History of Apologetics

Benjamin K. Forrest (EdD, Liberty University) is professor of Christian education and associate dean at Liberty University. He is coauthor of Surviving and Thriving in Seminary (w/ H. D. Zacharias, Lexham, 2017), Good Arguments: Making Your Case in Writing and Public Speaking (w/ R. A. Holland, Baker Academic, 2017), and coeditor of Biblical Leadership: Theology for the Everyday Leader (w/ Chet Roden, Kregel, 2017).Joshua D. Chatraw (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the Billy Graham Chair of Evangelism and Cultural Engagement at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University. He is the author of Telling a Better Story and co-author of Cultural Engagement, The Augustine Way, A History of Apologetics, and The Gospel After Christendom.Alister McGrath discovered Christianity while an undergraduate at Oxford University, and he's spent the rest of his life exploring its rich themes and their wider impact. After gaining first-class honors in chemistry at Oxford, McGrath earned his first doctorate in biomedical sciences and two others in theology and intellectual history. He began his teaching career at Oxford in 1983, when he was appointed lecturer in Christian doctrine at Wycliffe Hall. He now serves as senior research fellow at the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion at Oxford University and lives with his family near Oxford.

'The History of Apologetics is a must-have for the shelves of any serious student of apologetics. With an impressive list of contributors, it provides a comprehensive yet detailed survey of various approaches to the defense of the Christian faith from patristic to modern times. Of particular value is the diversity of approaches represented by the apologists included, with notable entries among the more modern figures including John Henry Newman, G. K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, and C. S. Lewis. This provides substantial content for approaches to defending the faith that engage with cultural issues and draw on imagination and the arts as a methodology. The result is a volume that genuinely presents the historical and ecumenical richness of apologetics as a discipline and will serve as a valuable foundation for working apologists.'

• Ch. 1Justin Martyr (100-165)Gerald Bray (D.Litt., University of Paris - Sorbonne) is Research Professor of Divinity, History, and Doctrine at Beeson School of Divinity. He edited Galatians, Ephesians, the first volume of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture (IVP). His systematic theology God is Love was released by Crossway in 2012, and his historical theology God has Spoken was published in 2014.Beeson School of DivinityCh. 2Irenaeus (130-202)John Behr (D.Phil., Oxford) is Dean, Rector, and Director of the Master of Theology Program and Professor of Patristics at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. PENDINGCh. 3Athenagoras Athens (133-190)W. Brian Shelton (Ph.D., Saint Louis University) is Provost and Professor of Theology and Church History at Toccoa Falls College. He has published principally on early Christianity in the west, including Martyrdom from Exegesis in Hippolytus: An Early Church Presbyter's Commentary on Daniel (Paternoster, 2008) and 'Irenaeus' in Shapers of Christian Orthodoxy (IVP, 2010). Toccoa Falls CollegeCh. 4Tertullian (160-220)Bryan Litfin (Ph.D., University of Virginia) is Professor of Theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He is author of Early Martyr Stories: An Evangelical Introduction (Baker, 2014) and Getting to Know the Church Fathers (Brazos, 2007). Moody Bible InstituteCh. 5Origen (185-254)Chad Thornhill (Ph.D., Liberty) is Associate Professor of Apologetics and Biblical Studies and Chair of Theological Studies at Liberty University. Liberty UniversityCh. 6Athanasius of Alexandria (296-373)Peter Leithart (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) PENDINGCh. 7Augustine (354-430)Chad Meister (Ph.D., Marquette University) is Professor of Philosophy and Theology at Bethel College. His publications include Contemporary Philosophical Theology (Routledge), Christian Thought: A Historical Introduction (Routledge), and The Cambridge Companion to Christian Philosophical Theology (Cambridge University Press). He is also General Co-editor of the books series, Cambridge Studies in Religion, Philosophy, and Society.Bethel CollegePart 2: Medieval ApologistsCh. 8John of Damascus (676-749)Daniel Janosik (Ph.D., London School of Theology) is Professor of Apologetics and Intercultural Studies at Columbia International University. His dissertation research was titled, John of Damascus: First Apologist to the Muslims. Columbia International UniversityCh. 9Theodore Abu Qurra (750-820)Byard Bennett (Ph.D., University of Toronto) is Professor of Historical and Philosophical Theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.Grand Rapids Theological SeminaryCh. 10Timothy of Baghdad (727-823)Edward L. Smither (PhD, University of Wales-Trinity St. David; PhD, University of Pretoria) is Professor of Intercultural Studies at Columbia International University and the author of Augustine as Mentor: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders, Brazilian Evangelical Missions in the Arab World, and translator of François Decret’s Early Christianity in North Africa.Columbia International UniversityCh. 11Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)TBDCh. 12Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)Francis Beckwith (Ph.D., Fordham University) is Professor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies, and Associate Director of Graduate Studies at Baylor University; and Shawn Floyd (Ph.D., University of St. Louis) is Professor of Philosophy at Malone University. Baylor University; Malone UniversityCh. 13Ramon Lull (1232-1316)Greg Peters (Ph.D., University of St. Michael's College, Toronto) is Associate Professor of Medieval and Spiritual Theology at Torrey Honors Institute, Biola University. He is author of The Story of Monasticism: Retrieving an Ancient Tradition for Contemporary Spirituality (Baker, 2015), and Peter of Damascus: Byzantine Monk and Spiritual Theologian (Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 2011)Biola UniversityCh. 14Gregory Palamas (1296-1359)Byard Bennett (Ph.D., University of