Article & Book Reviews -- By: Anonymous

Journal: Conservative Theological Journal
Volume: CTJ 04:11 (Apr 2000)
Article: Article & Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous


Article & Book Reviews

By the faculty of
Tyndale Theological Seminary & Biblical Institute and others
Mal Couch, Editor

Baker Encyclopedia Of Christian Apologetics. By Norman L. Geisler, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1999, 841 pp., Hardback, $49.99.

This is part of the Baker Reference Library Series that focuses on various areas of theology and human behavior. In this reviewer’s opinion, this edition is the best of the series so far. Although there are no contributors listed, Geisler apparently had a great team of researchers to assemble this massive amount of material dealing with apologetics. He does acknowledge thirteen assistants who must have helped write, edit, and assemble this volume.

It appears that the book contains everything you would want to know about apologetics. Philosophical issues that relate to apologetics are numerous, as well as definitions and personalities from both ancient history up to the present. The encyclopedia begins with a discussion of Absolute Truth and ends with an extensive treatment of Zen Buddhism. The Bibliography is awesome in size and detail; so is the Article Index and Scriptural Index.

Geisler has included some unusual subjects that one at first may not consider when thinking of apologetics. He has an extensive article on “Muhammad, Alleged Bible Predictions Of,” a treatment of “Muhammad, Alleged Divine Call Of”, an interesting discussion of “Missing Links, Evolutionary”, as well as, an article on Mithraism. These topics illustrate how broad the volume reaches to cover areas that an ordinary student of apologetics might not think about.

This book is so good, this reviewer has already used it in a course on Survey of Apologetics. The class was extremely well pleased with it as a textbook. Of course, there was no way to cover in class all of the subjects and headings. This reviewer counted 31 subjects and cross-references in the first fifty pages. Extrapolation from this inexact sample would indicate approximately 263 subjects and cross-references are covered in the book.

I can not say enough positive about this work. It is a great addition to the field of apologetics. And because it is so complete, it may be around for a long time. Though expensive, it is well worth the cost for anyone in the ministry.

Mal Couch
President
Tyndale Seminary

Understanding Spiritual Gifts. By Robert L. Thomas, Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 299 pp., Paperback, $12.99.

This is a revised edition (1978) that has been long overdue in coming back for purchase. It is...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()