Apologetics by the Book

by Cliff McManis

For years Christian apologetics has suffered from an identity problem. What constitutes the practice of apologetics? How should engage unbelieving arguments? Should we separate apologetics and evangelism? Examine the latest books on the topic of apologetics and you will find a vast and irreconcilable array of answers to these questions. By rooting his discussion first and foremost in Scripture while examining the most popular apologetic approaches and arguments, Cliff McManis demonstrates that the practice of apologetics are not the prerogative of a few scholars, but the privilege of every Christian.

506 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2017

Reviews

[Joshua Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a presuppositionalist, much of the content was in line with presup. However he still criticizes presup as falling short of what he calls the biblical model of apologetics. He really only criticizes quotes from presuppositionalist John Frame, which, while I don’t know much about Frame, seem as if they are wildly pulled out of context. Nevertheless, the quotes he criticizes from Frame are not representative of presup. He quotes Greg Bahnsen positively throughout the book, until the last chapter, claiming Bahnsen did not have the pure gospel in his apologetics, in large part due to his theonomy, which McManis claims confuses law and gospel. It’s really a drive by shot that borders on slander. Having said all that, there is much good to be enjoyed in this book.