Copyright © 2018 Sean Patrick Curly Ryan All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. EDIFICATION OR PERSUASION? A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE APOLOGETICS PHILOSOPHIES OF MYRON B. PENNER AND OS GUINNESS __________________ A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Educational Ministry __________________ by Sean Patrick Curly Ryan December 2018 APPROVAL SHEET EDIFICATION OR PERSUASION? A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE APOLOGETICS PHILOSOPHIES OF MYRON B. PENNER AND OS GUINNESS Sean Patrick Curly Ryan Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Theodore J. Cabal (Faculty Supervisor) __________________________________________ Joseph C. Harrod Date______________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE ........................................................................................................................... v Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 Overview of the Literature ..................................................................................3 Void in the Literature ..........................................................................................5 Thesis ..................................................................................................................6 2. SYNOPSES OF THE END OF APOLOGETICS AND FOOL’S TALK ................7 Biographical Sketches .........................................................................................7 Synopsis of The End of Apologetics ...................................................................9 Synopsis of Fool’s Talk ....................................................................................17 Conclusion ........................................................................................................26 3. FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES ................................................................................28 Epistemological Foundations ............................................................................28 Perspectives on Postmodern Epistemology ............................................. 29 The Epistemology of Myron B. Penner ................................................... 33 The Epistemology of Os Guinness .......................................................... 39 Employment of Historical Sources ...................................................................43 Augustine of Hippo .................................................................................. 43 G. K. Chesterton ...................................................................................... 50 Søren Kierkegaard ................................................................................... 54 Employment of Contemporary Sources ............................................................58 J. P. Moreland .......................................................................................... 58 iii Chapter Page William Lane Craig ................................................................................. 61 Douglas Groothuis ................................................................................... 65 Conclusion ........................................................................................................68 4. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ............................................................................71 The Problem of Professional Apologetics.........................................................72 The Expert and the Crowd ....................................................................... 72 Experts in the First Century ..................................................................... 77 The Problem of Unbelief ...................................................................................78 Biblical Perspectives on Unbelievers ...................................................... 79 Practical Issues Concerning Unbelievers ................................................. 81 Living and Speaking the Truth ..........................................................................83 Trends in Contemporary Apologetics ...................................................... 84 The Problem of Hypocrisy ....................................................................... 88 The Nature of Prophetic Witness ......................................................................91 Proclamation versus Argument ................................................................ 92 Coercion versus Subversion .................................................................... 95 Edification versus Persuasion ................................................................ 102 Conclusion ......................................................................................................106 5. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................108 Findings of the Comparative Analysis ............................................................108 Benefits and Challenges of the Comparative Analysis ...................................110 Opportunities for Further Research .................................................................111 Closing Thoughts ............................................................................................113 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 114 iv PREFACE Doctoral students typically comment on the intense and time-consuming labor required to complete their theses and dissertations. They do so with good reason, but I feel compelled to share a sentiment that regularly flooded my heart and mind as I engaged in this process: writing this thesis was a tremendous, God-given privilege. So many capable people around the world will never have an opportunity to participate in such focused and formative study. I pray that God will open doors for those in places that lack libraries, seminaries, professors, and other resources so that they may grow in their faith and abilities for the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord has blessed me with a host of people to walk alongside me on this journey. The staff and faculty members of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary have granted me their time, the encouragement in their voices, the kindness in their eyes, and the sincerity of their hearts. I am especially grateful to Dr. Timothy Paul Jones, Dr. Joseph Harrod, Dr. Shane Parker, Dr. Michael Wilder, and Marsha Omanson for their investment in my project and in my personal development. I also owe a long-term debt of gratitude to the faculty of Grand Rapids Theological Seminary—especially to Dr. Michael Wittmer. He has always been accessible to students long after they graduate, and his wisdom proved instrumental in helping me refine my research topic. Words cannot properly express my appreciation for Dr. Ted Cabal. I never imagined my supervisor would become someone I could call a friend and confidant. Rarely does one cross paths with a man so rich in knowledge who humbly remains open to the Lord’s work both internally in his heart and externally with his abilities. Dr. Cabal offered exceptional and essential advice for the completion of this project, but his interest in me as a person touched me above all else. I value him as a brother in Christ who has a v deeply moving life testimony of God’s transforming power. While newness and novelty are often prized, the stable realities of our lives are what foster dedication and perseverance for prolonged and arduous tasks. My parents, Mike and Joyce Ryan, just celebrated fifty years of marriage. Not a moment of my life has passed when I doubted their firm commitment to me and to one another. I also enjoy a home full of treasures—our daughters Cana, Bethany, and Eden, and our son, Case. Each of them brings unique and exciting flavors to my family that season the dry and challenging times in life. Due to their vibrant faith and positive, affirming spirits, I worked on this thesis with substantial peace of mind. Moreover, our daughters may constitute the youngest proofreading team in history! My wife, Jennifer, is a most precious jewel. I thank her sincerely for her companionship, patience, and unwavering support. She inspires me by deeply loving her friends, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and children. She spends many hours praying for their well-being and for the spiritual blessings of God to pour down upon them. She lights up every room she enters. The world is not worthy of women like Jennifer Jo Ryan. I only hope more people will see that Jesus is real and alive through her powerful example as we grow old together with God’s blessing. I give all my thanks ultimately to our Lord Jesus, whose kindness appeared to this undeserving but very grateful man (Titus 3:3-5). Sean Patrick Curly Ryan Dayton, Ohio December 2018 vi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Acclaimed writer Lee Strobel recently expressed a popular sentiment: “We’re on the cusp of a golden era in Christian apologetics.”1 However, the perceived potency of today’s apologetics enterprise might be more fragile than meets the eye. Contemporary apologists differ substantially in their