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The Truth of Christianity Being an Examination of the More Important Arguments For and Against Believing in that Religion

By William Harry Turton

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Table of Contents

THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY
PREFACE TO NINTH EDITION.
CONTENTS
PART I. NATURAL RELIGION.
CHAPTER I. THAT THE UNIVERSE HAD A CREATOR
- (A.) The Origin of the Universe.
  - (1.) The Philosophical Argument.
  - (2.) The Scientific Argument.
- (1.) The Philosophical Argument.
- (2.) The Scientific Argument.
- (B.) The Creator of the Universe.
CHAPTER II. THAT THE CREATOR DESIGNED THE UNIVERSE.
- (A.) Evidence of Design.
  - (1.) The example of a watch.
  - (2.) The example of an eye.
  - (3.) The evidence cumulative.
- (1.) The example of a watch.
- (2.) The example of an eye.
- (3.) The evidence cumulative.
- (B.) The Evolution Objection.
  - (1.) The meaning of Evolution.
  - (2.) The effect of Evolution.
- (1.) The meaning of Evolution.
- (2.) The effect of Evolution.
- (C.) The Free Will Objection.
  - (1.) Its great improbability.
  - (2.) Free Will and Foreknowledge not inconsistent.
- (1.) Its great improbability.
- (2.) Free Will and Foreknowledge not inconsistent.
CHAPTER III. THAT THE EXISTENCE OF GOD IS EXTREMELY PROBABLE.
- (A.) Meaning of the term God.
- (B.) Two of God's Attributes.
- (C.) The Objection that God is Unknowable.
- (D.) Summary of Argument.
CHAPTER IV. THAT MAN IS A FREE AND RESPONSIBLE BEING.
- (A.) Man's Mental Attributes.
- (B.) Man's Moral Attributes.
  - (1.) Man possesses a will.
  - (2.) Man's acts are partly determined by his will.
  - (3.) Man's will is free.
  - (4.) Man knows that his will is free.
  - (5.) Man's responsibility for his acts.
  - (6.) Man's moral sense of right and wrong.
  - (7.) Man's conscience.
- (1.) Man possesses a will.
- (2.) Man's acts are partly determined by his will.
- (3.) Man's will is free.
- (4.) Man knows that his will is free.
- (5.) Man's responsibility for his acts.
- (6.) Man's moral sense of right and wrong.
- (7.) Man's conscience.
- (C.) Difference Between Animals and Men.
- (D.) Conclusion.
CHAPTER V. THAT GOD TAKES AN INTEREST IN MAN'S WELFARE.
- (A.) The Evidence in its Favour.
- (B.) The Insignificance of Man.
  - (1.) Some Counter-arguments.
  - (2.) Man's real importance.
  - (3.) The supposed inhabitants of other planets.
- (1.) Some Counter-arguments.
- (2.) Man's real importance.
- (3.) The supposed inhabitants of other planets.
- (C.) The Existence of Evil.
  - (1.) Physical evil in animals.
  - (2.) Physical evil in man.
  - (3.) Moral evil in man.
- (1.) Physical evil in animals.
- (2.) Physical evil in man.
- (3.) Moral evil in man.
- (D.) Conclusion.
CHAPTER VI. THAT GOD MIGHT MAKE SOME REVELATION TO MAN.
- (A.) The Immortality of Man.
  - (1.) From his unique position.
  - (2.) From his unjust treatment.
  - (3.) From his vast capabilities.
  - (4.) From his inherent belief.
  - (5.) Counter-arguments.
- (1.) From his unique position.
- (2.) From his unjust treatment.
- (3.) From his vast capabilities.
- (4.) From his inherent belief.
- (5.) Counter-arguments.
- (B.) The Probability of a Revelation.
  - (1.) From God's character.
  - (2.) From man's character.
  - (3.) Two difficulties.
- (1.) From God's character.
- (2.) From man's character.
- (3.) Two difficulties.
CHAPTER VII. THAT A MIRACULOUS REVELATION IS CREDIBLE.
- (A.) Superhuman Signs.
- (B.) Supernatural Signs.
  - (1.) Miracles as marvels.
  - (2.) Miracles as special works of God.
  - (3.) Miracles as signs.
- (1.) Miracles as marvels.
- (2.) Miracles as special works of God.
- (3.) Miracles as signs.
PART II. THE JEWISH RELIGION.
CHAPTER VIII. THAT THE ACCOUNT OF THE CREATION WAS DIVINELY REVEALED.
- (A.) Its General Principles.
  - (1.) Its pure Monotheism.
  - (2.) Its seven days.
  - (3.) Its gradual development.
- (1.) Its pure Monotheism.
- (2.) Its seven days.
- (3.) Its gradual development.
- (B.) Its Detailed Order.
  - (1.) The earliest state of the earth.
  - (2.) Light.
  - (3.) The firmament.
  - (4.) Dry land.
  - (5.) Vegetation.
  - (6.) The sun and moon.
  - (7.) Fishes and birds.
  - (8.) Land animals.
  - (9.) Man.
- (1.) The earliest state of the earth.
- (2.) Light.
- (3.) The firmament.
- (4.) Dry land.
- (5.) Vegetation.
- (6.) The sun and moon.
- (7.) Fishes and birds.
- (8.) Land animals.
- (9.) Man.
- (C.) Conclusion.
CHAPTER IX. THAT ITS ORIGIN WAS CONFIRMED BY MIRACLES.
- (A.) Its Egyptian References.
  - (1.) In the history of Joseph.
  - (2.) In the history of Moses.
  - (3.) In the laws and addresses.
- (1.) In the history of Joseph.
- (2.) In the history of Moses.
- (3.) In the laws and addresses.
- (B.) Its Laws.
  - (1.) The subjects dealt with.
  - (2.) Their connection with the history.
  - (3.) Their wording.
- (1.) The subjects dealt with.
- (2.) Their connection with the history.
- (3.) Their wording.
- (C.) The Theory of a Late Date.
  - (1.) The language of the Pentateuch.
  - (2.) Its composite character.
  - (3.) Its laws being unknown in later times.
  - (4.) The finding of Deuteronomy.
- (1.) The language of the Pentateuch.
- (2.) Its composite character.
- (3.) Its laws being unknown in later times.
- (4.) The finding of Deuteronomy.
- (D.) Conclusion.
CHAPTER X. THAT ITS HISTORY WAS CONFIRMED BY MIRACLES.
- (A.) The Later Old Testament Books.
  - (1.) Undesigned agreements.
  - (2.) Alleged mistakes.
  - (3.) Modern discoveries.
- (1.) Undesigned agreements.
- (2.) Alleged mistakes.
- (3.) Modern discoveries.
- (B.) The Old Testament Miracles.
  - (1.) Their credibility.
  - (2.) Their truthfulness.
- (1.) Their credibility.
- (2.) Their truthfulness.
CHAPTER XI. THAT ITS HISTORY WAS CONFIRMED BY PROPHECIES.
- (A.) General Prophecies.
  - (1.) The desolation of Assyria and Babylonia.
  - (2.) The degradation of Egypt.
  - (3.) The dispersion of the Jews.
- (1.) The desolation of Assyria and Babylonia.
- (2.) The degradation of Egypt.
- (3.) The dispersion of the Jews.
- (B.) Special Prophecies.
- (C.) Conclusion.
CHAPTER XII. THAT THE JEWISH RELIGION IS PROBABLY TRUE.
- (A.) The Existence of Angels.
- (B.) The Character of God.
  - (1.) Its partiality.
  - (2.) Its human element.
  - (3.) Its moral defects.
  - (4.) Its general excellence.
- (1.) Its partiality.
- (2.) Its human element.
- (3.) Its moral defects.
- (4.) Its general excellence.
- (C.) Conclusion.
PART III. THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
CHAPTER XIII. THAT THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IS CREDIBLE.
- (A.) The Trinity.
  - (1.) Its meaning.
  - (2.) Its credibility.
  - (3.) Its probability.
- (1.) Its meaning.
- (2.) Its credibility.
- (3.) Its probability.
- (B.) The Incarnation.
  - (1.) Its difficulties.
  - (2.) Its motive.
  - (3.) Its historical position.
- (1.) Its difficulties.
- (2.) Its motive.
- (3.) Its historical position.
- (C.) The Atonement.
  - (1.) As to the Victim.
  - (2.) As to the Judge.
  - (3.) As to the sinner.
- (1.) As to the Victim.
- (2.) As to the Judge.
- (3.) As to the sinner.
- (D.) The Resurrection.
  - (1.) Christ's Resurrection.
  - (2.) Man's Resurrection.
- (1.) Christ's Resurrection.
- (2.) Man's Resurrection.
- (E.) Conclusion.
CHAPTER XIV. THAT THE FOUR GOSPELS ARE GENUINE FROM EXTERNAL TESTIMONY.
- (A.) The Undisputed Testimony.
- (B.) The almost Undisputed Testimony.
  - (1.) Justin Martyr.
  - (2.) Tatian.
  - (3.) Marcion.
- (1.) Justin Martyr.
- (2.) Tatian.
- (3.) Marcion.
- (C.) The Disputed Testimony.
  - (1.) Papias.
  - (2.) Aristides.
  - (3.) The Apostolic Fathers.
- (1.) Papias.
- (2.) Aristides.
- (3.) The Apostolic Fathers.
CHAPTER XV. THAT THE GOSPELS ARE GENUINE FROM INTERNAL EVIDENCE.
- (A.) The First Three Gospels.
  - (1.) Their general accuracy.
  - (2.) Their sources.
  - (3.) Their probable date.
- (1.) Their general accuracy.
- (2.) Their sources.
- (3.) Their probable date.
- (B.) The Fourth Gospel.
  - (1.) Its authorship.
  - (2.) Its connection with the other Gospels.
  - (3.) Its connection with the Book of Revelation.
- (1.) Its authorship.
- (2.) Its connection with the other Gospels.
- (3.) Its connection with the Book of Revelation.
CHAPTER XVI. THAT THE GOSPELS ARE GENUINE FROM THE EVIDENCE OF THE ACTS.
- (A.) Its Accuracy.
  - (1.) The titles of different rulers.
  - (2.) The riot at Ephesus.
  - (3.) The agreement with St. Paul's Epistles.
- (1.) The titles of different rulers.
- (2.) The riot at Ephesus.
- (3.) The agreement with St. Paul's Epistles.
- (B.) Its Authorship.
- (C.) Its Date.
CHAPTER XVII. THAT THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IS PROBABLY TRUE.
- (A.) Its Importance.
- (B.) The Narratives.
  - TABLE OF CHRIST'S APPEARANCES.
- TABLE OF CHRIST'S APPEARANCES.
- (C.) Their Difficulties.
  - (1.) Discrepancies.
  - (2.) Omissions.
- (1.) Discrepancies.
- (2.) Omissions.
- (D.) Their Truthfulness.
  - (1.) Agreements.
  - (2.) Mutual explanations.
  - (3.) Signs of early date.
- (1.) Agreements.
- (2.) Mutual explanations.
- (3.) Signs of early date.
CHAPTER XVIII THAT THE FAILURE OF OTHER EXPLANATIONS INCREASES THIS PROBABILITY.
- (A.) The Falsehood Theory.
- (B.) The Legend Theory.
- (C.) The Vision Theory.
  - (1.) Arguments in its favour.
  - (2.) Arguments against it.
  - (3.) Its failure to account for the facts.
  - (4.) The Theory of real visions.
- (1.) Arguments in its favour.
- (2.) Arguments against it.
- (3.) Its failure to account for the facts.
- (4.) The Theory of real visions.
- (D.) The Swoon Theory.
- (E.) Conclusion.
CHAPTER XIX. THAT THE OTHER NEW TESTAMENT MIRACLES ARE PROBABLY TRUE.
- (A.) Their Credibility.
- (B.) Their Truthfulness.
  - (1.) General marks of truthfulness.
  - (2.) Special marks of truthfulness.
- (1.) General marks of truthfulness.
- (2.) Special marks of truthfulness.
- (C.) Their Publicity.
  - (1.) They occurred in public.
  - (2.) They were publicly appealed to.
  - (3.) They were never disputed.
  - (4.) The silence of classical writers.
- (1.) They occurred in public.
- (2.) They were publicly appealed to.
- (3.) They were never disputed.
- (4.) The silence of classical writers.
- (D.) Conclusion.
CHAPTER XX. THAT THE JEWISH PROPHECIES CONFIRM THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY.
- (A.) Isaiah's Prophecy of the Lord's Servant (52. 13-53. 12).
  - (1.) The Historical Agreement.
  - (2.) The Doctrinal Agreement.
  - (3.) The modern Jewish interpretation.
- (1.) The Historical Agreement.
- (2.) The Doctrinal Agreement.
- (3.) The modern Jewish interpretation.
- (B.) The Psalm of the Crucifixion (Ps. 22).[380]
  - (1.) Its close agreement.
  - (2.) Two objections.
- (1.) Its close agreement.
- (2.) Two objections.
- (C.) The Divinity of the Messiah.
- (D.) Conclusion.
CHAPTER XXI. THAT THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST CONFIRMS THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY.
- (A.) The Teaching of Christ.
  - (1.) Its admitted excellence.
  - (2.) Two objections.
  - (3.) His sinlessness.
- (1.) Its admitted excellence.
- (2.) Two objections.
- (3.) His sinlessness.
- (B.) The Claims of Christ.
  - (1.) His Claim to be Superhuman.
  - (2.) His Claim to be Divine.
  - (3.) How these Claims were understood at the time.
- (1.) His Claim to be Superhuman.
- (2.) His Claim to be Divine.
- (3.) How these Claims were understood at the time.
- (C.) The Great Alternative.
CHAPTER XXII. THAT THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY CONFIRMS ITS TRUTH.
- (A.) Its Early Triumphs.
  - (1.) Its immense difficulties.
  - (2.) Its marvellous success.
  - (3.) The so-called natural causes of success.
  - (4.) Contrast with Mohammedanism.
- (1.) Its immense difficulties.
- (2.) Its marvellous success.
- (3.) The so-called natural causes of success.
- (4.) Contrast with Mohammedanism.
- (B.) Its Later History.
  - (1.) Its vitality in the past.
  - (2.) Its effect at the present.
  - (3.) Its prospects in the future.
  - (4.) The spread of Rationalism.
- (1.) Its vitality in the past.
- (2.) Its effect at the present.
- (3.) Its prospects in the future.
- (4.) The spread of Rationalism.
- (C.) Conclusion.
CHAPTER XXIII. THAT ON THE WHOLE THE OTHER EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THIS CONCLUSION.
- (A.) Christianity and Prayer.
  - (1.) Scientific difficulty.
  - (2.) Moral difficulty.
  - (3.) Practical difficulty.
- (1.) Scientific difficulty.
- (2.) Moral difficulty.
- (3.) Practical difficulty.
- (B.) Christianity and Human Nature.
- (C.) Christianity and other Religions.
CHAPTER XXIV. THAT THE THREE CREEDS ARE DEDUCIBLE FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT.
- (A.) The Doctrine of the Trinity.
  - (1.) The Divinity of Christ.
  - (2.) The Divinity of the Holy Spirit.
  - (3.) Three Divine Persons and yet but One God.
- (1.) The Divinity of Christ.
- (2.) The Divinity of the Holy Spirit.
- (3.) Three Divine Persons and yet but One God.
- (B.) The Final State of the Wicked.
  - (1.) Their endless misery.
  - (2.) Their endless happiness.
  - (3.) Their destruction.
- (1.) Their endless misery.
- (2.) Their endless happiness.
- (3.) Their destruction.
- (C.) The Importance of a True Belief.
  - (1.) Their meaning.
  - (2.) Their truthfulness.
  - (3.) The objection as to dogmatism.
- (1.) Their meaning.
- (2.) Their truthfulness.
- (3.) The objection as to dogmatism.
CHAPTER XXV. THAT THE TRUTH OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IS EXTREMELY PROBABLE.
- (A.) The Evidences of Christianity.
- (B.) Summary and Conclusion.
INDEX OF TEXTS.
INDEX OF SUBJECTS.

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