Presuppositional Apologetics
A Brief Introduction to Presuppositional Apologetics
The term Apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia which is used by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 3:15, the famous passage that commands us to give a reason for the hope that we have as believers in Christ.
“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15 ESV)
Historically, the most popular approach to doing apologetics since the Enlightenment period was to attempt to use the same methods of inquiry and presuppositions as the materialistic / atheistic types to show that Christian theism is a position that can be arrived at from a “neutral” starting position using logic. This method is commonly referred to as the evidentialist approach. While we do use evidence in our apologetic, we first start by abandoning the myth of neutrality in worldviews and work to first expose the unbeliever’s worldview for its many inconsistencies.
In contrast, the Presuppositional apologetic is one that leans heavily on scripture and which is built on several scriptural pillars:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7);
“in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).
“See to it that no one takes you captive [literally, ROBS you of the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge found in Christ] by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 ESV)
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV)
“Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20 ESV)
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20 ESV)
(Please see my Presuppositionalist Scripture Reference Page for more scriptural support of the Presuppositional approach.)
In other words, all knowledge must be a “reconstruction of God’s primary thoughts” as He is the originator of all truth. That makes God’s word, delivered to us in scripture the final authority for all truth.
If we truly believe the words of scripture, then we must know and believe that in the absence of Christ, one has no rational basis for knowledge of any kind!
As Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen puts it in chapter 7 of Always Ready, “Those who would feign intellectual self-sufficiency and refrain from presupposing the word of Christ in Scripture are led into foolish ignorance. One must begin with Christ in the world of thought or else surrender any hope of attaining knowledge—about himself, the world, or God.”
This truth was so clear to the great Bible teacher John Calvin that he opened the first two volumes of his Institutes of the Christian Religion with a similar statement. Paraphrased by Dr. Bahnsen, “To know about anything pertaining to the business of human life, whether touching upon creation or salvation, one must reject the autonomy promoted by pagan philosophies and submit to the truth of God and admit utter reliance upon Him for the origin, direction, and enabling of our use of reason. In short, Christ must have the preeminence (Col. 1:18)—even in the world of thought.”
So, the Presuppositional method eschews the myth of neutrality of thought and seeks to expose the irrational use by non-Christian thinkers of Christian presuppostions about reality.
Why is this important to the believer? Why this question of methods?
It is my belief that the Presuppositional method is the more God-honoring approach of the two. Where the evidentialist may use the Kalam Cosmological argument to reveal the need for a creator of the universe (or perhaps better said, a “cause” of the universe), it may at best leave us with a deist or blind watchmaker argument and not the Christian God of the bible. I do not seek to make it possible that there could be a God in the mind of those who witness an apologetic encounter. I seek to eradicate the possibility that any other God than the one who came into our world as Jesus Christ is the one who is the author and perfecter of all things.
So, that makes for a lofty task! But fortunately, our God specializes in lofty tasks.
My goal is to provide enough of an introduction to this method that you will at least know what resources to approach for more information and some actual training in the thought and methods of presuppositional apologetics, to the glory of God alone.
Getting started:
Dr. Greg L Bahnsen
This series of videos was taught as an introduction to students about to enter University and is available on DVD here (my notes)
4. Defending the Christian Faith
5. Problems for Unbelieving Worldviews
Book: Always Ready by Greg Bahnsen (ebook)
Also highly recommended:
Defending the Christian Worldview Against All Opposition Vol 1
Defending the Christian Worldview Against All Opposition Vol 2
Dr. Jason Lisle, Nuclear Strength Apologetics (at YouTube) Astrophysicist, Dr. Jason Lisle presents a presuppositional approach to apologetics, and shows why it is the best method for defending the faith. Giving numerous examples of real-world discussions, Dr. Lisle demonstrates how to expose the inconsistencies and arbitrariness in secular worldviews, while also demonstrating the logic and consistency of the biblical worldview. (my notes)
Going Deeper:
The Defense of the Christian Faith by Cornelius Van Til
The Defense of the Faith - Christ the Center with K. Scott Oliphant (Panel discussion)
More Greg Bahnsen videos @ Youtube: 1 2 3 and audio: Wordmp3 and Blue Behemoth
Frontline Ministries - Defending the Faith: An Introduction to the Presuppositional Method
Salem Reformed Church - Van Til’s Most Succinct Synopsis
Book: The Portable Presuppositionalist by Jamin Hubner (Read online http://bit.ly/lYAMq2 )
Free 27 Lecture course from Reformed Theological Seminary by John Frame
Free articles by Greg Bahnsen at CMF
Apologists & Ministries Known to Promote Presuppositional Methods:
Cornelius Van Til (the “father” of the modern presuppositional method)
C.L. Bolt - excellent podcast and articles along with a thorough Intro to Covenantal Apologetics series
Vincent Cheung (books made available free in PDF)
Doug Wilson (Note: Wilson promotes Federal Vision, considered by some to be heretical, so use discretion when studying his work.) - and his famous debate movie, Collision
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