Reasonable Faith
Mike Ervin

Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics

Below is a comprehensive summary of Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics by William Lane Craig, a central work in contemporary Christian apologetics. This book is both an academic and devotional resource, blending rigorous philosophical argumentation with theological reflection.

Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics

Author: William Lane Craig

First Published: 1994 (revised editions followed)

Focus: Christian apologetics rooted in classical theism, philosophy, historical analysis, and biblical theology.

Purpose of the Book

William Lane Craig, a prominent Christian philosopher and theologian, wrote Reasonable Faith to equip believers with a rational foundation for the Christian faith. He argues that faith and reason are not enemies—faith can and should be supported by solid evidence and thoughtful reflection.

Craig combines his academic expertise in philosophy and theology with a pastoral heart, aiming the book at both students of apologetics and committed believers who seek to strengthen their trust in Christianity intellectually and spiritually.

Structure and Chapter Summaries

Introduction: Faith and Reason

Craig introduces the tension historically perceived between faith and reason. He critiques the view that faith is irrational and offers a model where faith is rooted in personal experience (via the inner witness of the Holy Spirit), while reason supports and defends that faith through arguments and evidence.

He proposes a two-tiered model:

• Properly basic beliefs (faith grounded in the Spirit’s witness)
• Rational defense (apologetics that confirm or support these beliefs)

1. The Existence of God

Craig defends the rationality of belief in God using several classical arguments:

• Cosmological Argument: Everything that begins to exist has a cause; the universe began to exist; therefore, the universe has a cause (God).
• Kalam Cosmological Argument: A temporal version of the cosmological argument emphasizing the impossibility of an infinite regress of events.
• Teleological Argument: The fine-tuning of the universe suggests intelligent design.
• Moral Argument: Objective moral values exist; their best explanation is a moral lawgiver (God).

Craig interacts with critics like David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and contemporary atheists, and makes a case that theism is more plausible than atheism based on reasoned analysis.

2. The Problem of Historical Knowledge

Craig addresses the skepticism surrounding historical knowledge, especially the historical reliability of the New Testament. He argues that:

• History, while probabilistic, can yield reliable conclusions.
• Criteria such as multiple attestation, embarrassment, and enemy testimony can be used to validate historical claims.
• The Gospels meet many of these standards and should be taken seriously as historical sources.

3. The Problem of Miracles

Here, Craig examines objections to miracles, notably those raised by David Hume.

He responds that:

• Hume’s argument against miracles is circular.
• Miracles are not violations of natural law, but interventions by God, and natural laws only describe what normally happens in the absence of such interventions.
• If there’s good evidence that God exists, miracles become plausible and expected in certain historical contexts.

4. The Self-Understanding of Jesus

Craig examines the identity claims of Jesus, arguing that:

• Jesus understood himself to be the Son of God, Messiah, and Son of Man.
• This claim is rooted in historical evidence, including sayings preserved in the Gospels.
• Craig applies criteria of authenticity to show that Jesus’ divine self-understanding was not a later invention of the church but rooted in his own ministry.

5. The Resurrection of Jesus

This is one of the central chapters in Craig’s apologetic method.

He builds a historical case for the resurrection based on three key facts:

1. The empty tomb
2. Post-mortem appearances
3. The origin of the disciples’ belief in the resurrection

Craig defends the historicity of these events and argues that the best explanation is that God raised Jesus from the dead, affirming His divine claims.

6. The Nature of Apologetics

Craig distinguishes between offensive (positive) and defensive apologetics:

• Offensive apologetics provide arguments for God’s existence and the truth of Christianity.
• Defensive apologetics respond to challenges and objections.
  He also explores the role of apologetics in evangelism, urging that it is not merely for the intellectual elite but an important tool for faith formation and evangelistic witness.

7. The Absurdity of Life Without God

Craig ends the book by arguing that if God does not exist, then life is ultimately:

• Meaningless (no objective purpose),
• Valueless (no objective morality),
• Hopeless (no ultimate destiny or future beyond death).

He contends that only theism provides a coherent framework for meaning, value, and purpose in life.

Core Themes and Takeaways

• Faith and Reason Are Compatible: Faith can be supported by rational arguments.
• God’s Existence is Defensible: Through cosmological, teleological, moral, and other arguments.
• Historical Foundations of Christianity Matter: The resurrection of Jesus is a historical claim that can be investigated.
• The Christian Worldview is Coherent and Livable: It provides meaning, value, and hope—unlike atheistic naturalism.
• Apologetics is for Everyone: Not just scholars, but for all Christians to engage hearts and minds.

Impact of the Book

Reasonable Faith is considered one of the most influential Christian apologetics texts of the modern era. It is used widely in seminaries, universities, and churches. Craig’s combination of academic rigor and evangelistic passion has made the book accessible to both laypeople and scholars.   

Reasonable Faith

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