When Apologetics goes wrong - I.
Alexander Balmain Bruce
Apologetics is 'the defence of the faith.' Does it have a place in Christian theology? In some sens it is impossible for Christians to avoid apologetics. One of my favourite definitions of the sphere of apologetics is this: Apologetics, then, as I concieve it, is a preparer of the way of faith, an aid to faith against doubts whencesoever arising, especially such as are engendered by philosophy and science.
It was written by Alexander Balmain Bruce (1831-99), in his book Apologetics: or, Christianity Defensively stated (Edinburgh, T.&T. Clark, 1892). Bruce was Professor of New Testament Exegesis and Apologetics at the Free Church College, Glasgow, from 1876-1899. If he is known for anything today it is for his book on the Synoptic Gospels The Training of the Twelve (various editions), still in print, which is a classic on Christian leadership, and well worth reading. In his own day, however, Bruce was best known as an apologist. Bruce was an accomplished popular theologian (he must have been to publish a 500+ page book which is still in print today), and his winning presentation makes for compelling reading. Bruce read and knew well the modern German theologians of his day, and he engaged them on their own ground. His book on The Miraculous Element in the Gospels (Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark, 1893) is one of the most helpful books I have ever read on the subject.
But Bruce's determination to formulate an apologetic for the 20th Century led him down a dangerous path. His method was twofold: First, there were too be no appeals to external authority to support Christianity, Christian claims were to rest on their own self-evidencing powers, nothing could be taken for granted. Secondly, the apologist set out to gain a verdict for faith from the point of view of his opponent. The aim was to win the thinking doubter for the faith, and that requires careful argument.
How Bruce argued we shall see next time (God willing).
Apologetics is 'the defence of the faith.' Does it have a place in Christian theology? In some sens it is impossible for Christians to avoid apologetics. One of my favourite definitions of the sphere of apologetics is this: Apologetics, then, as I concieve it, is a preparer of the way of faith, an aid to faith against doubts whencesoever arising, especially such as are engendered by philosophy and science.
It was written by Alexander Balmain Bruce (1831-99), in his book Apologetics: or, Christianity Defensively stated (Edinburgh, T.&T. Clark, 1892). Bruce was Professor of New Testament Exegesis and Apologetics at the Free Church College, Glasgow, from 1876-1899. If he is known for anything today it is for his book on the Synoptic Gospels The Training of the Twelve (various editions), still in print, which is a classic on Christian leadership, and well worth reading. In his own day, however, Bruce was best known as an apologist. Bruce was an accomplished popular theologian (he must have been to publish a 500+ page book which is still in print today), and his winning presentation makes for compelling reading. Bruce read and knew well the modern German theologians of his day, and he engaged them on their own ground. His book on The Miraculous Element in the Gospels (Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark, 1893) is one of the most helpful books I have ever read on the subject.
But Bruce's determination to formulate an apologetic for the 20th Century led him down a dangerous path. His method was twofold: First, there were too be no appeals to external authority to support Christianity, Christian claims were to rest on their own self-evidencing powers, nothing could be taken for granted. Secondly, the apologist set out to gain a verdict for faith from the point of view of his opponent. The aim was to win the thinking doubter for the faith, and that requires careful argument.
How Bruce argued we shall see next time (God willing).
Labels: A. B. Bruce
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