Ask Dr. Couch (#412)

Dr. Couch, what is presuppositional apologetics?

This is what most Evangelicals would hold to. It presupposes the truth about Christianity as the starting point of apologetics. In apologetics one must present the Christian view first and foremost and no other argument is sufficient. It presupposes the truth of the Bible and of the gospel.

Revelation and the revealed Word is the starting point. No other arguments will lead men to Christ. And yes, apologetics assumes the total depravity of man. So only the Word, applied to the heart and mind by the Holy Spirit will, have positive effect and conviction.
Francis Schaeffer was said to promote "practical" presuppositional apologetics. Only living in a practical way the Word of God was the responsibility of the believer. The "livability" of the Word was a test for the falsity of non-Christian systems. By this the truth of Christianity was demonstrated to the world.

While I certainly believe all that is mentioned above, I have found that good, strong doctrine and systematic theology is what is needed by students of Scripture to create solid teachers of the Scriptures. (This is why I majored in Systematic Theology in grad school.)

I find a lot of younger men today are enamored by apologetics, but the problem is that it is an interesting study in itself but it does not create a strong understanding of the Word. Apologetics can become a study in philosophy but not really create exegetes.

I have taken my share of graduate apologetic courses but when finished I said "So what?"

I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch