Would love to have this work in LOGOS:
"Biblical Apologetics: Advancing and Defending the Gospel of Christ" Clifford B. McManis
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation 2012
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011962932
ISBN: 978-1-4691-3968-5
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"I am appointed for the defense of the gospel." (Philippians 1:16), this is how the apostle Paul described his calling. Apologetics is a branch of theology that is concerned with the defense of the gospel, unfortunately, over the years this discipline has fallen on hard times. Most Christians now consider it as a philosophical exercise rather than an application of biblical doctrine, which is how Paul saw it. In his book, “Biblical Apologetics”, Clifford B. McManis presents a practical approach of defending the Christian faith from an exegetical and theological perspective.
Most apologetics books are drawn from a philosophical and highly-theoretical perspective, putting relevancy and the concern for practical application in the backseat. “Biblical Apologetics” does not follow this mold; instead, McManis uses a more accessible approach that is founded on his belief that proper defense of the Christian faith is done by proclaiming the truth of the Word of God itself. The book places the Bible and the gospel of Jesus Christ as the epicenter and circumference of all discussion relative to advancing and defending Christianity in the face of skeptics, critics and inquisitors.
Insightful and thought-provoking, “Biblical Apologetics” is comfort for the heart, food for the mind and nourishment for the spirit. According to the author, “This book is not just for the intelligentsia, but for every serious Christian who wants to fulfill the basic biblical imperative of giving an answer for the hope they have in Christ.” by CUPERTINO, Calif
About the Author Clifford B. McManis (M.Div., Th.M., Ph.D.) is associate professor of Apologetics and Bible exposition at The Cornerstone Seminary in Vallejo, California and the teaching-pastor and an elder at Grace Bible Fellowship of Silicon Valley, in northern California. A graduate of The Master’s College and Seminary, he also teaches Christian Education at The Master’s College, Walnut Creek Extension. As a shepherd, McManis is committed to the sufficiency of Scripture, the priority of the local church, personal discipleship and biblical counseling. He and his wife, Debbie, along with their four children, reside in the Silicon Valley, California.
Biblical Apologetics * by Clifford B. McManis Advancing and Defending the Gospel of Christ Publication Date: January 27, 2012
“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 fi nd 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 defi ning context.” George J. Zemek, Academic Dean, The Expositors Seminary, Jupiter, Florida
I agree. Please make this book avaliable on Logos.
Dr. McManis has set the record straight. Apologetics is about advancing and defending the gospel of Christ, not attempting to prove the mere probability of the existence of God. The existence of God does not need to be proven. God's existence is suppressed by the unbeliever (atheist, agnostic, or theistic religionist). The unbeliever knows God exists yet denies the truth in self-deceptive unrighteousness (Rom. 1:18ff). The gospel carried along by the Holy Spirit is the power of God used to bring an unbeliever to saving faith (Rom. 1:16). This is the truth proclaimed in this wonderful book. Determined unbelievers will not like it as they did not like the message of Christ.Dr. McManis critiques authors from the popular apologetics book Five Views on Apologetics (and others) against what the Bible says about the unbeliever and giving a reason for the hope that is in you. Biblical Apologetics is well written, easy to read, and full of the Bible, not the opinions of man. If you are familiar with Bahnsen and Van Til you will not be surprised by what you read, except for McManis' critique of their shortcomings. Although you will not be surprised by the position, you will be delighted to find advancement of thought. There are nuances found in this book not found in Van Til or Bahnsen's writings. This book provides more than mere argument for its position but aims to edify the reader. The teaching on its pages is priceless and eternal.The book is self published by Xlibris, forwarded by Dr. John MacArthur, and prefaced by Dr. George Zemek. It is 579 pages of reading before the appendix. Do not allow the page count to scare you away. The font size is large and double spaced. I read the book in less then two weeks and found plenty of room in the margins to write comments. It is available in hardback and paperback. I opted for the paperback and it has held up to the reading, writing in, and the referencing I have already done.To be fair to you (the reader) I must tell you I was a student of Dr. McManis at the Cornerstone Seminary in Vallejo CA. I hated his class on apologetics until we stopped reading the Five Views book and started reading Bahnsen (Always Ready). From that point forward, I understood the need for a reformation in the area of apologetics. Biblical Apologetics is equivalent to Luther's 95 Thesis. I trust all who read it will either love it or dismiss it in unbelief.If you are a budding apologist, a seasoned apologist, or just someone looking for an edifying read, Biblical Apologetics will, edify, teach, and challenge you. It is a must read.
I just took a Genesis class from Cliff McManis in seminary and he mentioned this book briefly. I read it. He has persuaded me that apologists is not a title, nor is apologetics a formal class, but rather a task every Christian is called to do. The role of the Christian in apologetics is the proclamation of Christ, not the proving of God. McManis sets the biblical record straight on this "elite" subject.
I too would love to see this on Logos!
Hear, hear.
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