The Defence of the Faith

At last, a long-awaited copy of ‘The Defence of the Faith’ by Cornelius Van Til dropped through my letterbox today. The edition that seemed to be most helpful is the volume edited by K. Scott Oliphint. This will be my Christmas reading, so I’m probably going to be really boring. It will most likely be a case of ‘listen to this’ and then I’ll realise as I try to explain it to my long-suffering wife that I haven’t understood it at all and will require many further readings. Well, at least I’ve made a start.

I am persuaded my experience will be similar to the editor of this edition when he writes on page xii ‘… the book arrived. I devoured it, but only understood a fraction of what I read.’ If only I could have such high hopes! To understand a fraction of what I read. It’s encouraging though and with the help of the extensive notes I will understand at least a fraction.

Again to quote from professor Oliphint’s introduction, ‘Once Van Til’s thought is grasped, the implications for the work of the church are most profound.’ Even my limited understand finds agreement with this. And so, I will begin to read and slowly understand. This method I believe inevitably leads to ALL the Glory being given to God – I’m sure Van Til would wish it to be so.

6 thoughts on “The Defence of the Faith

  1. Mike,

    You might enjoy Frame’s book on Van Til? ‘Cornelius Van Til, An Analysis of His Thought’. And note Frame was a personal student of Van Til, and they knew each other rather well.

    I am an Anglo-Irish Brit in the US for a bit. My wife can’t take the cold winters in greater London. We still have a home there, and a son in college. Until I run out of money! lol

    1. I’m sure that’s a good suggestion but I really have enough to read just now – maybe for later. Are you able to get to a good church while in the US?

      1. Mike,

        I am sort of semi-retired, but I am still a classic Anglican (conservative) and ‘catholic & reformed’. I have also been able to do some ministry with some conservative Lutherans here in the US. I did my D.Phil. on Luther’s Ontology of the Cross years ago. I am a young 61! Or so I think? lol

        My dear wife suffers from a chroic COPD.

        Merry Christmas mate!

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