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Set Forth Your Case: An Examination of Christianity's Credentials
Book by Clark H. Pinnock
Paperback
Published January 1, 2000
15 people want to read
About the author
Clark H. Pinnock
49 books21 followersClark H. Pinnock (d. 2010) was professor emeritus of systematic theology at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario. Widely regarded as one of evangelicalism's most stimulating theologians, he produced several widely discussed books, including The Wideness of God's Mercy and (with four other scholars) The Openness of God.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 27, 2025
While written in the sixties, one of his first books, I think Pinnock addresses the issues that faced the church then, many of which we still deal with today.
Apologetics can have many layers, many of which depend on the system(s) you adopt. I personally think something can be gleaned from them all, depending on your situation.
In the chapter titled - The Consistent Approach - he talks about man and that he is "not big enough to his own arche (starting point). The fear of the Lord is the only arche of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7)." This gets to the heart of the matter in apologetics. Christians must start with the Lord in any apologetic, and man in his lost state must be brought to realize he isn't the starting point - GOD IS!
It was only 91 pages, and it was relatively easy to read. I did feel the first few chapters moved along slowly (again, a lot of references to the sixties), but then picked up and was easier to relate to.
Yes, I would recommend it.
Apologetics can have many layers, many of which depend on the system(s) you adopt. I personally think something can be gleaned from them all, depending on your situation.
In the chapter titled - The Consistent Approach - he talks about man and that he is "not big enough to his own arche (starting point). The fear of the Lord is the only arche of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7)." This gets to the heart of the matter in apologetics. Christians must start with the Lord in any apologetic, and man in his lost state must be brought to realize he isn't the starting point - GOD IS!
It was only 91 pages, and it was relatively easy to read. I did feel the first few chapters moved along slowly (again, a lot of references to the sixties), but then picked up and was easier to relate to.
Yes, I would recommend it.
September 4, 2024
PINNOCK'S FIRST BOOK OF APOLOGETICS
Clark H. Pinnock (1937--2010) was Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at McMaster Divinity College, and author of books such as 'Reason Enough: A Case for the Christian Faith,' 'A Defense of Biblical infallibility,' 'A Wideness in God's Mercy: The Finality Of Jesus Christ In A World Of Religions,' 'The Openness of God,' 'Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God's Openness,' 'The Grace of God and the Will of Man,' 'The Scripture Principle,' etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1967 book, "The defense of the faith belongs to the preaching of the gospel. Preaching without apologetics is scarcely preaching at all. It encourages naked credulity and shallow conviction. Christian and non-Christian alike demand to know, and have a RIGHT to know, that the historical and intellectual foundations beneath the gospel are sound. In Isaiah 41:21, the Lord issues a ringing challenge to the false gods: 'SET FORTH YOUR CASE, says the Lord; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.'" (Pg. 7)
He adds, "there is no normative approach to Christian apologetics. Our aim requires a continual refocusing simply because our target moves ceaselessly... This book has been written for believers in Christ who desire to witness intelligently and effectively for Him, and who feel the heavy pressure from the current nonchristian consensus with its relativism and loss of absolutes and, ironically, from the existentialist theology with its fatal emphasis on subjective irrationalism." (Pg. 8-9)
Concerning the resurrection appearances, he says, "Of even greater importance to the disciples in the line of evidences for the resurrection was the series of appearances which the risen Christ made to chosen witnesses (Acts 10:41). Paul gives the earliest list of such appearances (1 Cor 15:5-9). The appearance to Peter is put first. Strictly speaking, Christ came first to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:11-18), but Paul does not wish to include the name of a female in a list which has almost legal force in his mind." (Pg. 96)
He argues, "The evangelical doctrine of authority is grounded in the God-given teachings (Jn 7:16) of the risen Lord Himself. His view of Scripture must be the view of His disciples. The Bible is not infallible because IT says so---but because HE says so. There is no more reliable witness to the nature of Scripture than the one who died and rose to be our Saviour." (Pg. 100) He adds, "The 'errors' of the Bible are a very slippery lot... At bottom these 'errors' are really only difficulties masquerading as errors." (Pg. 102)
He concludes, "The purpose of apologetics is to remove prejudice against the gospel and to lay a solid basis for faith in it. People are constantly affected in their actions and choices by arguments, intelligent or otherwise. The notion that nobody is ever converted to Christ by argument is a foolish platitude. It would be more accurate to say that the reason so few people are being converted to Him now is that so many Christians believe the platitude." (Pg. 126)
Pinnock, as is widely known, changed his theological approaches considerably over the course of his career. But this early book is from his uncontroversially "orthodox" period (when this book was cited as a key resource in Josh McDowell's 'Evidence that Demands a Verdict: Historical Evidence for the Christian Faith').
