An Easy Introduction to Reformed Apologetics
Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian, Mark J. Farnham. Phillipsburg: P & Publishing, 2025. Softcover, 199 pages.
The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 3:15 that every believer should be prepared to give reasons for the hope they have in Jesus Christ. The problem is many believers don’t feel prepared. When asked for reasons about why they believe what they do, they don’t have the confidence to speak clearly, boldly, and biblically. That’s a problem this book seeks to address. It’s a book giving a basic introduction to apologetics, the defence and promotion of the Christian faith.
The author is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church. This organization, according to its website, exists “to equip ordinary believers to effectively and confidently share the gospel.” Farnham is also a professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. from Westminster Theological Seminary, where he studied the Reformed apologetics method pioneered by Cornelius Van Til.
Many Reformed apologetics books have been published since Van Til’s time, including some basic introductions. What makes this one worth our attention? For starters, it’s up to date on the latest developments in the field. For example, when explaining different approaches to apologetics, Farnham includes Minimal Facts Apologetics. That one was new to me.
Each chapter concludes not only with “Questions to Ponder,” but also a case study. For example, chapter 5 provides a case study involving someone attracted to Wicca. What would you say to someone who says, “I started attending a gathering of witches to learn more about amplifying the voice of nature in my life. I am not a witch myself, but I love their connection to nature, their holistic treatments for all kinds of ailments, and their access to the latent power in the universe”?
Chapter 9 has a noteworthy approach to “Logical Mistakes to Avoid.” Many apologetics books will address informal logical fallacies. They’ll often provide examples of unbelievers using fallacious reasoning. Farnham goes one step further and also gives examples of how Christians sometimes use such reasoning. He gives this example of begging the question: “I believe the Bible is the Word of God because I just know it to be so.” To say that is just to assume it is true without proving it.
A final noteworthy feature is how Farnham reminds Christians that they know more than they think they do: “The truth is that the average mature Christian knows more about the ancient Near Eastern world of the Old Testament and the first-century world of the New Testament than the average unbeliever – simply from hearing sound, biblical preaching in church” (p.97). Combine that with the fact that “many people have not thought too deeply about what they believe” and we should be encouraged to be more confident in sharing and defending our faith.
I can recommend this one to anyone interested in learning about apologetics. But specifically, Every Believer Confident would be a great resource for high school Bible classes or profession of faith classes. The next time I teach apologetics to a preconfession class, Farnham will definitely be the textbook. Biblical, practical, and clear, it’s ideal for teaching the next generation.
Originally published in Clarion 74.11 (August 29, 2025)
