ThinkApologetics.com : Presuppositional Apologetics Chart

Presuppositional Apologetics: Approach	Proponents
The presuppositional approach starts by assuming Christian truth about God and Jesus as revealed in Scripture and reasons from Christianity. The presuppositional apologetic to the unbeliever begins with reasoning “from” Christianity through special revelation (Bible). The presuppositionalist assumes the content revealed in Scripture to be true and encourages the unbeliever to do the same since these assumed biblical truths offer only possible foundation and explanation for life and godliness- a framework on which to make of the world and God the way they actually exist. Due to the effects of sin, the unbelievers presuppositions are deemed irrational and inadequate to understand or explain the basis for religion, morals, communication and beauty. In some instances presuppositionalists test consistency by using the laws of logic. The goal is to demonstrate in any of several ways, that only biblical presuppositions provide the tools for one to make sense of reality and show that Christianity offers the only foundation and framework on which on which to make sense of the world and God.	Cornelius Van Til John Frame Gordon Clark Greg Banshen Abraham Kuyper Herman Bavnick
Criticisms	Responses
Presupposing the truth of Christian theism is arguing in a circle and lacks a basis to justify it’s assumptions as to why one should presuppose Christianity. The apostle Paul says that God’s existence and attributes can be “clearly seen” (Romans 1:18-20) since they have been “shown” to the unbelieving world through “the things that are made” (nature). Therefore, the unbelievers problem is not one of not understanding the truth of God, but of suppression, which leads to not receiving the truth.	The presuppositional basis is not circular since its argument is transcendental, which demonstrates that proof is possible only because of God’s existence.

Presuppositional Apologetics: Approach

Proponents

The presuppositional approach starts by assuming Christian truth about God and Jesus as revealed in Scripture and reasons from Christianity. The presuppositional apologetic to the unbeliever begins with reasoning “from” Christianity through special revelation (Bible). The presuppositionalist assumes the content revealed in Scripture to be true and encourages the unbeliever to do the same since these assumed biblical truths offer only possible foundation and explanation for life and godliness- a framework on which to make of the world and God the way they actually exist. Due to the effects of sin, the unbelievers presuppositions are deemed irrational and inadequate to understand or explain the basis for religion, morals, communication and beauty. In some instances presuppositionalists test consistency by using the laws of logic. The goal is to demonstrate in any of several ways, that only biblical presuppositions provide the tools for one to make sense of reality and show that Christianity offers the only foundation and framework on which on which to make sense of the world and God.

Cornelius Van Til

John Frame

Gordon Clark

Greg Banshen

Abraham Kuyper

Herman Bavnick

Criticisms

Responses

Presupposing the truth of Christian theism is arguing in a circle and lacks a basis to justify it’s assumptions as to why one should presuppose Christianity. The apostle Paul says that God’s existence and attributes can be “clearly seen” (Romans 1:18-20) since they have been “shown” to the unbelieving world through “the things that are made” (nature). Therefore, the unbelievers problem is not one of not understanding the truth of God, but of suppression, which leads to not receiving the truth.

The presuppositional basis is not circular since its argument is transcendental, which demonstrates that proof is possible only because of God’s existence.

Chart taken from Charts of Apologetics and Christian Evidences by H. WAYNE HOUSE and Joseph Holden. Copyright 2006 by H. Wayne House and Joseph Holden. Used by permission of Zondervan. To find out more info about Charts of Apologetics and Christian Evidences, see http://www.Zondervan.com. ISBN# 031021937X

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