Crossway Apologetics Collection 2 (12 vols.)

by Thomas A. Miller; C. John Collins; Gregg R. Allison; Vern S. Poythress

and

10 more

Publishers:

Crossway; Apollos

, 1994–2014

Overview

Featuring many of the top voices in contemporary evangelical apologetics—including C. John Collins, William Lane Craig, Millard Erickson, Norm Geisler, Wayne Grudem, John MacArthur, Al Mohler Jr., Vern Poythress, and Nancey Pearcy—this collection addresses the most pressing topics in philosophical and practical apologetics. Strong arguments for a Bible-based worldview accent careful consideration of the church’s intellectual and doctrinal history, the preeminent social issues of the twenty-first century, and the challenging questions posed by modern science. Carefully curated to cover diverse issues and important debates in apologetics, this collection equips believers with the tools they need to defend their faith and provide compelling arguments for others to consider the Christian faith.

Key Features

• Addresses the most pressing issues in Christian philosophical and practical apologetics
• Features today’s top apologists in their most specialized areas
• Argues for and supports a worldview grounded in the authority of the Bible

Product Details

• Title: Crossway Apologetics Collection 2
• Publisher: Crossway
• Volumes: 12
• Pages: 3,504
• Christian Group: Evangelicals
• Resource Type: Monographs
• Topic: Apologetics

Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists

• Author: R. Albert Mohler Jr.
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2008
• Pages: 112

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A leading Christian intellectual explores the newest strain of atheism, its foremost thinkers, the cultural conditions that have bred it, and how Christians should respond.

Something has changed in American culture. What for years was a little-regarded belief system—atheism—has now gained a large, and increasing, national hearing through the writings of "new atheists" such as Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, and Hitchens.

Wanting to both inform and equip serious-minded Christians regarding this cultural shift, R. Albert Mohler Jr. explores the environment that has bred the "new atheism" while also introducing readers to the movement’s four leading thinkers and the contours of their arguments. Mohler—deemed "the reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the US" by Time magazine—then uses this foundation to pinpoint eight major distinctives that make the new atheism new, and to discuss the future of Christianity in relationship to it.

At school and in the community, Christians are sure to encounter people who have been shaped by this strain of atheism. Here is keen insight that any believer can use to understand and challenge the new atheists.

Thoughtful and insightful, this readable work illuminates for scholars, pastors, and students alike the key issues that must be addressed in order to engage the thinking of Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, and others. I applaud Albert Mohler for his clarity and conviction in helping us understand that biblical theism is the only true alternative to the New Atheism. I gladly recommend this book!

—David S. Dockery, president, Trinity International University

Instead of becoming just one more voice in the rising debate between Christians and the New Atheists, Dr. Mohler has chosen to provide us with masterful coverage of the dominant writers on both sides. I know of no other introduction to this crucial debate that is as comprehensive and clear in such brief compass. Mohler tells us what’s going on, shows us how much depends on the outcome of this titanic cultural shift, and provides guidance to the resources Christians need to challenge the New Atheism root and branch.

—D.A. Carson, research professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; cofounder, The Gospel Coalition

R. Albert Mohler Jr. serves as the ninth president of Southern Seminary and as the Joseph Emerson Brown Professor of Christian Theology. Considered a leader among American evangelicals by Time and Christianity Today magazines, Dr. Mohler hosts a daily radio program for the Salem Radio Network and also writes a popular daily commentary on moral, cultural, and theological issues. He is the author of many books, including The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters, We Cannot Be Silent: Speaking Truth to a Culture Redefining Sex, Marriage, and the Very Meaning of Right and Wrong, coauthor of and He Is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World.

Creation and the Courts: Eighty Years of Conflict in the Classroom and the Courtroom

• Author: Norman L. Geisler
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2007
• Pages: 400

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With the explosion of the Intelligent Design movement, many Americans are once again forced to take sides in the long-standing battle between creation and evolution. Yet many feel inadequately educated on the judicial process of this battle.

In Creation and the Courts, Norman Geisler offers a behind-the-scenes look at the testimonies and arguments of the prosecution and defense of the major creation versus evolution court battles. Geisler offers a compelling look at the erosion of Christian influence in America’s public schools. Creation and the Courts encourages readers to learn from the past judicial fights and to take their rightful places in the battle. These conflicts in today’s classrooms and courtrooms must continue to be fought, and anyone willing to be a soldier must be equipped with the knowledge found in this book.

Norman Geisler has always been a ’trail-blazer’ for people who want to speak out about their faith, and Creation and the Courts blazes a trail into the truth of creation vs. evolution. Through his firsthand personal experience in the ’Scopes II’ trial and his exhaustive research into other similar trials, Geisler will draw you into the world of our legal system, better preparing you to address issues of creation and evolution.

—Josh McDowell, author, Evidence for Christianity

As both an eyewitness in the courtroom and a highly respected scholar in the classroom, Norman Geisler provides a unique perspective to one of the most critical discussions of our time. From the Scopes trial to the recent Dover case, Geisler summarizes and counters the often unexamined assumptions left in their wake. This is an invaluable resource on the subject, and I enthusiastically recommend it.

—Ravi Zacharias, founder and president, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries

Norman L. Geisler is author or coauthor of some sixty books, including The Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics and his four-volume Systematic Theology. He has taught at the university and graduate level for nearly forty years and has spoken or debated in all fifty states and in twenty-five countries. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Loyola University and now serves as president of Southern Evangelical Seminary. He writes on a variety of theological topics and his books include, Systematic Theology (4 vols.), I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, and The Battle for Resurrection.

Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?: A Surgeon-Scientist Examines the Evidence

• Author: Thomas A. Miller, MD
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2013
• Pages: 176

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How can a respected scientist believe in the resurrection? Can I trust the Bible’s account that Jesus actually rose from the dead? If the resurrection really occurred, of what importance is it to you and me?

Our ready embrace of the authority of science has left many doubting that Jesus’ resurrection was a verifiable, historical event. Yet Thomas Miller, an experienced scientist and well-respected surgeon, challenges the notion that modern medicine has disproved the possibility of the resurrection.

Through careful investigation of the evidence and evaluation of its reliability, Dr. Miller demonstrates that science and religion are not incompatible and makes a compelling case for the reality of the resurrection.

While many books have been written about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, both pro and con, this work is one of a kind. Most references cite evidence using both medical and scientific expertise. As an accomplished practicing surgeon and research scientist, Miller has approached this book methodically and comprehensively after devoting many years of study. This is an outstanding resource for anyone questioning the authenticity of the resurrection, or for those seeking to better understand the foundation of the Christian faith.

—Jeannie Falwell Savas, associate professor of surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University

Miller has applied his knowledge of anatomy and physiology to bring the unspeakable reality of the crucifixion and death of Christ to our awareness as a prelude to applying the principles of scientific inquiry to a sound defense of the physical resurrection of Christ. The resurrection is pivotal to Miller’s comprehensible, reflective, and personal apologetics of forgiveness, redemption, and restoration. Those seeking truth will be clearly directed to the Way. The wealth of physical and scriptural support for the crucified and resurrected Christ will reaffirm the believer’s convictions.

—Gordon Kauffman, Steven and Sharon Baron Professor of Surgery, professor of physiology, humanities and medicine, The Penn State University College of Medicine

Thomas A. Miller, MD has had a distinguished career in surgery spanning more than 35 years. Previously serving on the surgical faculties of the University of Texas (Houston) and Saint Louis University. Currently, he is professor of surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. In addition to being an active clinical surgeon and educator, he also has been involved in original investigation concerning various aspects of digestive function, much of it funded by the National Institutes of Health for some 26 years. He is the author of more than 200 scientific papers and the editor of three textbooks on surgical physiology.

Hard Questions, Real Answers

• Author: William Lane Craig
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2003
• Pages: 176

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Why doesn’t God answer my prayers? If God is so powerful, why does evil exist? And if He is so good, why do we suffer?

Nonbelievers, and even Christians, are often troubled by questions about suffering, doubt, failure, and unanswered prayer. Yet careful, compassionate answers are hard to find, in part because evangelicals have not taken the life of the mind seriously enough. The intellectual currents of our day are just too strong for simplistic responses.

In Hard Questions, Real Answers, William Lane Craig doesn’t offer trite phrases or pat answers—he offers honest insights gained from a life of study and ministry. Readers in the midst of doubt and confusion will find real answers to these perplexing questions and learn to stand on the only sure foundation for hope—God Himself. This expanded new edition includes chapters on abortion and homosexuality to help readers know how to think about these volatile social issues.

