Biblical Apologetics: Advancing and Defending the Gospel of Christ

by Clifford B. McManis

"The book you are holding in your hands is perhaps the simplest, most straightforward summary and how-to guide for presuppositional apologetics now in print. It is both informative and practically helpful. I believe you will find it an extremely useful tool whether you are an professor at the seminary level seeking supplemental reading material or just a simple lay person looking for practical answers. Pastor McManis writes with crisp clarity in a way that is certain to give you fresh insight into what Scripture teaches about the defense of the Christian faith. I wish this book had been available when I was studying apologetics in seminary." John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher, Grace Community Church; President of The Master’s College and Seminary "Cliff has rescued the discipline from the elite circle of the "intelligentsia" and returned it as a biblical theology of truth communication to the common people (i.e. to all believers). This volume will be of great help in the restoration of the practicality of biblical apologetics as it was exemplified in the early Church. Hopefully, today's readers will be able to understand and put into practice the true nature of Peter's command in 1 Peter 3:15 as it is strategically situated in its defining context." George J. Zemek, Academic Dean, The Expositors Seminary, Jupiter, Florida

634 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2012

Reviews

[Matthew Rawlings · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the author has a point that apologetics too often lapses into scholarly spheres that leaves the average Christian mystified, that is not reason enough to wholly abandon such exercises (e.g., academic debates). The irony is that the author goes outside of Scripture to make hermeneutical arguments to justify not going outside of Scripture-odd. He also teeters at times on hyper-Calvinism. The author has a point but he too often muddles it.

[David West · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful book. I didn't agree with everything but the author made many great points and places Scripture first in the work of evangelism/apologetics.

[Dwayne Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a pretty edition, but forceful and comprehensive content. Destroys the aspirations of classical apologetics and resolves the inherent contradictions of pre-evangelism with hard truth.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book take a brutally honest look at the varying methodologies and proponents of mainstream apologetics and offers a polemical critique of each. The book is so much more than that though. It also positively provides a thorough biblical view of apologetics.

Though the author throws presuppotional apologetics in with the other traditional forms, most of his negative criticisms are on the non-presuppositional methods and proponents. He often sides with Van Til and Bahnsen, but every once in a while has a fair critical remark against them.

One of the main takeaways from this book is that the field of apologetics has been hijacked and reserved for only the most well-educated individuals (e.g. philosophy majors). McManis calls out Greek philosophy as poisoning the well of faithful, biblical apologetics. He seeks to reclaim apologetics for the layman who wishes to faithfully defend his faith with nothing more than his/her Bible.

Another great takeaway I got from this book is the importance of not segregating apologetics from evangelism. To be faithful in your apologetic encounters, you must proclaim the gospel, otherwise you are leaving the work half-done. We are not simply trying to convince people of deism (deists still go to hell), but are trying to win people over to God's revealed truth as found in Scripture.

This is a very practical book and very easy to understand if you have an elementary understanding of the varying apologetic methods out there. I would not recommend it being your first book on apologetics though. I would start with Greg Bahnsen's Always Ready first. Also, I would recommend familiarizing yourself with some of the well-known names in apologetics (R.C. Sproul, Normal Geisler, William Lane Craig, Cornelius Van Til, John Frame). It's easier to follow a polemic if you know something about the men being discussed.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an ironic book. On the one hand it is the best I have read on apologetics for the average reader. On the other hand he also goes over the top in some of this critiques of others. Despite this highly recommended.

[Patrick Lacson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on clarifying what is truly biblical. McManis does a thoughtful and careful job of showing the reader that much of apologetics today is far more philosophical than biblical.

[Jack Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good treatment of presuppositional apologetics. Well documented. Gets a little redundant at times.

[Tom Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying very much so far. A great read for any Christian.

[Matthew Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid in every way.

An incredible tool in learning and teaching apologetics. The author does a wonderful job showing the sufficiency of the gospel in converting the soul. While not outright rejecting the common approaches of evidentialism and rationalism, he shows them to be inadequate to actual address the soul condition of an unbeliever.