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The History of Apologetics: A Biographical and Methodological Introduction
ECPA Christian Book Award 2021 Biography & Memoir Explore Apologetics through the Lives of History's Great Apologists The History of Apologetics follows the great apologists in the history of the church to understand how they approached the task of apologetics in their own cultural and theological context. Each chapter looks at the life of a well-known apologist from history, unpacks their methodology, and details how they approached the task of defending the faith. By better understanding how apologetics has been done, readers will be better able to grasp the contextualized nature of apologetics and apply those insights to today's context. The History of Apologetics covers forty-four apologists Part Patristic Apologists Part Medieval Apologists Part Early Modern Apologists Part 19th C. Apologists Part 20th C. American Apologists Part 20th C. European Apologists Part Contemporary Apologists
848 pages, Hardcover
Published June 16, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 26, 2024
Read about 50% for class. Wonderful essays surveying theologians and apologists from the beginning of Christian church history.
March 30, 2025
Read about 70% for a class! Surprisingly, it’s actually one of the better seminary books I have had to read. I can finally learn about all these random names I have been learning about and get to know their stories and contributions. Honestly might read some of the other biographies in order to learn more about Christian history in general. These homeboys are dope.
January 23, 2022
Read for class (finished about 75% of it)
October 7, 2020
I was ten years old when I first read Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell. It was my first attempt to parse an academic work. I probably didn’t understand a lot of it. But it ignited a fire in me for apologetics. (I soon graduated to Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ, which was more my speed at that age.) Even as I’ve gotten older, apologetics remains a key part of my life and ministry, so a book like The History of Apologetics was an absolute must-have.
This massive tome covers forty-four of the most influential apologists through the ages, giving a biographical and methodological introduction of each. The book is divided into seven sections, as follows:
Patristic Apologists
Medieval Apologists
Early Modern Apologists
Nineteenth-Century Apologists
Twentieth-Century American Apologists
Twentieth-Century European Apologists
Contemporary Apologists
Each section contains 5-7 figures within that grouping, excepting contemporary apologists, wherein the authors and editors have chosen nine. Each chapter is 11-25 pages in length and follows a basic structure of one-paragraph summary, historical background, theological context, and apologetic response. Some chapters also contain headings of apologetic methodology and contributions to the field of apologetics.
These individual biographies are written by experts in the field and are reasonably succinct and objective. However, as we move forward into contemporary apologists in particular, the writing shifts to a more public relations tone as the authors become contemporaries, former students, or even current employees of the individuals being discussed. For example, the chapter on Ravi Zacharias is written by Vince and Jo Vitale, both of whom work for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.
Overall, this is a solid work. A great resource for anyone needing an introduction to the main figures of any epoch of apologetics. A robust bibliography for each section also encourages readers and students into further study. It’s a beautifully written reference and what it does, it does well.
The struggle with any work like this is that it must, by necessity, only tell part of the story. The stories of forty-four apologists are told throughout the book’s 800-some pages. But this is not the whole story. How one views the history of apologetics may very well be influenced by where and when the authors and editors focus. As they editors admit in the introduction, they have chosen to focus predominantly on Western apologists and admit that some might see that they have failed to do due diligence in recognizing other segments of history.
While I can appreciate this caveat, I do believe that more could have been done. This lack of focus on Eastern apologetics means that there is not substantial or current work included on apologetics in the Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist worlds—which is about half the world’s population.
Neither is there much work done to include Western minority perspectives. Ravi Zacharias is the lone ethnic minority. Dorothy Sayers is the lone woman. The rest of the individuals listed are ethnically of the dominant culture and male. You have to go back to Augustine to find an African apologist and the farthest east we ever make it is Gregory Palamas, who worked within Eastern Orthodoxy. No Asian, African-American, or Latino voices are included.
Some of this can be explained by that being the bent of history. These voices were often excluded from the public square. However, the lack of representation, particularly within the contemporary apologetics section is appalling. I get that these minority voices don’t carry the name recognition or authority that the predominantly white male voices do, but this lack of inclusion is part of why. There is more than enough history and there are more than enough individuals that a hundred pages could be added to an 800-page book to include these voices.
Despite its shortcomings in what it does not say, The History of Apologetics is a great collection of individual biographies that focus primarily on the development of Western apologetics and apologetical methodology in relation to the rise of secularism and post-modernism. Where it fails is in what it lacks in addressing apologetical content in relation to eastern religions and a lack of minority voices.
This massive tome covers forty-four of the most influential apologists through the ages, giving a biographical and methodological introduction of each. The book is divided into seven sections, as follows:
Patristic Apologists
Medieval Apologists
Early Modern Apologists
Nineteenth-Century Apologists
Twentieth-Century American Apologists
Twentieth-Century European Apologists
Contemporary Apologists
Each section contains 5-7 figures within that grouping, excepting contemporary apologists, wherein the authors and editors have chosen nine. Each chapter is 11-25 pages in length and follows a basic structure of one-paragraph summary, historical background, theological context, and apologetic response. Some chapters also contain headings of apologetic methodology and contributions to the field of apologetics.
