5 Great Books by William Lane Craig

books by William lane craig

William Lane Craig is a Scholar of Philosophy, a well-respected apologist for the Christian faith, and a professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University. Craig has been a part of many influential debates and has written many books on various subjects, including the resurrection, the kalam cosmological argument, and free will.

As of 2022, Craig is a visiting scholar of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and a professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University. However, before he took these positions, Craig was a professor of The Philosophy of Religion at Trinity College. After working for the school for six years, he moved to Brussels, Belgium, to do research at the University of Louvain.

Books Listed

  1. Atonement and the Death of Christ
  2. Reasonable Faith
  3. A Reasonable Response
  4. Hard Questions, Real Answers
  5. On Guard

(All purchases made using the links below go towards supporting this site and the creation of future articles.)

Atonement and Death of Christ

What was the significance of Christ’s death on the cross? Why did it cleanse us of our sins? In the Atonement and the Death of Christ, William Lane Craig takes a deep dive into the contextual, historical, Biblical, and theological answers to these questions.

In the Book, “Craig magnificently defends the classical Reformed understanding of penal substitution. Exploring the biblical motifs, the varied theories of atonement advanced in church history, and how the philosophy of law aids in our comprehension, his multipronged approach will fascinate and educate.”

Reviews of “Atonement and Death of Christ”

“This is one of those books that I would say— sell some of your older books and buy this one.”

Ben Witherington

(Full review at Patheos.)

“Craig fills a much-needed hole for the Church. He defends the doctrine of the atonement which is at the heart of the issues of the justice of God.”

Michael Brooks

(Of Life, Mind, & Things)

“A landmark contribution to the literature on the atonement and an exemplary exercise in philosophical theology.”

Chad McIntosh, Modern Reformation

Reasonable Faith

As one of Craig’s premier works, it goes without saying that Reasonable Faith is a book everyone with an interest in apologetics should own.

“First penned in the 1980s, Reasonable Faith is now updated for the 21st century by Craig himself, digging even deeper into the nature of truth, reason, and Faith. Examining the broad topics of faith, man, God, creation, and Christ, Craig elucidates biblical truths, logical proofs, and critiques of other relevant writers.” 

Reviews of “Reasonable Faith”

 In a word, it still packs quite an intellectual punch. And no wonder. It is the signature book of a very prolific scholar and writer.

Tony Richie, D.Min, Ph.D

(See full review at The Pneuma Review)

 “It’s the best apologetics book I’ve ever read; I think a good argument could be made that it’s the best such book ever written.”

Seth Dunn

(A Christian Worldview)

Regardless of one’s views, there is much to learn from Craig who has studied and written far deeper than most. As Reasonable Faith is Craig’s “signature book” it is a good place to begin consideration of his views.

Douglas Douma

(A Place For Thought)

“For years I’ve recommended Reasonable Faith to my students as the best single-volume apologetic. And now it is even better! Craig’s analysis of the latest scientific arguments and his response to the New Atheists makes it a must-have for those interested in thoroughly defending the cause of Christ.”

Clay Jones, Assistant Professor of Christian Apologetics, Christian Apologetics Program, Biola University

A Reasonable Response

In A Reasonable Response, William Lane Craig offers students of Apologetics dozens of ways quality responses to some of the most common challenges to Christianity. Some of the questions Craig addresses in this volume include:

  • Why does God allow evil?
  • How can I be sure God exists?
  • Why should I believe that the Bible is trustworthy?
  • How does modern science relate to the Christian worldview?
  • What evidence do we have that Jesus rose from the dead?

The examples give in the book come from real questions submitted to his popular website ReasonableFaith.org. “Whether you’re struggling to respond to tough objections or looking for answers to your own intellectual questions, A Reasonable Response will equip you with sound reasoning and biblical truth.”

Reviews of “A Reasonable Response”

“I will return to this book again and again as a virtual encyclopedia of great answers to great questions on the Christian faith.”

lifecoach4God, Pastor of Marin Bible Church

(Full review at lifecoach4God.)

 “A Reasonable Response not only gives you the answers but shows the value of apologetics and helps the reader be a more effective communicator of the gospel message. This is a rich resource for the pastor and apologist, and an effective tool for personal growth.”

Lenny Esposito, founder and president, Come Reason Ministries

“Dr. Craig not only tackles some of the toughest questions people are asking today, but we get an “insider’s glimpse” as to how and why he answers them as he does. This book will be helpful to beginners and experts alike.”

Sean McDowell, educator, speaker, and general editor for The Apologetics Study Bible for Students

Hard Questions, Real Answers

In Hard Questions, Real Answers, William Lane Craig addresses questions like why doesn’t God answer my prayers? If God is so powerful why does evil exist? And if He is so good, why do we suffer? “Nonbelievers, and even Christians, are often troubled by questions about suffering, doubt, failure, and unanswered prayer.”

In the Book, “William Lane Craig doesn’t offer trite phrases or pat answers–he offers honest insights gained from a life of study and ministry. Readers in the midst of doubt and confusion will find real answers to these perplexing questions and learn to stand on the only sure foundation for hope–God Himself. This expanded new edition includes chapters on abortion and homosexuality to help readers know how to think about these volatile social issues.”

Reviews of “Hard Questions, Real Answers”

“My differing thoughts on these points do not keep me from recommending this book. It is unique and practical. He deals with real objections compassionately and compellingly. This is a fine volume for personal study and for engaging the unbeliever, and the reader will likely find many uses for it when discussing issues with fellow Christians.”

 Byron Snapp, Chalcedon

(See full review at chalcedon.edu)

On Guard

On Guard is a concise step-by-step guide that will help you confidently defend your faith. Filled with illustrations and memoizable steps, On Guard is designed to help believers hold their ground when defending the faith.

In the book, “Craig offers four arguments for God’s existence, defends the historicity of Jesus’ personal claims and resurrection, addresses the problem of suffering, and shows why religious relativism doesn’t work. Along the way, he shares his story of following God’s call in his own life.”

Reviews

On Guard is what is described as a “one-stop, how-to-defend-your-faith manual,” and aims at providing a basic overview of the classic arguments for the Christian faith.

presbyformed

(Full review at presbyformed)

On Guard, by Dr. William Lane Craig, is an excellent introductory text on Christian apologetics. It is, therefore, a good resource for both Christians and those interested in Christianity alike.

Carson Weitnauer, Reason for God

(Reason for God)

On Guard is an excellent summation of how the Christian faith makes sense of the real world in which we all live. Speaking the truth in love, once again William Lane Craig proves we don t have to be abrasive to be persuasive.”

Jim Thomas

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