After a "brief" break, I return to tackle this book once more.
OVERVIEW
In this section of the book, Professor Van Til begins talking about Theology; specifically the being of God. He is very concise in his explanation; this entire section takes up no more than 2 pages, but is very heavy with deep ideas to ponder.
THOUGHTS
Van Til has a way of making you think of God in ways you had never even thought of before. He holds a very regard for the Word of God, and for God Himself. The more I read, the more new and wonderful ways I am shown to look at the person of God. Such a great read, and this book is doubly useful; not only does it give a clear, concise defense of the faith, but also serves to teach new ways of viewing God that you may have never thought of before.
CHOICE QUOTES [1]
- "It remains that in apologetics we have no well-delimited field of operation and no exclusive claim to any particular weapon"
- "If we can successfully defend the fortress of Christian theism, we have the whole world to ourselves. There is, then, no standing room left for the enemy. We wage offensive as well as defensive warfare... but we need not leave the fort to wage offensive warfare
- "In theology, the main questions deal with the existence and the nature of God. We ask the questions "Does God exist?" and "What kind of God is He?" "
- We must first ask what kind of a God Christianity believes in before we can really ask with intelligence whether such a God exists
- God is not even the source of His own being. The term source cannot be applied to God. God is absolute [John 5:26; Acts 17:25]. He is sufficient unto Himself.
- Naturally, God does not and cannot change since there is nothing besides His own eternal being on which He depends [Mal. 3:6; James 1:25]
- We distinguish here between the unity of singularity [singularitatis] and the unity of simplicity [simplicitatis]. The unity of singularity has reference to the numerical oneness. There is and can be only one God. The unity of simplicity signifies that God is in no sense composed of parts or aspects that existed prior to Himself [Jer. 10:10; 1 John 1:5]
- The parts [of God] together form the whole. The unity and the diversity in God are equally basic and mutually dependent upon one another.
- Man cannot partake of these attributes of God. Man cannot in any sense be the source of his own being; man cannot in any sense be immutable or simple. God's being with its own attributes is self-contained. God cannot communicate His being.
What are your thought? Do you agree or disagree with the quotes above? Comment your thoughts!
[1] -- Van Til, Cornelius, Christian Apologectics, P&R Publishing, 1976,2003, pgs 21-25
OVERVIEW
In this section of the book, Professor Van Til begins talking about Theology; specifically the being of God. He is very concise in his explanation; this entire section takes up no more than 2 pages, but is very heavy with deep ideas to ponder.
THOUGHTS
Van Til has a way of making you think of God in ways you had never even thought of before. He holds a very regard for the Word of God, and for God Himself. The more I read, the more new and wonderful ways I am shown to look at the person of God. Such a great read, and this book is doubly useful; not only does it give a clear, concise defense of the faith, but also serves to teach new ways of viewing God that you may have never thought of before.
CHOICE QUOTES [1]
- "It remains that in apologetics we have no well-delimited field of operation and no exclusive claim to any particular weapon"
- "If we can successfully defend the fortress of Christian theism, we have the whole world to ourselves. There is, then, no standing room left for the enemy. We wage offensive as well as defensive warfare... but we need not leave the fort to wage offensive warfare
- "In theology, the main questions deal with the existence and the nature of God. We ask the questions "Does God exist?" and "What kind of God is He?" "
- We must first ask what kind of a God Christianity believes in before we can really ask with intelligence whether such a God exists
- God is not even the source of His own being. The term source cannot be applied to God. God is absolute [John 5:26; Acts 17:25]. He is sufficient unto Himself.
- Naturally, God does not and cannot change since there is nothing besides His own eternal being on which He depends [Mal. 3:6; James 1:25]
- We distinguish here between the unity of singularity [singularitatis] and the unity of simplicity [simplicitatis]. The unity of singularity has reference to the numerical oneness. There is and can be only one God. The unity of simplicity signifies that God is in no sense composed of parts or aspects that existed prior to Himself [Jer. 10:10; 1 John 1:5]
- The parts [of God] together form the whole. The unity and the diversity in God are equally basic and mutually dependent upon one another.
- Man cannot partake of these attributes of God. Man cannot in any sense be the source of his own being; man cannot in any sense be immutable or simple. God's being with its own attributes is self-contained. God cannot communicate His being.
What are your thought? Do you agree or disagree with the quotes above? Comment your thoughts!
[1] -- Van Til, Cornelius, Christian Apologectics, P&R Publishing, 1976,2003, pgs 21-25