Clark H. Pinnock (1937--2010) was Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at McMaster Divinity College, and author of books such as 'Reason Enough: A Case for the Christian Faith,' 'A Defense of Biblical infallibility,' 'A Wideness in God's Mercy: The Finality Of Jesus Christ In A World Of Religions,' 'The Openness of God,' 'Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God's Openness,' 'The Grace of God and the Will of Man,' 'The Scripture Principle,' etc.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1967 book, "The defense of the faith belongs to the preaching of the gospel. Preaching without apologetics is scarcely preaching at all. It encourages naked credulity and shallow conviction. Christian and non-Christian alike demand to know, and have a RIGHT to know, that the historical and intellectual foundations beneath the gospel are sound. In Isaiah 41:21, the Lord issues a ringing challenge to the false gods: 'SET FORTH YOUR CASE, says the Lord; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.'" (Pg. 7)
He adds, "there is no normative approach to Christian apologetics. Our aim requires a continual refocusing simply because our target moves ceaselessly... This book has been written for believers in Christ who desire to witness intelligently and effectively for Him, and who feel the heavy pressure from the current nonchristian consensus with its relativism and loss of absolutes and, ironically, from the existentialist theology with its fatal emphasis on subjective irrationalism." (Pg. 8-9)
Concerning the resurrection appearances, he says, "Of even greater importance to the disciples in the line of evidences for the resurrection was the series of appearances which the risen Christ made to chosen witnesses (Acts 10:41). Paul gives the earliest list of such appearances (1 Cor 15:5-9). The appearance to Peter is put first. Strictly speaking, Christ came first to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:11-18), but Paul does not wish to include the name of a female in a list which has almost legal force in his mind." (Pg. 96)
He argues, "The evangelical doctrine of authority is grounded in the God-given teachings (Jn 7:16) of the risen Lord Himself. His view of Scripture must be the view of His disciples. The Bible is not infallible because IT says so---but because HE says so. There is no more reliable witness to the nature of Scripture than the one who died and rose to be our Saviour." (Pg. 100) He adds, "The 'errors' of the Bible are a very slippery lot... At bottom these 'errors' are really only difficulties masquerading as errors." (Pg. 102)
He concludes, "The purpose of apologetics is to remove prejudice against the gospel and to lay a solid basis for faith in it. People are constantly affected in their actions and choices by arguments, intelligent or otherwise. The notion that nobody is ever converted to Christ by argument is a foolish platitude. It would be more accurate to say that the reason so few people are being converted to Him now is that so many Christians believe the platitude." (Pg. 126)
Pinnock, as is widely known, changed his theological approaches considerably over the course of his career. But this early book is from his uncontroversially "orthodox" period (when this book was cited as a key resource in Josh McDowell's 'Evidence that Demands a Verdict: Historical Evidence for the Christian Faith').
December 7, 2018
A good exhortation to Christians, giving form and urgency to the task of apologetics. Written before Pinnock's theological wanderings. Lots of gems to be found.
December 28, 2025
Excellent study of the modern state of Christian apologetics and an analysis of the way forward.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews