Freshman Course: Apologetics Syllabus
Instructor: Michael Purdom
PURPOSE:
• To answer three propositions:
1. The existence of God
2. Authority and Inspiration of the Bible
3. The Deity of Jesus
• To help prepare the student to teach and answer questions concerning the three stated
propositions and from a generalized overview in Apologetics/Evidences.
TEXTBOOKS:
• The King James Version Bible (Required Textbook)
• "Out With Doubt" by Kyle Butt (Required Reading)
• ***The following works may be cited in class, but are not required to complete the course. They
are however, strongly recommended for strengthening the student's knowledge base and for
future reference.***
• "General Introduction To the Bible" by Geisler & Nix (Recommended)
• "Behold The Lamb of God" by Eric Lyons & Kyle Butt (Recommended)
• "Behold The Word of God" by Kyle Butt (Recommended)
• PowerPoints will be used during class to aid the student
For info about book orders please visit our book orders page.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
• Summary of each class (both sessions) are due after each week's class and will be graded.
TEST & ASSIGNMENTS:
• Three tests will be given.
• Discussion Questions are found at the back of each chapter from the (required) reading, “Out
With Doubt” by Kyle Butt. Responses to the discussion questions must be typed and emailed
to the instructor before class begins.
• Memory work assignments are due before class begins. Once the verse(s) are memorized,
they should be typed from memory into an email and sent to the instructor.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
• Classes meet each Saturday for 18 weeks beginning the first Saturday in August through the
third Saturday in December with the exception of two breaks. Each Saturday will consist of one
fifty minute session.
Class (Week) Topic Memory Verses Discussion Questions
1 - Aug. 5 Course Introduction Acts 17:1-4
2 - Aug. 12 Ontological/
Cosmological
Arguments
Psa. 14:1-6 Chapter 1
3 - Aug. 19 Cosmological/
Teleological Arguments
Rom. 1:20-21; Psa. 19:1-4
Chapter 2
4 - Aug. 26 Evil, Pain and Suffering Rom. 3:19-23 Chapter 3
5 - Sep. 2 Moral Arguments
(TEST)
Chapter 4
6 - Sep. 9 Claim and Chain of
Bible Authority
Rom. 9:20; Matt. 28:18-20
Chapter 5
7 - Sep. 16 Biblical Inerrancy and Views
2 Tim. 3:15-17 Chapter 6
Sep. 23 Break
8 - Sep. 30 Unity in Theme,
Purpose and Doctrine
Eph. 3:1-6 Chapter 7
9 - Oct. 7 Prophecy and Miracles Luke 24:44 Chapter 8
10 - Oct. 14 Scientific
Foreknowledge
Psa. 19:7-11 Chapter 9
11 - Oct. 21 The Bible and History,
Geography and Themes (TEST)
Rev. 1:4; Jas. 1:17 Chapter 10
12 - Oct. 28 Evidence For Jesus (1) John 1:1-3 Chapter 11
13 - Nov. 4 Evidence For Jesus (2)
14 - Nov. 11 Jesus Is Lord And Christ
Acts 2:36 Chapter 12
15 - Nov. 18 Jesus Affirmed by
Miracles, Signs and Wonders
Acts 2:22 Chapter 13
Nov. 25 Break
16 - Dec. 2 Testimonies of Jesus 1 Jn. 1:1-3
17 - Dec. 9 Characteristics of Jesus
Phil. 3:10
18 - Dec. 16 Course Concluding
Remarks (TEST)
Instructor: Michael Purdom
PURPOSE:
• To answer three propositions:
1. The existence of God
2. Authority and Inspiration of the Bible
3. The Deity of Jesus
• To help prepare the student to teach and answer questions concerning the three stated
propositions and from a generalized overview in Apologetics/Evidences.
TEXTBOOKS:
• The King James Version Bible (Required Textbook)
• "Out With Doubt" by Kyle Butt (Required Reading)
• ***The following works may be cited in class, but are not required to complete the course. They
are however, strongly recommended for strengthening the student's knowledge base and for
future reference.***
• "General Introduction To the Bible" by Geisler & Nix (Recommended)
• "Behold The Lamb of God" by Eric Lyons & Kyle Butt (Recommended)
• "Behold The Word of God" by Kyle Butt (Recommended)
• PowerPoints will be used during class to aid the student
For info about book orders please visit our book orders page.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
• Summary of each class (both sessions) are due after each week's class and will be graded.
TEST & ASSIGNMENTS:
• Three tests will be given.
• Discussion Questions are found at the back of each chapter from the (required) reading, “Out
With Doubt” by Kyle Butt. Responses to the discussion questions must be typed and emailed
to the instructor before class begins.
• Memory work assignments are due before class begins. Once the verse(s) are memorized,
they should be typed from memory into an email and sent to the instructor.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
• Classes meet each Saturday for 18 weeks beginning the first Saturday in August through the
third Saturday in December with the exception of two breaks. Each Saturday will consist of one
fifty minute session.
Class (Week) Topic Memory Verses Discussion Questions
1 - Aug. 5 Course Introduction Acts 17:1-4
2 - Aug. 12 Ontological/
Cosmological
Arguments
Psa. 14:1-6 Chapter 1
3 - Aug. 19 Cosmological/
Teleological Arguments
Rom. 1:20-21; Psa. 19:1-4
Chapter 2
4 - Aug. 26 Evil, Pain and Suffering Rom. 3:19-23 Chapter 3
5 - Sep. 2 Moral Arguments
(TEST)
Chapter 4
6 - Sep. 9 Claim and Chain of
Bible Authority
Rom. 9:20; Matt. 28:18-20
Chapter 5
7 - Sep. 16 Biblical Inerrancy and Views
2 Tim. 3:15-17 Chapter 6
Sep. 23 Break
8 - Sep. 30 Unity in Theme,
Purpose and Doctrine
Eph. 3:1-6 Chapter 7
9 - Oct. 7 Prophecy and Miracles Luke 24:44 Chapter 8
10 - Oct. 14 Scientific
Foreknowledge
Psa. 19:7-11 Chapter 9
11 - Oct. 21 The Bible and History,
Geography and Themes (TEST)
Rev. 1:4; Jas. 1:17 Chapter 10
12 - Oct. 28 Evidence For Jesus (1) John 1:1-3 Chapter 11
13 - Nov. 4 Evidence For Jesus (2)
14 - Nov. 11 Jesus Is Lord And Christ
Acts 2:36 Chapter 12
15 - Nov. 18 Jesus Affirmed by
Miracles, Signs and Wonders
Acts 2:22 Chapter 13
Nov. 25 Break
16 - Dec. 2 Testimonies of Jesus 1 Jn. 1:1-3
17 - Dec. 9 Characteristics of Jesus
Phil. 3:10
18 - Dec. 16 Course Concluding
Remarks (TEST)
Course Definitions
1. Valid - The premises support the conclusion, i.e. if the premises are true the
conclusion must be true.
2. Sound - An argument that is valid and the premises are true.
3. Necessary inference - an intellectually compelling conclusion.
4. Statement - A statement is a sentence that is either true or false.
a) It must be a declarative sentence.
b) It cannot be a question (with the exception of a rhetorical question), a
command, a wish, a definition (which is treated as a command), or an
exclamation.
5. Proposition - A statement that is either true or false, but not both at the
same time.
a) General propositions make use of such terms as: All, every, none or
equivalent words.
b) Particular propositions use the words some or any.
6. Inference - The mental act of reaching a conclusion from one’s premises.
(The premises may be either implicit or explicit).
7. Reasoning - Mental activity of considering one’s premises and making
inferences.
8. Proof - An argument that successfully establishes the truth of its conclusion.
9. Antecedent: In a conditional sentence, the component governed by the
word if.
a) It follows the word if, but precedes the word then.
10. Consequent: In a conditional sentence, the component governed by the
word then.
a) It follows the word then.
11. Argument - A formulation in words or symbols of premises and of a
conclusion that the speaker has inferred from them. An argument has two
parts:
a) Evidence
b) And a conclusion
12. Conclusion = a necessary consequence of the premise/proposition.
13. Emotionalism = skirting the evidence and reaching a conclusion based
upon emotions.
a) Remember: The head always has to lead...not the heart.
14. Empirical Evidence = Objective information gathered directly or indirectly
through observation or experience, to confirm given proposition.
15. Non-Empirical Evidence = Subjective information gathered to draw
conclusions.
1. Valid - The premises support the conclusion, i.e. if the premises are true the
conclusion must be true.
2. Sound - An argument that is valid and the premises are true.
3. Necessary inference - an intellectually compelling conclusion.
4. Statement - A statement is a sentence that is either true or false.
a) It must be a declarative sentence.
b) It cannot be a question (with the exception of a rhetorical question), a
command, a wish, a definition (which is treated as a command), or an
exclamation.
5. Proposition - A statement that is either true or false, but not both at the
same time.
a) General propositions make use of such terms as: All, every, none or
equivalent words.
b) Particular propositions use the words some or any.
6. Inference - The mental act of reaching a conclusion from one’s premises.
(The premises may be either implicit or explicit).
7. Reasoning - Mental activity of considering one’s premises and making
inferences.
8. Proof - An argument that successfully establishes the truth of its conclusion.
9. Antecedent: In a conditional sentence, the component governed by the
word if.
a) It follows the word if, but precedes the word then.
10. Consequent: In a conditional sentence, the component governed by the
word then.
a) It follows the word then.
11. Argument - A formulation in words or symbols of premises and of a
conclusion that the speaker has inferred from them. An argument has two
parts:
a) Evidence
b) And a conclusion
12. Conclusion = a necessary consequence of the premise/proposition.
13. Emotionalism = skirting the evidence and reaching a conclusion based
upon emotions.
a) Remember: The head always has to lead...not the heart.
14. Empirical Evidence = Objective information gathered directly or indirectly
through observation or experience, to confirm given proposition.
15. Non-Empirical Evidence = Subjective information gathered to draw
conclusions.