The Apologetics of the Evangelical Renaissance: The Quest for a General Theory of Christian Defense

The Evangelical Renaissance refers to the resurgence of evangelical theological thought in the early 1970's. In preparation for this revival, evangelical Christians had been making intellectual investments in their movement and its institutions for several decades, attempting to distinguish themselves from theological liberals on the left and fundamentalists on the right. Through their educational institutions, publishers, and evangelistic efforts, evangelicals were succeeding in the defense and proclamation of the Christian gospel to such an extent that George Gallup, Jr. named 1976 the "Year of the Evangelical." In the area of Christian defense, or apologetics, evangelical reflection and dialogue reached perhaps its highest point in history.

This study attempts to accomplish what most apologists think is too audacious: To derive a general theory of Christian defense from the best systems offered by evangelical apologists during the fifty years from 1945 to 1995. The Evangelical Renaissance falls in the middle of this period and reflects the spiritual high point of evangelicalism in apologetic evangelism. While a number of studies summarize and categorize the tremendous contributions of the period, there remains a need for a synthesis that does justice to the genius of argumentative apologetics in America during the second half of the 20th Century. The goal may be audacious, but it is based on the belief that these apologists provide for more than even they thought possible.