Reformed Forum

Cornelius Van Til (1895-1987) developed a unique approach to apologetics which stemmed from a solid foundation in reformed theology and a background in Idealist philosophy. His method has been called presuppositionalism, transcendental and covenantal. Many recent theologians have been influenced by Van Til’s thought, especially current faculty members of Westminster Theological Seminary where he so faithfully taught. Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey discuss Cornelius Van Til and his tremendous contribution to reformed apologetics.

Bahnsen, Greg L. Van Til’s Apologetic: Readings and Analysis. P & R Publishing, 1998.

Boa, Kenneth D., and Robert M. Bowman Jr. Faith Has Its Reasons: An Integrative Approach to Defending Christianity (An Apologetics Handbook). Paternoster, 2006.

Cowan, Steven B., Stanley N. Gundry, William Lane Craig, Paul D. Feinberg, Kelly James Clark, John Frame, et al. Five Views on Apologetics. Zondervan, 2000.

Frame, John. Cornelius Van Til : an analysis of his thought. Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 1995.

Keller, Timothy. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. Dutton Adult, 2008.

Muether, John. Cornelius Van Til : Reformed apologist and churchman. Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 2007.

Plantinga, Alvin. Warranted Christian Belief. Oxford University Press, USA, 1999.

White, William. Van Til, defender of the faith : an authorized biography. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1979.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

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This episode is an introduction to redemptive-historical preaching. The proponents of this kind of preaching argued that Old Testament narratives are not given primarily – to us by God to be moral examples, but as revelations of the coming Messiah. The narratives, the stories, of the Old Testament served as types and shadows pointing forward in history to the time when Israel’s Messiah would be revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

In support of this view, the advocates of redemptive-historical preaching drew heavily upon the text of Luke 24:27 (where Jesus is teaching the disciples on the road to Emmaus), “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (English Standard Version). Along with this verse, also invoked was v. 44 of the same chapter where Jesus says, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

In this way, then, the bible is seen not as a collection of abstract moral principles, but rather as an anthology of the events of God’s great works in history. The bible is dynamic, so the redemptive-historical advocates claim, and it progressively unfolds revealing more and more of Christ to us as it progresses through salvation history. This, then, is to be the way in which the narratives are to be preached – preached with a view towards showing how the text points towards Christ.

Chapell, Bryan. Christ-centered preaching : redeeming the expository sermon. Grand Rapids Mich.: Baker Books, 1994.

Clowney, Edmund. Preaching Christ in all of Scripture. Wheaton Ill.: Crossway Books, 2003.

Clowney, Edmund P. Preaching and Biblical Theology. Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co, 1979.

Goldsworthy, Graeme. Gospel-centered hermeneutics : foundations and principles of evangelical biblical interpretation. Downers Grove Ill.: IVP Academic, 2006.

Goldsworthy, Graeme. Preaching the Whole Bible As Christian Scripture: The Application of Biblical Theology to Expository Preaching. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000.

Greidanus, Sidney. Preaching Christ from Genesis : foundations for expository sermons. Grand Rapids Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2007.

Greidanus, Sidney. Preaching Christ from the Old Testament : a contemporary hermeneutical method. Grand Rapids Mich.: W.B. Eardmans Pub., 1999.

Greidanus, Sidney. Sola Scriptura: Problems and Principles in Preaching Historical Texts. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2001.

Greidanus, Sidney. The modern preacher and the ancient text : interpreting and preaching biblical literature. Grand Rapids Mich. ;Leicester: Eerdmans ;Inter-Varsity Press, 1988.

Johnson, Dennis. Him we proclaim : preaching Christ from all the scriptures. 1st ed. Phillipsburg NJ: P&R Pub., 2007.

Ryken, Leland. Dictionary of biblical imagery. Downers Grove Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1998.

Vos, Geerhardus. Grace and glory : sermons preached in the chapel of Princeton Theological Seminary. Grand Rapids Mich.: The Reformed Press, 1922.

Vos, Geerhardus. The idea of biblical theology as a science and as a theological discipline. New York N.Y.: Randolph, 1894.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

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Jim and Camden discuss the 20th century theologian Karl Barth and the main themes of his influential theology.

Hunsinger, George. How to read Karl Barth : the shape of his theology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.

McCormack, Bruce. Karl Barth’s critically realistic dialectical theology its genesis and development, 1909-1936. Oxford: Clarendon, 1997.

Van Til, Cornelius. Christianity and Barthianism. P & R Publishing, 2004.

Van Til, Cornelius. The new modernism an appraisal of the theology of Barth and Brunner, Philadelphia Pa.: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co., 1946.

Webster, John. The Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth. Cambridge University Press, 2000.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy

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This episode addresses biblical theology in the Westminster Standards. As the panel explores the issue, several topics arise such as the relationship between biblical and systematic theology and the practice of preaching through the catechisms.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

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In this episode the panel covers the spirituality of the church – its history and its bearing on diaconal ministries, humanitarian efforts, and church/state relations.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

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The panel builds on the previous discussion regarding building a theological library by discussing the principles involved in choosing commentaries as well as suggesting a number of commentaries for your library.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

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Part two of a panel discussion on the importance of books and building a theological library.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

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Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

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Part one of a panel discussion on the importance of books and building a theological library. The panel begins by discussing the book medium and its importance and then moves to general principles in building a library. Part one concludes with book recommendations for the theological encyclopedia.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

Mentioned in this episode:

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This inaugural episode of Christ the Center addresses the theological issues that arise from the New Testament’s use of the Old Testament. The panel members give a brief introduction to the major issues and point listeners to a number of helpful publications on the subject.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit