their account and critique of Catholicism and its beliefs, there is much in this book that is very helpful in introducing the Christian student to the variety of ways in which Evangelical Protestant apologists have contributed to the intellectual life of global Christianity.

Francis J. Beckwith , professor of philosophy and church-state studies, Baylor University

Drs. House and Jowers have done a wonderful job at providing, in a single volume, a full-orbed education in the defense of the faith. We havent seen a book like this in a long time that delves into the definitions, the methodology, the history, the issues, and the practice of this crucial but neglected field of Christian apologetics. I would like to see a more robust Christian response to the intellectual challenges of our time, and this book provides a solid foundation for exactly that. It ought to be digested by every thoughtful believer.

Craig J. Hazen , founder and director of the graduate program in Christian apologetics, Biola University, editor of the journal Philosphia Christi , and author of the novel, Five Sacred Crossings

Wayne House and Dennis Jowers have given us an understandable, practical, and informative apologetic work that will surely be recognized for its balance, articulation, clarity, and theological and philosophical insights. I highly recommend this book to anyone needing a more thorough and comprehensive grasp of the Christian apologetic task.

Joseph Holden , president and professor of theology and apologetics, Veritas Evangelical Seminary

Wayne House and Dennis Jowers have crafted a tour de force in Christian apologetics. This power-packed book covers all the basics, biblically and historically, and it does a whole lot more as well. It offers rich insights into some of the most critical issues confronting Christians today and lays out practical solutions grounded in solid biblical theology. You wont find a clearer presentation of apologetic essentials in print. Whether neophyte or expert, you will learn from this book!

Chad Meister , professor of philosophy and theology at Bethel College, and coeditor of the award-winning God Is Great, God Is Good and The Cambridge Companion to Christian Philosophical Theology

Reasons for Our Hope is a clear, thorough, and accessible introduction to a wide range of issues in apologetics. The books real strength lies in its treatment of apologetic methodology and the biblical and historical basis of apologetics. It is a delight to see this book published, and I hope it gets into the hands of those who want to know the reasons for our hope.

J. P. Moreland , distinguished professor of philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, and author of The God Question

Reasons for Our Hope

Copyright 2011 by H. Wayne House & Dennis W. Jowers

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-8054-4481-0

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 239

Subject Heading: APOLOGETICS\CHRISTIANITYAPOLOGETIC WORK\DOCTRINAL THEOLOGY

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible. The Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972 , 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Printed in the United States of America

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To

Leta

my wonderful wife of forty-four years

and to

Judy A. Jowers

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors of this work would like to thank all who have contributed directly or indirectly to the volumes production. We owe a special debt of gratitude to the patient and consummately professional staff of B&H: especially, John Landers, the editor who initiated this project, B&H academic publisher James Baird, and B&H projects manager Dean Richardson. We are also deeply indebted to Robert Bowman and Roy Zuck, whose insightful suggestions have led to substantial improvements in the work.

Professor Michael J. Adams, president of Faith Evangelical Seminary, likewise deserves our thanks for supplying a work environment conducive to scholarship and adroitly managing the institution from which we derive our primary income. Our wives, to whom we have dedicated this volume, naturally, have assisted us in more ways than we can enumerate. We would be highly remiss, finally, if we did not acknowledge our debt to the God from, through, and to whom are all things (Rom 11:36). Soli Deo gloria .

We would also like to mention persons who have reviewed and provided research in the writing of the book, namely, Rob Bowman, Gordon Carle, Robert Drouhard, Joseph Holden, and Steve Rost.

FOREWORD

Never before has apologetics been needed more. The Judeo-Christian framework in which the gospel alone made sense has been destroyed by secularism, pantheism, and postmodernism. We are attempting to preach that the gospel is the absolute truth of God, that Christ is the Son of God, that His resurrection is a supernatural act of God to a generation that does not even believe in God, not the theistic God of Scripture who alone must be embraced for salvation. As Francis Schaeffer insisted, we must do preevangelism before we can do evangelism effectively. We need to stop apologizing for the gospel and start doing apologetics for the gospel.

The Barthian fideistic aversion to apologetics must be overcome. We need to obey the biblical mandate to give a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Pet 3:15), to contend for the faith (Jude 3), and to know how you should answer each person (Col 4:6). Of course, the Word of God, like a lion, does not need to be defended; it merely needs to be expounded. But that is not the question, which is: Is the Bible the Word of God? No Christian would accept the claim of a Muslim that the Quran does not need to be defended; it merely needs to be expounded. And neither should we expect them or anyone else to accept without evidence our claim that the Bible is the Word of God.

We need to follow the example of the Master Apologist, our Lord and Savior, who gave witnesses, performed miracles, pointed to fulfilled prophecy, and reasoned with His opponents in favor of the truth He presented. If our Lord saw the need for apologetics throughout His ministry and did it in many different ways (see our book, The Apologetics of Jesus ), then how much more should we.

As C. S. Lewis noted a generation ago,

A century ago our task was to edify those who had been brought up in the Faith; our present task is chiefly to convert and instruct infidels.

Elsewhere he added,

To be ignorant and simple nownot to be able to meet the enemies on their groundwould be to throw down our weapons, and to betray our uneducated brethren who have, under God, no defense but us against the intellectual attacks of the heathen. Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered.