Cornelius Van Til: Reformed Apologist and Churchman

by John R. Muether

Cornelius Van Reformed Apologist and Churchman (American Reformed Biographies)

Genres: Biography, Church History, Ecclesiology, Theology

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2008

Reviews

[Benjamin Glaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways the subtitle to any biography of Cornelius Van Til should be titled, "A Tragic Life".

Through the untimely death of his son to the shunning of Van Til by so many of his Dutch colleagues and the consistent and wild attacks of his critics to the myriad avenues taken by his students (Carnell, Frame, Gerstner, Bahnsen, Rushdoony, Schaeffer, etc...)there is much to be lamented from the things Cornelius Van Til had to deal with in his life.

However, what one sees in him is 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 personified. He had an infectious love for his savior that was the foundation for all that he did. This biography is a must read. Highly Recommend.

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing Mr Muether personally, and considering Van Til a hero of mine, I eagerly awaited this biography for several years. Muether's thesis is quite simple and well-developed: Van Til, despite his apologetical greatness and influence, cannot be rightly understand apart from Van Til's role as a high-churchman. Muether successfully, as far as the evidence goes, defends this thesis.

Despite the wide influence of Van Til: the entire OPC, Greg Bahnsen and John Frame's ministries, and anticipating, as scholars now note, elements of a postmodern, non-foundationalism--Van Til has lacked biographers, objective ones anyway.

HIS LIFE
Muether does a good job in describing the early Van Til (hereafter CVT). He places CVT in his Dutch context, an element indispensable for understanding the later contexts. I was particularly impressed with his handling of CVT's early farm life. He really did capture the essence of life on the farm.

HIS CONTROVERSIES
Muether covers the Clark controversy (defending CVT's defense of the incomprehensibility of God), the Barth controversy (Barth was really a revived liberalism), and the Evangelical controversy (see the nonsense that is any evangelical church today).

A FEW QUALIFICATIONS
Muether rightly noticed the connection between CVT and the theonomists. CVT was NOT a theonomists, but--as Muether grudgingly hints--theonomists have been the most vocal and militant and consistent Van Tillians.

While CVT was a Vosian amillennialist, if Vos was really an amillennialist, he did endorse Greg Bahnsen's explicitly postmillennial tape series on Revelation.

CONCLUSION
This book was good and well-written. The scholarship was competent and the writing style was fluid.

[Harold Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only a great bio on Van Til but a good expose on the situation of both the conservative Presbyterian side of things (the OPC) and the Dutch Reformed (CRC) during those formative years. Very informative and helpful.

[Jon Vos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great biography setting Van Til in his context and as has become a necessity, defending him from his defenders.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was somewhat hesitant in writing this review of John R. Muether’s Cornelius Van Til: Reformed Apologist and Churchman (CVTRAC) since I fear that you, the reader, could have devoured 3 quarters of this biography of Cornelius Van Til (CVT) in the time it took you to read my review. This book reads fast; looks handsome and smells good too! The latest edition to the American Reformed Biographies series, CVTRAC weighs in at 240 pages (complied into eight chapters plus a conclusion chapter). 264 pages counting the endnotes. 277 pages counting, not a bibliography, but a “bibliographic essay.” It comes complete with endorsements by K. Scott Oliphint, David VanDrunen, and Peter Lillback (what, no John Frame!). Does it come with content too? You bet.

Muether structures his biography more around themes than in following a strict timeline (though there is definitely a chronological flow). In these thematic chapters are the fascinating events that either characterized Van Til’s life, or that he characterized. The meta-theme (of this book) Muether wants to stress is that the vast majority of CVT’s life: his decisions, his controversies, his apologetic, his philosophy, etc., cannot be interpreted apart from an understanding of “Van Til the churchman.” One must not view CVT apart from his devotion to the Reformed Church and the Reformed faith as expressed in the Westminster Confession, and the three-forms of unity. If this grid is excluded from your analysis, you will go wrong from the start. Slightly less important, but almost equally vital for proper interpretation, is to put CVT in the line of Calvin, Bavinck, Warfield, Kuyper, and Vos. Van Til sought to stand in the historic line of Reformation theology, rather than seeking to be an innovator of new-fangled ideas. He sought to pull the best from all of them, noting where they were weak or inconsistent with the Reformed theology, and present a rigorous, robust, consistent expression of the Reformed faith that could be applied to the challenges of unbelief in his age. He was not content merely to re-state older versions of Calvinism. In this, he found agreement between what he was doing and what Old Princeton and the Dutch School had been trying to do.

Muether briefly traces the history of the Reformation, specifically as found in the Dutch expression, up until Van Til’s birth. This provides a road map of sorts for later discussions. CVT’s birth, childhood, move to America, schooling, later schooling, professional life and work, myriad debates and controversies, relationships with friends and foes, theological, philosophical, and apologetical developments, involvement in the church, influence on students (those who both agreed and disagreed with their beloved teacher), death of friends and family, retirement, post-retirement, and death are all discussed in vivid, smooth prose. Almost nothing (and certainly nothing of importance) slips through the cracks. From whether CVT was a child of the Afscheiding or the Doleantie, from sitting under Harry Jellema at Calvin to his Princeton days, from his position as pastor to his recruitment to Westminster Theological seminary, from his membership in the CRC to his transfer to the OPC, from his debates with Gordon Clark to his debates with the Dutch in Michigan, from his critique of New-Princeton to his critique of Barth and the New-modernism, from his millennial position to any affiliation or linking to theonomy, all of this, plus hundreds of other events and factoids in between, are discussed in engaging fashion. In a much more thorough fashion that any other biography too.

I have seen some questions floating around in cyber-space, and to answer them might be disappointing to some. There is no thorough development of Van Til’s apologetic in CVTRAC (though some key distinctions and qualifications are presented). Nothing in CVTRAC will provide apologetic ammunition for dealing with unbelievers. However, through admiration of CVT as a Reformed apologist (and what that means), proper apologetic character can be developed. There is no detailed interaction with Greg Bahnsen or John Frame (and hardly any, if any, interaction at all with the latter). Theonomy is mentioned, and CVT’s desire to be disassociated with it is pointed out, but there is no critique of that position. Same with postmillennialism (expect when CVT wrote that solid exegetical work ends up pointing to amillennialism, and in Vos all that needed to be said in favor of amillennialism has been said, why improve on it?). Mention is made of Van Til’s involvement in the Shepherd case, if one can call it an “involvement.” CVT was thoroughly confessional, and did not deny the forensic nature of justification. Furthermore, it is not clear to what extent he knew of the Shepherd case, as, according to Robert Strimple, he never attended any of the meetings. Thankfully, Muether downplays those who try to distance CVT from Shepherd by pointing to the problems of old age. He offers more objective reasons for why CVT would not have agreed with Shepherd’s position (but this too is briefly touched on). To focus too long on any of these would have been a mistake, in my opinion. A bright light of those issues many on the web want to see discussed is Meuther's discussion of the Clark controversy. A fair amount of attention is given to that debate, and CVT’s involvement with it. Rather than side with John Frame’s analysis of that debate as a “low-point” in the career of both men, Muether describes it as a high point. It provides clear evidence of the “churchman” aspect to CVT.

What really comes through was the character of Van Til. Muether makes much of the motto associated with CVT: suaviter in modo, fortiter in re, gentle in persuasion, powerful in substance. Reformed apologists (like me!) could learn much by way of example. Van Til was noted by many enemies as offering levelheaded critiques. Objective. Un-biased. He was definitely human, during his life he was plagued by doubts about many of the choices he had made (or had to make) as well as health issues, which took a toll on him. Van Til was a loyal and fiercely devoted friend, and was personally hurt when those he considered close friends publicly attacked him. He was aware of his failings, and readily admitted when he stepped outside of his area of expertise. He knew he did not write for people as (say) a Machen did, and he regretted this. CVT was funny too. I found myself laughing out-loud more than a few times. One example of this can be seen in a phrase Van Til was fond of invoking to summarize his attitude toward his violent critics: “‘Nulli bastardo carurundo’ . . . (roughly translated ‘Don’t let the bastards wear you down…’” (CVTRAC, p. 168). Perhaps most touching was the account of how he was with his wife as she prepared to die. In his last visit to her hospital room, he recorded what he said to his wife, Rena Van Til (who was his childhood sweetheart as well); Muether portrays the event in a captivating way:

‘Do you see Jesus your Savior all glorified now? Do you see your own mother and dad with Jesus in glory? Are you anxious to occupy one of the many mansions which Jesus promised his disciples and, through them, promised to all who believe in him?’ He prayed for her and sang her favorite hymns in Dutch and English. He recalled her countenance as smiling, and when he promised to join her soon, with a nod of her head and a squeeze of his hand ‘she was trying ever so hard to tell me--of course you must, of course I want you to come.’ On January 11, Van Til’s wife of fifty-two years passed away. (CVTRAC, p.212)

Respected Westminster Seminary professor Paul Woolly told Van Til the day after Rena’s death,

‘You have been, and are, probably the most remarkable husband I have seen. No one else could have given Rena the care, support, and admiration which you have given her over the years . . . It has been a most remarkable demonstration of Christian love and tenderness and is a pattern that I am sure no one will equal for uncounted time.’ (CVTRAC, p. 213).

This book will play various roles in various people’s lives:

Some may be offended at the militant, robustly reformed and unflinching, and unapologetic expression of Reformed Christianity as the truest and best expression of the Bible. As the most defensible Christianity.

Some may be embarrassed by Van Til’s own words that demonstrate a great many of his critics were sloppy and hasty in their critique of his rather traditional Reformed position on matters.

Some may let it collect dust as anything positive of Van Til is unworthy of being read.

Some may be upset that Gordon Clark actually used Van Til’s apologetic syllabi for his classes, and referred his students to go to Westminster to study under the great Cornelius Van Til.

Some will be bothered that Van Til was not hip to the reconstructionist movement.

Some will be encouraged to carry to torch and continue to raise the banner of Reformed theology high above all other theological systems.

Some will want to make sure even more so that their apologetic and philosophy is consistent with their reformed theology.

Some will want to become churchmen, or re-affirm that original intention.

Some will want to develop their character in how they deal with controversy.

Some may want to pick up and study Van Til for the first time, or all-over again.

Some will develop a newfound respect for a man they considered irrelevant and hard to understand.

Whatever it is, this book will affect you. I heartily recommend John R. Muether’s Cornelius Van Til: Reformed Apologist and Churchman to you. You only have a few hours to lose by reading it. What’s stopping you?

[Justin Poe · Rating 4 out of 5]

On page 199, the author, John Muether, sums up basically how I was feeling about Van Til up to this point.

"As Orthodox Presbyterians......,Van Til's criticism of Schaeffer fuelled frustration with some readers over his Reformed militancy. It seemed that no other Reformed apologist could earn his commendation, and it appeared that the circle of theologians that he embraced was ever narrowing." Well put indeed. Further on page 201, the author also states, "To the casual observer it appeared that there was no pleasing Van Til, who seemed to find fault with everyone."

That last quote is where I take most issue with VT. He was extremely hard for the "layman" to understand. He was not nearly as eloquent or easily read as say Machen, Lewis, or Schaeffer. VT problems basically lie in his inability to effectively communicate the thoughts in his head to the average reader of his day.

This leads to the issue of the intellectuals of his day. The constant bickering he found himself in was of an intellectual variety. None of these men mentioned were career pastors. All wrote volumes of books, critiques on each others books, taught at colleges/seminaries, ect. In my view, VT fought the good fight against Barth and his like, but I scratch my head at his bickering with Clark/Schaeffer/and other conservative Reformed thinkers of his time.

As this was my first dive into these issues and the man Van Til, I will certainly have to do more reading on VT and his apologetics. This book doesn't give an in depth explanation as to the ideas and thoughts VT had on presuppositional apologetics. The book is basically a biography of the churchman Van Til. VT was certainly devoted at his core to Reformed/Orthodoxy Christianity...literally to the point of nasty confrontations with Clark/Gerstner and understandably Barth/Dooyeweerd/Berkouwer.

I'm left with the feeling that VT agreed fully with no one but himself, which is the main issue he faced. As a layperson, I would certainly have found wiggle room to agree with Francis Schaeffer rather than write him a 20 page letter vehemently disagreeing with FS analogy of the orange in an unbelievers life.

Despite what appears to be vicious fighting throughout the book, I'm left with the sense that these men all still had great respect for one another in the end (with some exceptions of course). For example, near the end of his life, VT never lumped Clark in with the "new evangelicals" but stated that Clark had stood faithful to the Scripture and to the Reformed faith. So again, the way I had to read this book was realizing these were massive giants (intellectually) of the Reformed faith going toe to toe over topics that most Christians will never consider; even ones in an Orthodox Reformed church.

