How did the early church view the revelation of God? The article discusses the views of the second-century apologists and their Christian contemporaries. The apologists claimed that the Scriptures contained knowledge unattainable by the human mind; a special inspiration was needed.
B.B. Warfield dealt with New Testament prophecy and how that gift should be regarded in a post-apostolic era. He argued that there was a link between the completion of the canon and the eclipse of the prophetic charisma at the close of the first century.
Chapter 1 is a short history of early Christian worship. It explains what should be understood by “worship.” The sources for our understanding of early worship are introduced: the New Testament text, Jewish evidence, church orders, and other writings like those of the apologists.
Edgar introduces his readers to the apologetics of Cornelius van Til, who was one of the original apologists of the twentieth century. His approach to apologetics has become known as presuppositionalism. Edgar further provides an overview of the most prominent characteristics of Van Til’s method of apologetics.
Apologetics wants to present a defence of the faith, and it seeks to give compelling evidences on behalf of the gospel. This essay introduces the person and method of Edward Carnell who qualifies as one of the best known apologists of the twentieth century, and gives an evaluation of his position.
This article on church history looks at the church from the West and East with attention given to: the apostolic fathers - Clement of Rome, Ignatius, and Polycarp; the apologists - Justin Martyr and Tertullian; and the polemicists - Irenaeus, Cyprian, and Origen.
