Paul Copan on Apologetic Arguments

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Paul Copan on Apologetic Arguments

“God can and does speak to unbelievers through reason, beauty, moral failure, and the existence of evil. As a cloud of apologetical witnesses can testify, God has used philosophical arguments for his existence, scientific supports for the universe’s beginning (Big Bang) and its fine-tuning, and historical evidences for the resurrection of Jesus to assist people in embracing Christ—just as God uses the preaching of the gospel (Romans1:16) or the loving character of a Christian community (John 13:35). These are all part of the holistic witness to the reality of God and the gospel, all of which the Spirit of God can use to lead unbelievers to embracing Jesus Christ.”

- Paul Copan

[HT Christian Apologetics UK]

3 comments :

Ex N1hilo said...: This is where the breach in Christian Apologetics (and preaching!) has occurred. God does not use science, philosophy, or archeology "just as" He uses the preaching of the Gospel. Dr. Copan ought to know this.

God uses all things. Nothing He has created is without purpose. And the things Copan mentions may be useful in overcoming objections, stopping the mouth of the skeptic, even paving the way for a presentation of the gospel. But we have to get them to the cross. Only the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved, but the name of Jesus.

Romans 10:14-17 (ESV) How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

See also John chapters 16 and 17 and Isaiah chapter 55.; Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 2:17:00 PM GMT
tildeb said...: These presumptions, that God has used philosophical arguments for his existence, scientific supports for the universe’s beginning (Big Bang) and its fine-tuning, and historical evidences for the resurrection of Jesus to assist people in embracing Christ, may be true or they may be false. What method do you use to test?; Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 5:01:00 PM GMT
Unknown said...: My Favorite Apologist!!; Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 5:09:00 PM GMT