God, Revelation, and Authority, Volume 1: God Who Speaks and Shows: Preliminary Considerations

by Carl F.H. Henry

A monumental six-volume set that presents an undeniable case for the revealed authority of God to a generation that has forgotten who he is and what he has done.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Philosophy, Christianity, Nonfiction

3030 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Carl Ferdinand Howard Henry was an American evangelical Christian theologian who served as the first editor-in-chief of the magazine Christianity Today, established to serve as a scholarly voice for evangelical Christianity and a challenge to the liberal Christian Century.

Reviews

[Tyler Burton]

A gauntlet, but worth it.

[Brian Chilton]

While I am not a presuppositionalist, I found great benefit in Carl F H Henry's work. If a person is inclined to lean toward the presuppositional method, Henry's is far superior to Van Til's. As an evidentialist, I found great value in Henry's exposition asking how we can know what we know, and to what level does our phenomenal sense experience understand the intrinsic reality of the noumena. Great material!

[David Rathel]

If books were meals, this one would be a steak dinner with all of the trimmings. It is one of my new favorites!

You should read this book if you are seeking a substantive explanation of evangelicalism's key theological underpinnings.

[Rob Compere]

This is a review of volume one of GRA. I looked forward to reading the remaining volumes even before I read this volume—I knew vol 1 would be thick. It was (content, not length). But it was still a worthwhile read and sets forth the importance of affirming a presuppositional belief in God and that He has revealed Himself through the Bible. Henry gets very bogged down (my practitioner’s viewpoint) in connecting philosophers’ viewpoints to every other philosopher or theologian. I found the first 12 chapters (first half of book) and the final chapter very good. The rest slowed me down.

[Hardin]

This is a very challenging read, but rewarding if you stick with it. Hands down the best book on divine revelation that I have encountered. Be prepared to take extensive notes and read slowly.

[Sandu Andronic]

O carte clasică de apologetică. Ea reprezintă un tur de forță fără egal oferit de Carl Henry prin cele mare importante sisteme de gândire existente, punându-le în oglindă cu perspectiva creștină și aducând argumente pro și răspunzând în același timp obiecțiilor. Pe cât este de grea, pe atât de bună.

[Troy Gibson]

Not read all of this massive work, but fantastic and exhaustive. The man interacts at the highest level with the highest thinkers.

[P. Andrew]

Seminal evangelical theology rigorously defending propositional revelation and conservative orthodoxy. Stands head and shoulders above every other conservative theological prolegomenon.

[Mindelynn]

If American Evangelicalism only followed Carl F. H. Henry's Leadership . . . .

[Jacob Aitken]

I read this in 2003. It was my first taste of philosophical theology and theological prolegomena. Henry argues (persuasively) that our language about God-talk refers to an objective, knowable reality and isn't mythological or anything like that.

It's a difficult read, but only the first time through. Everything makes sense the second time through.