Certainly VT can and should be credited with starting Westminster Seminary and the OPC. He also devoted his life to keeping these institutions on a track of unwavering orthodoxy and fighting against ecumenicalism, modernism, ect. VT was also extremely devoted to scriptural inerrancy. The best description in the book of VT is "Van Til was unrelenting in his defense of the faith, he was consistently biblical in his approach, and he steadfastly resisted any compromise with unbelief. Moreover, he did not succumb to the allure of counterfeit movements that presented themselves as new Protestantism or new orthodoxy." Modern society and the evangelical church could certainly learn much from the steadfastness and immovability of Van Til.

This is a GREAT book to introduce the battles the Reformed Church went though against modernism and certainly within its own walls. Clearly I need to read more on this time period to fully appreciate VT and the men he corresponded with concerning apologetics...mainly presuppositional versus evidential.

[David Saxon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb biography. Muether is sympathetic to Van Til but is unafraid to criticize his dense style or his combative nature. Muether demonstrates a remarkable ability to avoid getting bogged down in discussions of presuppositional apologetics (he distinctly denies that he is writing a book about Van Til's apologetics) while expertly describing Van Til's many controversies. Muether does not back off from or apologize for Van Til's strong and unpopular stand against Barthianism; he documents Van Til's critique of the New Evangelicalism and the resulting collisions with Carl Henry and E. J. Carnell; and I found fascinating Van Til's dissatisfaction with Francis Schaeffer, who laymen often considered Van Til's popularizer.
As a dispensationalist, I had to grudgingly accept Muether's thesis: Van Til believed his apologetic method could only thrive in a consistently Reformed context. When he saw dispensationalists, evangelicals, or anyone else attempting to graft presuppositionalism onto any other theological system, he bristled at what he perceived as inconsistencies in their systems. For Van Til, only a robust Reformed theology could fully appreciate the "antithesis" (the Creator-creature distinction).
I accept Muether's thesis and think he proved it. But as a presuppositional dispensationalist, I respectfully disagree with Dr. Van Til.

[Will Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid overall bio on Van Til.

I wish there was more interaction with the practice of church life. Muether focused heavily on the politics of church life. This was heavily focused on all the church "political-theological" controversies that Van Til was steeped in. More focus on Van Til as preacher, apologist, and missiologist. I would have preferred more interaction with everyday church life for Van Til. An analysis of some of his sermons, what his classroom was like, more stories from his students, etc. White's bio on Van Til, while less academic, offers a more personal tone of warmth. Van Til is simply more like-able in White's work.

I often felt disappointed and sad toward Van Til's reformed militancy. But I am more along the "generous reformed" camp. I do wonder how much of this is being filtered through Muether's own militancy?

There is fighting forth the faith once delivered and then there is fighting contentiously for the faith once delivered. One wonders if Van Til was far too contentious. I did find it interesting that toward the end of his life Van Til tended to have a more reconciliatory tone. When we view things in light of eternity it shapes us differently?

Still a helpful intro to Van Til. We continue to lack an in-depth academic / critical biography.

[Ryan Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great biography of apologist Cornelius Van Til. It specificity looks at Van Til’s life in light of ecclesiology by focusing on him as a churchman. This book helped me better understand, the poorly titled, Clark/Van Til controversy, dealing with the incomprehensibility of God. It also clears up many misconceptions I had about Van Til. These including his confusing statements about the Trinity and his relationship to postmodernism. It also helps explain the differences between Van Til and his various students and admirers. This includes Francis Schaeffer on the enlightenment. RJ Rushdoony and Greg Bahnsen on eschatology and social ethics. John Frame on triperspectivalism. Jay Adams on nouthetic counseling. And Meredith Kline on the frame-work-hypothesis. It also details Van Til’s defense of Normal Shepherd, which was unfortunate, but seems more like Van Til defending an old friend and colleague more so than defending Shepherd’s erroneous views on justification. This is well worth reading for those interested in the history of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and those interested in Van Til’s apologetic methodology.