These individual biographies are written by experts in the field and are reasonably succinct and objective. However, as we move forward into contemporary apologists in particular, the writing shifts to a more public relations tone as the authors become contemporaries, former students, or even current employees of the individuals being discussed. For example, the chapter on Ravi Zacharias is written by Vince and Jo Vitale, both of whom work for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.
Overall, this is a solid work. A great resource for anyone needing an introduction to the main figures of any epoch of apologetics. A robust bibliography for each section also encourages readers and students into further study. It’s a beautifully written reference and what it does, it does well.
The struggle with any work like this is that it must, by necessity, only tell part of the story. The stories of forty-four apologists are told throughout the book’s 800-some pages. But this is not the whole story. How one views the history of apologetics may very well be influenced by where and when the authors and editors focus. As they editors admit in the introduction, they have chosen to focus predominantly on Western apologists and admit that some might see that they have failed to do due diligence in recognizing other segments of history.
While I can appreciate this caveat, I do believe that more could have been done. This lack of focus on Eastern apologetics means that there is not substantial or current work included on apologetics in the Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist worlds—which is about half the world’s population.
Neither is there much work done to include Western minority perspectives. Ravi Zacharias is the lone ethnic minority. Dorothy Sayers is the lone woman. The rest of the individuals listed are ethnically of the dominant culture and male. You have to go back to Augustine to find an African apologist and the farthest east we ever make it is Gregory Palamas, who worked within Eastern Orthodoxy. No Asian, African-American, or Latino voices are included.
Some of this can be explained by that being the bent of history. These voices were often excluded from the public square. However, the lack of representation, particularly within the contemporary apologetics section is appalling. I get that these minority voices don’t carry the name recognition or authority that the predominantly white male voices do, but this lack of inclusion is part of why. There is more than enough history and there are more than enough individuals that a hundred pages could be added to an 800-page book to include these voices.
Despite its shortcomings in what it does not say, The History of Apologetics is a great collection of individual biographies that focus primarily on the development of Western apologetics and apologetical methodology in relation to the rise of secularism and post-modernism. Where it fails is in what it lacks in addressing apologetical content in relation to eastern religions and a lack of minority voices.
July 1, 2021
On the plus side of good. This is a conglomeration of essays on various theologians, covering a short biography, their context and struggles, and their contributions to the field of apologetics. Some essays were better than others, of course, and other essays were published prior to scandals (Ravi Zacharias). But a good primer all the way around.
November 27, 2025
I read this for my Apologetics class and genuinely enjoyed everything about it. As someone who genuinely enjoys biographies this was a great way to learn about some of the most influential apologists throughout church history as well as their methodologies. I will definitely keep this as a reference because there are several people I learned about that I want to dive into a little more.
June 24, 2024
This book is a very well-structured introduction to many of the important apologists throughout church history. As with many edited books with many authors writing, some essays are gems and others do not do the figure justice. But overall still a helpful work.
February 24, 2023
This gives an awesome overview of apologetics through the ages. I found myself learning so much about modern apologetics as I read about how Christians have defended the faith throughout history.
June 23, 2023
Great intro book!
Had some thinkers I hadn't considered, especially in Muslim contexts. And other thinkers I knew of (like Kierkegaard) I ended up wanting to read for the first time.
Had some thinkers I hadn't considered, especially in Muslim contexts. And other thinkers I knew of (like Kierkegaard) I ended up wanting to read for the first time.
October 23, 2023
Lengthy academic tome on the history of apologetics. Theologically solid, but at 800 pages, it’s not for the faint of heart!
July 10, 2024
Required reading for Southern Seminary’s Apologetics class.
I loved this history of apologetics. Each man’s story is fascinating.
I loved this history of apologetics. Each man’s story is fascinating.
September 4, 2024
I read most of this book for a class, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am now a huge fan of B.B. Warfield!
April 12, 2024
These mini apologetical biographies were gold. Definitely helpful in understanding the theological, philosophical, political, and cultural times throughout the Church. Examining the various apologetical methods used throughout the history of the church is essential in building a robust and eclectic defense of the faith. You will grow in a your understanding of the the classical apologetics of the early Church, to the evidential apologetics of the 20th century.
December 23, 2024
For those looking to learn more about the people and ideas found in the realm of Christian apologetics, this is the book for you. Each chapter consists of a brief sketch of an apologist and their unique contribution to the field. By nature of the book, it isn’t a work you’d likely read straight through. Nevertheless, it a helpful, informative, and instructive tool.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews