Previous Chapter -- Next Chapter
8. Biblical examples of presuppositional apologetics
a) Old Testament examples
There are many examples in the Bible of this method of apologetic encounters (giving a reasoned defense of our position). The first is in Genesis when God asked Adam: “Where are you? ... Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:9,11)
Didn't God know exactly where Adam was and what he had done? Of course He did! So why the question? God was asking Adam so he may come to a realization that he disobeyed God and now as a result is separated from God.
We see the same thing when God questioned Cain. “Why are you angry?” asked God. “Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?” (Genesis 4:6-7). Again God is asking questions he already knows the answers to, so He is clearly not looking for information but rather wants Cain to examine and think about what is being asked, wants him to figure it out himself that it is because of his sin that he is downcast and angry.
A more detailed example is the book of Job (chapters 38-40), where God asks Job many foundational questions, to which He already knows the answers, but again wants Job to examine his own presuppositions. God starts by saying something rather strange: “I will question you, and you make it known to me” (Job 38:3). This alone should have put an end to Job's questions. On the one hand Job knew he is talking to God, yet on the other he thought he knew better than God and was in a position to judge Him. God actually asking him to teach Him should really have made Job realize the absurdity of his position, but it needed God to keep asking Job one question after another until Job finally got the point saying: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” (Job 40:4-5). Job finally discovered who the ultimate authority is, and who is the judge.