[Mark Seeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. I'm late in the game reading it as it is now fifteen years old. I was introduced to Mr. Van Til at first through my college philosophy professor who studied under him, and then through my apologetics professor who was a pet-student of his. As one who grew up and was nurtured under a typical American, fundamental, evangelical environment, Van Til's upbringing was far away from my experience. Nevertheless, I so appreciated Mr. Muether's loving portrayal of this militant, Christian pilgrim. This was not a "puff-biography." Muether balances out Van Til's strengths and weaknesses. I came away from reading this bio wishing that Van Til had less of Gresham Machen's militancy toward others and more, dare I say it, "epistemological humility." That seemingly inhibited his influence. The exchange between him and Karl Barth was very sad to me. Still, what I really appreciated about Muether's perspective was Van Til's rootedness in the life of the church and his love of the Reformed tradition that he never left; he was faithful to the end.

[Andrew Canavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of my efforts to learn more about my own denomination and theological heritage ... and to ramp up as I try to tackle The Defense of the Faith. This is a really good biography and a helpful introduction to an important figure who is notoriously difficult to read. I have been generally appreciative of Van Til while also thankful for those who have offered critiques. This book greatly increased my appreciation by emphasizing Van Til as a pastor first, theologian and apologist second. No mere man is above critique, but this biography helped to show the genuine commitment to the truth of the Gospel that motivated Van Til, even if that noble trait was occasionally accompanied by too much suspicion of others. This book tells an interesting story in a compelling way.

[Alex]

A helpful book towards better understanding Van Til, the OPC, and the Presbyterian & Reformed world during his time. Muether’s final section is edifying as he challenges the reader along the lines of Van Til’s thought, that Reformed should wave the Reformed distinctive banner high (not low) as a means to ecumenicity.


“Mere Christianity is not Christianity come into its own; rather, it is less than the whole counsel of God, and it serves an insufficient means of nurturing and sustaining the Christian faith from generation to generation.”

- John Muether (Cornelius Van Til: Reformed Apologist and Churchman, p. 239)

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

“While he was alive, it was often observed that Cornelius Van Til’s readers could be divided into those who did not agree with him and those who did not understand him.”

A lot of truth to both of these trying to understand his arguments.

Really fascinating history of an extremely intelligent man. A history of immigration and finding his way in a new world and a changing church and culture. Especially enjoyed the history of 20th century Christianity with the downfall of Princeton seminary and the emergence of Westminster seminary.

[Bruce Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged and honored to meet John Muether at two different OPC General Assemblies. After reading his book With Reverence and Awe: Returning to the Basics of Reformed Worship co-authored with D.G. Hart, I knew that his biography on Cornelius Van Til would be another winner. He is a prolific and thorough researcher who puts all of the pertinent details into his writing, yet does it with a talent for holding your interest to the end.

[Rial R · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know about Van Til's personal life, this book is the one to read.

[Eddie Mercado · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful bio. It was an insightful look into CVT the man, the Churchman, and the Theologian.

[Vos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and helpful in understanding Van Til's work and legacy

[Yuri Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

An encouraging read. You get in the mind and the teaching heart of Van Til. I’d have to reread it though.

Recommend

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review first appeared here: http://stevebishop.blogspot.co.uk/201...

Cornelius Van Til (1895-1987) is seemingly something like marmite: either loved or hated. Or as Muether puts it: "…Van Til's readers could be divided into those who did not agree with him and those who did not understand him." (p 15) This excellent biography has certainly helped me to understand Van Til as a person a little more.

Van Til was the longest serving member of J Gresham Machen's then newly founded Westmister Seminary. He remained there teaching apologetics until his retirement in 1972. As a polemicist and controversialist he fought against modernism, arminianism, Barthianism, new evangelicalism, and Catholicism. He wasn't a populariser, and he regretted that he couldn't write as clearly and accessibly as Machen in Christianity and Liberalism. Nevertheless, John Frame described him as "perhaps the most important Christian thinker since Calvin.”

Van Til developed an apologetic method known as presuppositionalism. He maintained that
"that unless God is back of everything you cannot find meaning in anything. I cannot even argue for belief in Him without already having taken Him for granted. And, similarly, I contend that you cannot argue against belief in Him unless you also first take Him for granted. Arguing about God's existence, I hold, is like arguing about air. You may affirm that air exists, and I that it does not, but as we debate the point we are both breathing air all the time. (In Why I Believe in God)
He attempted to forge a path between the views of Kuyper and Warfield. Francis Schaeffer was influenced by his approach though Van Til didn't fully approve of Schaeffer's adaptations; he thought that it wasn't consistent. For Van Til Calvinism was the most logical and consistent worldview. No other approach was consistent and he took it upon himself to point out where inconsistencies lay.

