Being involved in a very small way in the production process, I am excited to see John Muether’s biography of Cornelius Van Til reach the press! More importantly, I’m excited that John has written an intriguing biography of a profound, creative, and challenging 20th century servant of Christ’s bride.
Muether introduces readers to Van Til as a complex and colorful character who lived the Reformed faith authentically–as a comprehensively God-centered way of life. Viewing Van Til as a whole person (not merely a Christian philosopher and apologist but also a zealous churchman) within his 20th century familial, educational, and ecclesial contexts immensely helps 21st century readers hear the lessons Van Til taught with his life as much as his with his lectures.
From the P&R e-Newsletter:
Cornelius Van Til
Reformed Apologist and Churchman
By: John R. Muether
978-0-87552-665-2, 288 pages, $24.99This work contributes to an understanding of Van Til and his apologetic insights by placing him within the context of twentieth century developments in North American Reformed theology, including the formation of Westminster Seminary and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the rise of neo-evangelicalism, and American reception of Karl Barth.
“John Muether does a masterful job of tracing the personal history of this ‘father of presuppositionalism.’ He also shows the inextricable link between Van Til’s own call as a minister of the gospel and his task of training men for gospel ministry to be self-conscious in their apologetic method. As Muether weaves together the various strands of Van Til’s life and career, one can readily see, in a way not clearly seen before, that it was Reformed theology, and not philosophy, that shaped Van Til’s work as a Christian apologist. I could not put this book down.”
- K. Scott Oliphint, Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary
Related Views and Reviews
- Dr. R. Scott Clark: An historical theologian appreciatively reviews Muether’s Van Til biography in two parts.
- Rev. Dr. Gary L.W. Johnson: A former student of Van Til’s reminisces over his experience with Van Til as he reviews Muether’s biography (posted on Lane Keister’s blog).
- Rev. Lane Keister: Pastor Lane speculates briefly on (a) Van Til’s view of covenant theology being more akin to Kline than Murray and (b) a possible synthesis of the so-called Clark-Van Til epistemological controversy.
- Paul Manata: A self-proclaimed Reformed apologist offers a favorable review.
- Dr. Sean Michael Lewis: A co-editor in the series previews Muether’s Van Til biography, saying, “It really is a wonderful book.”
- Dr. Kim Riddlebarger says this biography is a “must read” and that Muether connected many confusing dots surrounding Van Til.
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