Presuppositional Apologetics: Why and How to Teach It (Beginner's Guide)

How to Learn and Teach Presuppositional Apologetics to Beginners?

Whenever someone joins the ThinkSquad, which is The Think Institute’s free online community, we ask them what they’d like to learn about. It’s no surprise that many new members say that they want to learn about presuppositional apologetics. Presuppositionalism, or Scripture-First Apologetics, is kind of our thing. Recently a new member requested information on how to learn presuppositional apologetics as a beginner.

So that is what I am going to lay out in this brief guide. I hope you find it helpful.

If you are more experienced and are looking to teach presuppositionalism to a beginner, simply skip down to the section entitled, A Simple Presuppositional Approach You Can Use (And Teach). Let that section be your guide in teaching the method to others.

Presuppositional Definition

Presuppositional apologetics is a method for defending the Christian faith that begins with the assumption that the Bible is true. The believer stands firmly on God’s written word and interprets all of life through that word. “All of life” includes apologetics conversations. This means that the presuppositionalist interprets the apologetics conversation itself, in which he is seeking to defend the truth of Christianity, through Scripture.

In a dialogue in which the Christian is using presuppositional apologetics, he will seek to expose the internal contradiction in the unbeliever’s position and bring the unbeliever to the truth of the Christian worldview and the Gospel.

What Are Three Types of Apologetics?

Now, we teach presuppositional apologetics. However, when most Christians set out to study apologetics, they will typically discover classical or evidential apologetics first. These two forms are the most popular and most prevalent online. However, I don’t teach them, and I dare say we have good reasons for this. Let’s talk about these two approaches first, and then we will dive into why (and how) to teach presupositionalism.

Presuppositional vs Classical Apologetics

Classical apologetics uses philosophical arguments to show that Christianity is reasonable. Classicalists begin by proving that a kind of bare theism (viz. belief in a god) is reasonable, and then from there they attempt to show that further Christian truth claims are reasonable to believe.

Speaking personally, I find classical apologetic arguments to be very enjoyable to listen to and articulate. I love philosophy (so much so, that I have a degree in it), and I like to see it used to establish Christian truth claims. However, classical apologetics does not really establish the absolute truth of Christianity. The furthest it can get is to show that Christianity is intellectually valid and reasonable to believe. This is not how we see Jesus and the apostles reasoning in Scripture. They defended the truth as though it is absolutely certain—and so it is.

Classical apologetics begins with the notion that a man can impartially use reason to come to true conclusions. However, there is no true neutrality in life.

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Mt 12:30).
“For the one who is not against us is for us” (Mk 9:40).

Furthermore, classical apologetics is premised on certain assumptions that take for granted the truth of the Christian worldview. As a philosophical approach, it relies on the various branches of philosophy to make sense. For example, if the laws of logic were not true and real, classical apologetics would be invalid. Yet why do we assume the laws of logic are true and real? That assumption makes perfect sense within a Christian framework, because logic is grounded in God. However, logic would be impossible in a godless universe. So, to act as though logic is real is to act like the Christian worldview is true. Classical apologetics’ fatal flaw is in how it does not point this out, instead trying to assume neutrality between biblical Christianity and non-Christianity.

Classical apologetics arguments can be very impressive, and philosophical reasoning can help bolster the faith of believers. However, classical apologetics falls short of being a truly biblical and effective method for defending the faith to unbelievers, so we don’t teach it.

Presuppositionalism vs Evidentialism

Now, what about evidentialism? In my article, “Which Is Better, Presuppositional or Evidential Apologetics (Full Guide),” I say this about evidentialism:

Evidential apologetics primarily seeks to use evidence to demonstrate the truth (or at least the likelihood) of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
If Jesus really rose from the dead, the evidentialist argues, then the best explanation is that God raised Him.
From there he seeks to establish other Christian truth claims such as the existence of the Triune God of Scripture.
Evidential apologetics uses evidence to show that the truth of Christianity is the most probable explanation for the preponderance of the evidence.

The flaw with evidentialism is that, like classical apologetics, it assumes a position of neutrality that is just not possible.

The very possibility of evidence being a meaningful concept relies on assumptions that only make sense within the Christian worldview. These assumptions include uniformity in nature, the constancy of mathematics and logic, and the possibility of inductive reasoning. (Learn more about why evidential investigation and science need Jesus here).

Certainly evidence is a wonderful thing, but it should be used to corroborate, not establish, the truth of the Christian message. So we do not teach evidentialism either.

Presuppositional Theology Simply Explained

Presuppositional apologetics is based on a theology that says that God is sovereign, He has spoken, and His word is absolutely true. Presuppositionalism addresses presuppositions.

As I outline in “What Are Presuppositions and Why Do They Matter?” a presupposition is:

“A belief over which no other takes precedence” (Frame, John, The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God, Phillipsburg: P&R, 1987, p. 125), a “basic commitment of the heart.” All thinking, feeling and intentions have their basis in presuppositions; there can be no neutrality.”

Presuppositionalism aims to uncover the (often unacknowledged) presuppositions of skeptics and doubters, in order to reveal the inherent contradictions between their presuppositions, or between their presuppositions and their conclusions.

Importantly, an effective presuppositional argument will show how the very criteria needed for the skeptic’s argument to be meaningful presuppose the Triune God of Scripture. Logic, science, and morality all come to mind.

Scripture teaches that there is no neutrality between belief in God and godlessness, and a presuppositional approach respects this teaching. This is one reason why we at The Think Institute call presuppositionalism “scripture-first apologetics.”

This is indeed the method that we teach, and we actually have a specific way that we teach it.

A Simple Presuppositional Approach You Can Use (And Teach)

At The Think Institute, we teach presuppositional apologetics using a three-step method. I suggest learning this method yourself and using it to instruct others in presuppositionalism.

Now, let's say someone says Christianity is false because it's immoral or illogical.

Here's how you would answer:

Show the problem in the unbiblical position. "Reduce it to absurdity." Perform an internal critique and a reductio ad absurdum. Ask questions to uncover the person’s underlying assumptions, find the inconsistency in his position, and explain how his basic beliefs don't actually lead to his or her conclusion). For example, a godless cosmos could not account for the existence of immaterial and absolute laws of morality or logic.
Show how the Bible solves the problem. Perform an internal critique on the Christian position. The Christian worldview says that the true God provides the basis for the very categories or conditions the non-Christian needs in order to make the objection (e.g. morality or logic). Point to relevant Bible passages that teach this.
Show how Jesus solves the ultimate problem. Make an evangelistic appeal. The same Bible that teaches that God is the basis for morality, logic, and science, also says that "all have sinned" and that "the wages of sin is death," but "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Invite the person to repent and trust Jesus. Your goal is always to exalt Jesus Christ and proclaim His gospel.

These three steps work together toward the common goal of winning the person, not merely the argument (cf. 1 Co 9:22; Ro 11:14).

There is more to this method, but this three-step framework is a good start.

Presuppositional Apologetics Courses

If or the person you are teaching would like to learn more, you’re invited to take my Introduction to Presuppositional Apologetics course.

There are seven short sessions with video and text that make the method easy to understand and use. Members of the ThinkSquad community can access it for free right here.

Here are some other courses and resources to help anyone learn about presuppositional apologetics as a beginner:

For many more suggested helps, visit our Presuppositional Apologetics Resource Directory.

Handout Apologetics

If you (or the person you are teaching) aren’t ready to take these courses yet, or if you just want a handy guide you can take with you, here is a free PDF graphic that lays out the three-step approach to defending your faith presuppositionally.

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