Baker's Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, by Norman L.

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Baker’s Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, by Norman L. Geisler (Grand
Rapids: Baker, 1999), 841 pages, hardcover. Reviewed by Clayton Javurek
(javurek@asu.edu).
The writer of this review gained familiarity with Norman Geisler in one of his
1974 apologetics courses at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Geisler, who has
also taught apologetics at Dallas Theological Seminary and Liberty University, is
now Dean and President of the Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte,
North Carolina. Baker’s Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics presents in one
volume the fruit of his thirty years of research and teaching in apologetics
(defending the faith).
As a context for his own approach to the subject, Geisler summarizes the five
types of apologetics: 25
1. Classical—which stresses arguments for the existence of God such as the
ontological, cosmological, teleological, and moral arguments.
2. Evidential—which stresses the need for rational, historical, archaeological,
and experiential evidence.
3. Experiential—which appeals to the sense of a divine encounter.
4. Historical—which stresses facts in history as a starting point of proof.
5. Pre-Suppositional—which assumes the truth of Christianity and then
proceeds to demonstrate it. 26
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As an evidentialist, he utilizes three of these methods: classical proofs (for the
existence of God), historical proofs (archaeology and history), and prophetic
proofs. His approach to apologetics is evident in the three separate articles dealing
with “The Argument of,” “The Need for,” and “The Types of Apologetics.”
He defends the need for apologetics by pointing out that God commands it,
reason demands it, and the world needs it. 27 He leans heavily on the Cosmological
25
Norman L. Geisler, Baker’s Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, (Grand Rapids: Baker,
1999), 41–44.
26
The reader should know that a major battle goes on between apologists who are evidentialist
versus those who are pre-suppositionalists. Geisler does not use experiential or pre-suppositional
apologetics.

(arguing from effect back to cause) approach for proving the existence of God. He
then proceeds to explain theodicy (how a good God and an evil world can coexist).
Medieval Roman Catholic theologian, Thomas Aquinas, used the same
method in the 13th century.
Geisler has authored many books on this subject, so this encyclopedia
(released in February 1999) contains highlights of many of his previous works.
One finds important persons, historical discoveries, documents, philosophical, and
scientific arguments in the book. One of the most helpful articles “Miracles in the
Bible,” 28 has a chart summarizing every miracle from Genesis through Revelation
with its Scripture reference in canonical order. In addition to 791 pages of text,
the book has 50 pages of indices; a massive bibliography, an article index, and a
Scripture index. The article index enables the reader quickly to locate any topic.
Baker’s Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics is the most comprehensive
one-volume work on apologetics in English. It seems to cover and refute nearly
every objection made against the Christian faith. Some articles assume that the
reader possesses prior training in Christian apologetics. Indeed, those taking
college or seminary apologetics courses will find that this book
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clearly sorts out aplogetic issues and approaches. If you minister to those seeking
intellectual credibility for the Christian faith, especially in a secular university (or
college) setting, this book is the one to own, study, and utilize. It is useful for
witnessing among those accepting a materialistic and evolutionary view of the
universe. no other book on the market raises all the pressing issues and
approaches to apologetics like this one.
27 Ibid., 37-38.
28 Ibid., 482-86.
—End—