Books for Introductory Apologetics

(The following is an edited email correspondence.)

There is a young man I know that was saved off the streets. He has a very hard past, but is totally transformed. He has asked that I recommend a few books on apologetics.

He is already well aware of your writings.

I have recommended: Bahnsen’s Always Ready, and the one by Richard L. Pratt (I forgot the name of his popular book on apologetics, but I am sure you know which one I mean), Gordon H. Clark’s A Christian View of Men and Things, and God’s Hammer.

Also, I made sure that he picked up Robert L. Reymond Systematic Theology, and IVP’s New Bible Commentary.

If there are other books that you think will be of great assistence to him, please let me know.

Pratt’s book is Every Thought Captive — but I dislike it.

Bahnsen’s Always Ready is fine, although I find it repetitive and sometimes boring — but this is just being picky and would not stop me from recommending it. Also, it is not his fault, since it is a compilation of his articles, so some repetition is to be expected.

As you know, I recommend all of Clark’s books. But for introductory apologetics, I would add the following to those that you have mentioned:

• An Introduction to Christian Philosophy
• Three Types of Religious Philosophy

These two books are now available in Christian Philosophy, which also includes his Religion, Reason, and Revelation.

I also recommend Carl Henry’s Toward the Recovery of Christian Belief, although this one might be hard to find.

As for my own works, have him read Ultimate Questions and Presuppositional Confrontations.