Muether posits that we can't understand Van Til's theological commitments without understanding his ecclesiology: "His apologetic was self-consciously ecclesiastical as much as theological" (p 15). Consequently, the biography focuses more on Van Til's ecclesiastical life than on other aspects of his long academic career. But this means that what it doesn't do in any depth is explain Van Til's more novel ideas. But then perhaps that's going beyond what Muether aims to do. As Muether notes "To focus solely on Van Til's novelty fails to appreciate the many ways in which he tried to preserve tradition by standing on the shoulders of those who went before him."

For Van Til, and Kuyper before him, Calvinism alone does "full justice to the cultural mandates of Christ." The touchstone for Van Til was consistency. The problem with everyone else such as Schaeffer, Gordon Clark, Oliver Buswell and Barth et al was that they were not being, as Van Til saw it, consistent Calvinists.

Van Til comes over as someone who is zealous for truth and is keen to defend it at any cost. He seems to see things in black and white there are few greys. Perhaps because of this he was involved with a number of controversies. These are dealt with well in the book. Murther even suggests that the Clark-Van Til controversy should really be the Murray-Van Til controversy. His disagreements with Dooyeweerd are mentioned only briefly. The issue of common grace is dealt with somewhat more fully.

In the useful bibliographic essay that concludes the book Muether suggests books and papers that could provide more information on the novelties of Van Til. (Muether recommends Banshan's Van Til's Apologetic and Frame's Cornelius Van Til)

Muether writes with great respect and understanding for Van Til. He has drawn on a wide range of resources, including interviews with many of Van Til's colleagues, family, and friends, as well as having access to many of Van Till's personal letters.

The book is a pleasure to read. It is well produced - a rarity in these days of POD - and well written. It explains Van Til the man. It gave me a much better understanding of the motivations of Van Til and helped me to appreciate the man more. We can't ask more from a biography.



Contents
Series Preface 9

Acknowledgments 11
Introduction: Apologist and Churchman 15
1. A Child of the Afscheiding 21
2. “Fit Modesty and Unreserved Conviction” 41
3. From Dutch Reformed to American Presbyterian 65
4. Reformed or Evangelical? 91
5. The New Machen against the New Modernism 119
6. Through the Fires of Criticism 149
7. Presbyterian Patriarch 179
8. Steadfast, Unmovable, and Abounding 207
Conclusion: Against the World, for the Church 229
Notes 241
Bibliographic Essay 265
Index 279

[Ben Adkison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Biography on Cornelius Van Til

I wrote a paper on Cornelius Van Til 19s apologetic method back when I was in seminary, and since then I 19ve been intrigued by his writings and his life. So it was only natural that I found myself purchasing a biography on Van Til when I saw it sitting so pretty and seductive on the shelf at our local Christian bookstore (shoutout to Logos!). I have problem with buying books, so you 19ll have to excuse my use of the word 1Cseductive. 1D Anyway, you should know that I 19m not so much interested in reviewing this biography (deceiving blog title I know), but I would like to post two things that seemed to stick with me as I finished reading it 26

Van Til the Husband

The day after Van Til 19s wife of 52 years died 13 her name was Rena 13 one of Van Til 19s colleagues wrote the following note to him:

1CYou have been, and are, probably the most remarkable husband I have ever seen. No one else could have given Rena the care, support, and admiration which you have given her over the years. Time has not dulled your patience and steadfastness. You have thought of her and her welfare over the years and under all possible conditions and have done everything you could to make life possible for her. If have been a most remarkable demonstration of Christian love and tenderness and is a patter that I am sure no one will equal for uncounted time (213). 1D

I want to be a husband like that. Not much else I can say; just that at the end of my life I want to be known as a man who deeply loved, protected, and provided for Magen.