William Lane Craig is research professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California. He is also the founder of Reasonable Faith (www.reasonablefaith.org), a web-based apologetics ministry. He is the author or coauthor of multiple books, including Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics, Creation out of Nothing: A Biblical, Philosophical, and Scientific Exploration, The Cosmological Argument from Plato to Leibniz, and The Only Wise God: The Compatibility of Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom.

The Postmodern World: Discerning the Times and the Spirit of Our Age

• Author: Millard J. Erickson
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2002
• Pages: 144

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In both subtle and distinct ways, postmodernism has permeated American life, becoming a part of our schools, our TV shows, our churches, our conversations, and even our own thinking. How often have we said or heard, "Do what you want, but don’t push your values on me," or "You live your life, and I’ll live mine"?

Its sheer pervasiveness demands that we ask: Is there anything wrong with postmodernism, or with the tolerance, pluralism, individualism, and casualness that it promotes?

With compelling illustrations from current events and everyday life, as well as his customary sound analysis, Millard Erickson equips discerning evangelical Christians not only to understand and recognize the phenomenon of postmodernism but to deal with its effects in a relevant, biblically minded way. As he unearths its evolution, he forcefully reveals postmodernism’s inherent problems and its incoherence with the teachings of God’s Word. He also unveils the greatest areas of concern for Christians and gives people the tools they need to respond more wisely, believe more certainly, and discern more soundly in this confusing age.

Millard J. Erickson is distinguished professor of theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is a leading evangelical spokesman with numerous highly regarded volumes to his credit, including the classic text Christian Theology, 3rd ed.. His other works include Introducing Christian Doctrine, Third Edition and God in Three Persons: A Contemporary Interpretation of the Trinity.

Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment

• Author: Gregg R. Allison
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 496

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In this balanced volume, Gregg Allison—an evangelical theologian and church historian—helps readers understand the nuances of Roman Catholic teaching. Walking through the official Catechism of the Catholic Church, Allison summarizes and assesses Catholic doctrine from the perspective of both Scripture and evangelical theology.

Noting prominent similarities without glossing over key differences, this book will equip Christians on both sides of the ecclesiastical divide to fruitfully engage in honest dialogue with one another.

If you are looking for a few bullet-points and caricatures, this book will disappoint. But if you are looking for a serious survey drawn from the Catholic Catechism and other primary sources, along with an evangelical assessment of each point, Professor Allison’s labors will pay rich dividends.

—Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California; author, Calvin on the Christian Life

This book is good news to those who have long desired a reliable theological guide in dealing with Roman Catholicism. Based on a painstaking analysis of the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church, it covers the all-embracing trajectory of Roman Catholic theology and practice. Instead of juxtaposing ephemeral impressions and disconnected data, Allison provides a theological framework that accounts for the complexity of the Roman Catholic system and its dynamic unity. This book is to be commended for its biblical depth, theological acuteness, historical alertness, and systemic awareness. My hope is that this landmark book will reorient evangelical theology away from its attraction for a shallow ecumenicity with Rome toward a serious dialogue based on the Word of God.

—Leonardo De Chirico, lecturer of historical theology, Istituto di Formazione Evangelica e Documentazione, Padova (Italy)

Gregg R. Allison is professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is secretary of the Evangelical Theological Society, a book review editor for the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, an elder at Sojourn Community Church, and a theological strategist for Sojourn Network. Allison has taught at several colleges and seminaries, including Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and is the author of numerous books, including Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine.

Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity

• Author: Nancy Pearcey
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2008
• Pages: 512

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Does God belong in the public arena of politics, business, law, and education? Or is religion a private matter only—personally comforting but publicly irrelevant?

In today’s cultural etiquette, it is not considered polite to mix public and private, or sacred and secular. This division is the single most potent force keeping Christianity contained in the private sphere—stripping it of its power to challenge and redeem the whole of culture.

In Total Truth, Nancy Pearcey offers a razor-sharp analysis of the public/private split, explaining how it hamstrings our efforts at both personal and cultural renewal. Ultimately, it reflects a division in the concept of truth itself, which functions as a gatekeeper, ruling Christian principles out of bounds in the public arena.

How can we unify our fragmented lives and recover spiritual power? With examples from the lives of real people, past and present, Pearcey teaches readers how to liberate Christianity from its cultural captivity. She walks readers through practical, hands-on steps for crafting a full-orbed Christian worldview.

