EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE: A STUDY MANUAL FOR THE DEFENSE OF CHRISTIAN TRUTH, by Richard L. Pratt, Jr.

A Brief Book Summary from Books At a Glance

by Benjamin J. Montoya

 

About the Author

Richard L. Pratt Jr. (MDiv, Union Theological Seminary; ThD, Harvard University) is president of Third Millennium Ministries. He was a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary for over twenty years and is the author of Pray with Your Eyes Open, He Gave Us Stories, and Every Thought Captive.

 

Introduction

What is apologetics? How do we engage in it well? In this short book, Richard L. Pratt Jr. helps his readers understand how to practice apologetics in a way that concords with maintaining a biblical view of God, man, and the world. Many approaches to apologetics do not do this well, as Pratt highlights, but Pratt seeks to justify his approach with explanation. This book focuses on presenting the gospel to unbelievers to reveal their underlying commitment to independence so that they can become dependent on Christ by faith.

 

Table of Contents

Chapter 1  A Firm Foundation
Chapter 2  Where It All Began
Chapter 3  The Character of Man before Sin
Chapter 4  The Character of Man in Sin
Chapter 5  The Character of Man Redeemed by Christ
Chapter 6  The Non-Christian Point of View
Chapter 7  The Christian Point of View
Chapter 8  Attitudes and Actions
Chapter 9  Popular Tactics
Chapter 10  Structure of a Biblical Defense
Chapter 11  Defending the Faith (1)
Chapter 12  Defending the Faith (2)
Chapter 13  Defending the Faith (3)
Chapter 14  An Apologetic Parable

 

Summary

 

Chapter 1: A Firm Foundation

This book is all about apologetics. What is apologetics? It is an easily misunderstood term because of our common understanding of the word “apology.” Apologetics is not saying that someone is “sorry” for something. Rather, it is making a defense for the Christian faith. It is something that every Christian is called upon in Scripture to do.

The firm foundation of apologetics is the Bible itself. Many people attack the Bible, saying it contains errors of all kinds. Believers need not worry about these attacks, but they always need to build their defense of the Bible from the Bible itself.

Apologetics is important for so many reasons. It helps in evangelism, sharing the gospel with unbelievers. Apologetics also strengthens a Christian’s faith. Apologetics also helps fight off doubt, something with which many Christians struggle. . . .

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