Van Til & Reconciliation

I 19m a Baptist, and we have plenty of demons in our own closet, but I was struck by how much of Van Til 19s time seemed to be spent battling against other Presbyterians. There is a good and necessary type of theological fighting, and then there is an over-the-top kind where you just seem angry at the world. In my estimation, Van Til seemed to be involved in both kinds. The gospel of salvation by grace through faith must be defended at all costs. This is non-negotiable for those claiming to be Christians. Van Til stood for the reality of truth. That is, truth can be known and understood, and to oppose this truth is to be wrong. There are many things we don 19t know and don 19t understand in the Bible, but the things that are clear, are clear. To disagree with these clear truths and claim allegiance to the Bible is twisted. Van Til referred to this as 1Cantithesis. 1D There is thesis and there is antithesis. One is correct and one is incorrect. No fuzzy middle. End of story.

But there are also secondary and tertiary issues that should be discussed firmly and seriously, but with a sense of charity to the other party. There are many things that aren 19t so clear in the Bible, and there are many things that aren 19t of primary importance. Van Til seemed too militant on many of these issues. His tone might have sounded different if I had heard him in person, but I 19m not so sure. There were times when I was reading about his life, and I seriously thought, 1CMan take a chill pill. This other guy loves Jesus, and so do you, don 19t die on this hill. 1D But then, it 19s easy to see the speck in his eye, and not the plank in my own. So I 19m not accusing so much as I 19m observing.

But I think Van Til began to realize some of this at the end of his life. Muether writes, 1CWith former antagonists Van Til spent his last years pursuing reconciliation 1D (213). Personally, I just don 19t want to have to get to the end of my life before I start making amends. I could be reading this whole thing wrong, but I wonder if Van Til had it to do over again, if he would have spent more time attacking the real enemies of Christianity and giving more grace to those whom simply disagreed with him over smaller issues. We battle against spiritual forces after all, not physical ones. Heresy is a spiritual enemy, but our apologetic method 26not so much.

I want to keep growing in this area in my own life. I need Jesus to continually help me see what the major issues and minor issues are. The secondary stuff, let 19s discuss it all day, but let 19s keep our wits about us.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very good read for those interested in some of the issues that encompassed the life of Dr. Van Til. There is much discussion in the 8 chapters as to the termoil in his academic life, all the controversies in ideas, the heresies he fought against, his ideas concerning the church, and his love for learning and teaching. I was most impacted by the height of his intellect and yet the depth of his humility. We see a picture painted in this book that can very well help guide us in our academic pursuits, not only how to address those we disagree with but also never compromise truth for love. I felt as I read parts about his personal life that he was a warm and tender man who was filled with the love of Christ, walking the streets singing hymns about his beloved saviour. Biographies can so bless the soul as this one did.

[Todd Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that only Van Til enthusiasts would find very interesting. As one who has been strongly and positively influenced by Van Til’s apologetic, including his militant antithesis between the covenant keeper and the covenant breaker (believer and unbeliever in my jargon), this book was helpful in explaining the career and history of Van Til. Just like Van Til was an all-or-nothing person with regard to ecclesiology and his apologetic, so the author was particularly territorial with Van Til, suggesting that one cannot borrow from Van Til unless one accepts his ecclesiology. I disagree with this, so it is probably best that I make public my affinity for Van Til only after he has died. He would have thought his influence on me incongruous. :)

[Erin Livs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Father's Day gift for John... because I wanted to read it! :)
I haven't been able to put it down - it's a fascinating biography that includes a focus on Van Til's life, especially his ecclesiastical life, and incorporates his philosophy.
Thus far, a great read for a layperson, like myself, who seeks to know and understand more about Van Til.

[John Paulling · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction into the life of a superb apologist. This biography is not definitive by long shot, but is nevertheless quite stimulating. Muether is obviously Van Tilian himself, yet does a fair job at demonstrating Van Til's shortcomings. Could easily be read in a weekend.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wished Muether would have dived into Van Til's thought a little more, but a great read. Easily the best biography released through the P&R American Reformed Biographies.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really v good

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of good background behind the Apologist that some might not know. It is a good book that provides the denominational and seminary background that Van Til framed his apologetics methodology

[Troy Gibson]

great

[Brandon Bellinghausen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.

Favorite statement: Van Til taught in Winona Lake, IN (in the mid 1950's) because someone had to "evangelize the fundamentalists."

[Coram Deo Church]

Cornelius Van Til: Reformed Apologist and Churchman is not currently available at local libraries.