Finally, she makes a passionate case that Christianity is not just religious truth but truth about total reality. It is total truth.

This new study guide edition is filled with fresh stories, examples, and illustrations. Based on questions and comments raised by readers of the book, it is ideal for individual or group study.

This book continues the Schaeffer-inspired project that Nancy Pearcey and Chuck Colson began in How Now Shall We Live?-awakening evangelical Christians to the need for a Christian ’worldview,’ which Pearcey defines as ’a biblically informed perspective on all reality.’ This is the rare long book that leaves one wanting to read more.

—Publisher’s Weekly

Pearcey is an outstanding writer with the ability not only to express deep thoughts in a very readable way, but one who also understands a biblically reformed world and life view. If you buy only one book this year, this would be at the top of the list.

—Equip For Ministry

Nancy Pearcey is scholar for worldview studies at Philadelphia Biblical University’s Center for University Studies. Pearcey has authored or contributed to several works, including the ECPA Gold Medallion winner How Now Shall We Live? (with Charles Colson) and The Soul of Science (with Charles Thaxton).

Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?: Who They Were and Why You Should Care

• Author: C. John Collins
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2011
• Pages: 192

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Throughout history, most Christians have believed that Adam and Eve were actual persons, of whom we are all descendants. Some Christians today, however, readily dismiss the historical consensus, arguing that those same Christians also believed the earth was the center of the universe. Understandably, there are reasons to doubt the traditional view . . . and yet rarely are those doubts humbly subjected to serious scholarship.

C. John Collins invites both doubts and scholarship to the table. Applying well-informed, critical thinking to questions raised by theologians and scientists alike, Collins examines the historicity and relevance of a real Adam and Eve, ultimately answering the questions: Did Adam and Eve really exist? And why should we care?

Dr. Collins has presented a careful defense of the existence of the historical Adam and Eve. This methodologically rigorous study reflects a critical awareness of contemporary discussions on both biblical and extra-biblical literature and further contributes to the wider discussion on science and religion. Perhaps more importantly, he has successfully demonstrated the theological significance of this traditional reading, all the while using language that an informed layperson can digest and engage. This work deserves to be widely circulated.

—David W. Pao, chair of the New Testament Department, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Working through questions of myth and history, Bible and science, harmonization and complementarity, Collins brings fresh arguments to stimulate wide-ranging thought and improved appreciation of the way the first chapters of the Bible affect the whole.

—Alan Millard, Emeritus Rankin Professor of Hebrew and Ancient Semitic Languages, The University of Liverpool

C. John Collins is professor of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. With degrees from MIT and Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, he pursues such research interests as Hebrew and Greek grammar, science and faith, and biblical theology. He is the author of Genesis 1-4: A Linguistic, Literary, and Theological Commentary and The God of Miracles: An Exegetical Examination of God’s Action in the World.

Science and Faith: Friends or Foes?

• Author: C. John Collins
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2003
• Pages: 448

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Many believers worry that science undermines the Christian faith. Instead of fearing scientific discovery, Collins believes that Christians should delight in the natural world and study it. God’s truth will stand against any challenge and will enrich the very scientific studies that we fear.

C. John Collins first defines faith and science, shows their relation, and explains what claims each has concerning truth. Then he applies the biblical teaching on creation to the topics of "conflict" between faith and science, including the age of the earth, evolution, and miracles. He considers what it means to live in a created world. This book is for anyone looking for a Christian engagement with science without technical jargon.

Collins maps the entire interface between faithful biblical interpretation and questions of all sorts posed in the name of the sciences. Interesting, fair-minded, shrewd, and clear from start to finish, this will prove outstanding as a pastoral resource.

—J.I. Packer, Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College

There is something here for just about everyone. Science and Faith is required reading for all who are interested in the relationship between science and the Christian faith."

—J.P. Moreland, distinguished professor of philosophy, Biola University

C. John Collins is professor of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. With degrees from MIT and Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, he pursues such research interests as Hebrew and Greek grammar, science and faith, and biblical theology. He is the author of Genesis 1-4: A Linguistic, Literary, and Theological Commentary and The God of Miracles: An Exegetical Examination of God’s Action in the World.

