Review: Guide to Christian Apologetics

                Doug Powell, Holman Reference, 2006

reviewed by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                                      Vol. XXIII, No. 7, August 2010

First a word about a word. “Apologetics” has nothing to do with my saying “I’m sorry.” Rather, it is defined as “reasoned arguments defending a theory or doctrine”. So Christian Apologetics deals with reasoned arguments for the truth of Christianity. And it does an excellent job.

This book is different in several respects. It has an unusual size: 9.25 inches tall by 5 inches wide. It is very colorful with multicolored pictures of ancient paintings, archeological sites, manuscripts, maps, landscapes, and other illustrations on virtually every page.

It is written for the layman in clear, straightforward language. And it is clearly and logically organized, first addressing what apologetics is. Then it discusses the three main arguments under the heading “Does God Exist?”: the cosmological argument, the design argument, and the moral argument. Next Powell turns to “Which God Exists?”

Then there are a series of chapters dealing with the Bible. Where Did the New Testament Come From? Is the New Testament Reliable? Is the Old Testament Reliable? Do Miracles Happen? What about Prophecy? The Resurrection? Did Jesus Claim to Be God? Is Jesus the Only Way? How Could God Allow Evil? And the book closes with a chapter on Methodology.

Carefully reading this book will greatly strengthen your ability to discuss these questions rationally and convincingly. Highly recommended.