This work contributes to an understanding of Van Til and his apologetic insights by placing him within the context of twentieth-century developments in North American Reformed theology, including the formation of Westminster Seminary and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the rise of neo-evangelicalism, and American reception of Karl Barth.

"John Muether does a masterful job of tracing the personal history of this 'father of presuppositionalism.' He also shows the inextricable link between Van Til's own call as a minister of the gospel and his task of training men for gospel ministry to be self-conscious in their apologetic method. As Muether weaves together the various strands of Van Til's life and career, one can readily see, in a way not clearly seen before, that it was Reformed theology, and not philosophy, that shaped Van Til's work as a Christian apologist. I could not put this book down." - K. Scott Oliphint, Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary.

John R. Muether is Librarian and Associate Professor of Church History at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. He is historian of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and serves on that denomination's Christian Education Committee. (hardback)