Nothing But the Truth: Upholding the Gospel in a Doubting Age

• Author: John MacArthur
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 1999
• Pages: 208

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Scripture is clear about the fact that we must be prepared to communicate the truth of the Gospel when given the opportunity—and do it with the right attitude. But even when your tone is gentle and respectful, what, specifically, should you say when asked or confronted about your faith? And what is your overall responsibility to unbelievers as a disciple of Christ?

Pastor John MacArthur responds to these very questions and more—with solid, biblical answers focused in four particular areas:

• your attitude
• your preparedness
• the content of your answers
• your priority in witnessing

Combining a biblical study of evangelism, a rational defense of Christian beliefs, and a practical approach to evangelism, this book offers a well-rounded perspective that can help you gently and confidently give an answer for the hope you have in Christ.

John MacArthur has served as the pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, since 1969. He is known for his verse-by-verse expository preaching, and his pulpit ministry has extended around the world via his daily radio program, Grace to You. He has also written or edited nearly four hundred books and study guides, including Twelve Extraordinary Women, Twelve Ordinary Men, and The Gospel According to the Apostles. Many of his numerous sermons are available in the John MacArthur Sermon Archive (3,127 sermons). MacArthur serves as the president of The Master’s College and Seminary, a four-year liberal arts Christian college.

Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach

• Author: Vern S. Poythress
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2006
• Pages: 384

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Many people think science is antagonistic to Christian belief. Science, it is said, shows that the universe is billions of years old, while the Bible says it is only thousands of years old. And some claim that science shows supernatural miracles are impossible. These and other points of contention cause some Christians to view science as a threat to their beliefs.

Redeeming Science attempts to kindle our appreciation for science as it ought to be—science that could serve as a path for praising God and serving fellow human beings. Through examining the wonderfully complex and immutable laws of nature, author Vern Poythress explains, we ought to recognize the wisdom, care, and beauty of God. A Christian worldview restores a true response to science, where we praise the God who created nature and cares for it.

Poythress shows how a proper understanding of biblical theology makes possible not just one but many credible harmonizations of biblical and scientific truth. Along the way, he provides an insightful defense of the theory of intelligent design as a viable scientific research program. His examination of the mathematical beauty inherent in the universe gives yet another compelling reason to acknowledge the wisdom and design that lie behind physical reality.

—Stephen C. Meyer, director, Center for Science and Culture, Discovery Institute

With doctorates in both New Testament and mathematics, and with a solid commitment to orthodox Reformed theology, Vern Poythress is uniquely qualified to write on the theology of science. This is by far the most important book you can read on this subject. I recommend it without reservation.

—John M. Frame, J.D. Trimble Chair of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando

Vern S. Poythress is professor of New Testament interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he has taught for nearly four decades. In addition, he has earned six academic degrees, including a PhD from Harvard University and a ThD from the University of Stellenbosch. He is the author of numerous books and articles on a variety of topics, Redeeming Mathematics: A God-Centered Approach, The Returning King: A Guide to the Book of Revelation, and Logic: A God-Centered Approach to the Foundation of Western Thought.

Modern Art and the Death of a Culture

• Author: H.R. Rookmaaker
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 1994
• Pages: 256

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This disturbing but illuminating classic is a brilliant perspective on the cultural turmoil of the radical sixties and its impact on today’s world, especially as reflected in the art of the time. Rookmaaker’s enduring analysis looks at modern art in a broad historical, social, and philosophical context, laying bare the despair and nihilism that pervade our era. He also shows the role Christian artists can play in proclaiming truth through their work.

Rookmaaker’s brilliant articulation of faith and scholarship is insightful and inspiring. The book moves freely and with a sense of urgency between the worlds of high culture, popular art and music, and Christian faith. This timely edition makes his foundational work available to a new generation. Gain a perspective on art that more closely reflects God’s purpose. Trace the trend of art during the twentieth century with Rookmaaker as a trusted guide.

H. R. Rookmaaker (1922–1977) grew up in the Dutch East Indies. As a young man in wartime Holland, he was interned for distributing anti-Nazi leaflets and became a Christian during that time. In 1948 a lifelong friendship with Francis Schaeffer began. In 1959 Rookmaaker published his doctoral thesis on the artist Gauguin, and in 1965 he was invited to the chair of Art History at the Free University of Amsterdam. Rookmaaker was also highly respected as a jazz critic.