8/12/2019 ST 501 Apologetics Syllabus (2014-15)

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Course Syllabus

Course title: ST 501 Apologetics

Course description: An introduction to the task and method of defending the Christian faith. Includes a

historical survey of the history of apologetics and a critique of the evidentialist

approach to apologetics.

Course instructor: Sam Waldronbegan serving as a pastor in 1977. He is a graduate and former

professor of Trinity Ministerial Academy. Sam holds a Master of Theology degree

(Th.M.) from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in

Systematic Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has authored such

books asA Modern Exposition of the 1689 Confession of Faith (Evangelical Press),Baptist Roots in America(Simpson Publishing), The End Times Made Simple(Calvary

Press), andA Reformed Baptist Manifesto(Reformed Baptist Academic Press). He is

currently a professor at Midwest Center for Theological Studies and an Associate

Editor of theReformed Baptist Theological Review. Sam and his wife, Charlene, have

five children.

Course credit: 3 credits

Course requirements: Student must satisfactorily complete the following course requirements:

(1) Lectures The student must listen to all 16 audio lecturesby Dr. Waldron on Apologetics, which

may be accessed on RBS Virtual Campus or purchased on RBS online store.

(2) Reading The student must complete the assigned reading below:

Primary reading

Read a total of 600 pagesfrom the following books:

Bahnsen, Greg.Always Ready: Directions for Defending the Faith. Atlanta:

American Vision, 1996.

________. Van Tils Apologetic: Readings and Analysis. Phillipsburg:

Presbyterian & Reformed, 1998.

Frame, John.Apologetics to the Glory of God. Phillipsburg: Presbyterian &

Reformed, 1994.

________. The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God. Phillipsburg: Presbyterian &

Reformed, 1987.

Van Til, Cornelius. The Defense of the Faith. 3rd edition. Phillipsburg:

Presbyterian & Reformed, 1967.

Secondary reading

Keller, Timothy.Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. Riverhead,

2009. (Approximately 330 pages of reading).

(3) Book review The student should write a review of KellersReason for Godbetween 6 to 8 pages

(double-spaced) or 1,200 and 2,000 words. The first half of the review should include a

summary of the book. The second half of the review should include an appraisal of the

book, highlighting its strengths and any perceived weaknesses.

8/12/2019 ST 501 Apologetics Syllabus (2014-15)

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(5) Course Exams There will be four exams. A study guide, which identifies the lecture content the

student needs to know for the exams, is available on Virtual Campus. The student

should direct any questions to Dr. Waldron ([270] 926-6848; Waldronsc@gmail.com)

or the seminary dean (dean@rbseminary.org).

Course grading: Lectures and reading = 10%

Book review = 30 %

Exams = 60 %