Apologetics Profile

Colossians tells us that all things were made through Christ and for Christ. John tells us that all things came into being through the Word who was and is God incarnate, the second Person of the Trinity, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through what God has made, Romans 1 tells us, the whole world knows something of God's invisible attributes - His "eternal power and divine nature," for example. But critics of Christianity deny that Jesus is God in the flesh. How can we as Christians be better equipped to respond to the critics of the incarnate Christ? This week we continue our discussion with Dr. Rob Bowman, Jr.,, president of the Institute for Religious Research [https://irr.org/] about his new book The Incarnate Christ and His Critics.   [https://irr.org/store/incarnate-christ-and-his-critics-biblical-defense]Rob will give us more insights from his "HANDS" acronym  about how we can known Jesus is both Lord and God and how we can give an intelligent defense of what the Bible says of Jesus to non-Christians. Dr. Rob Bowman Jr.,  is an evangelical Christian apologist, biblical scholar, author, editor, and lecturer. He has lectured on biblical studies, religion, and apologetics at Biola University, Cornerstone University, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Rob is the author of over sixty articles and the author or co-author of fifteen books including Jesus’ Resurrection and Joseph’s Visions: Examining the Foundations of Christianity and Mormonism, Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ, co-authored with J. Ed Komoszewski, and Faith Has Its Reasons: Integrative Approaches to Defending the Christian Faith, co-authored with Kenneth D. Boa. Dr. Bowman holds the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in biblical studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and South African Theological Seminary. He is widely regarded as the leading evangelical scholar addressing the uses and interpretations of the Bible by such religious groups as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons. Related Links: FREE Four-Page Profile Articles from Watchman Fellowship! * Atheist New Testament scholar Dr. Bart D. Ehrman. https://www.watchman.org/ProfileBartEhrman.pdf [https://www.watchman.org/ProfileBartEhrman.pdf] * Atheism https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/atheismprofile.pdf [https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/atheismprofile.pdf] * Latter-day Saints https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/ldsprofile.pdf [https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/ldsprofile.pdf] * Watchtower Bible and Tract Society https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/watchtowerprofile.pdf [https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/watchtowerprofile.pdf] * Islam https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/islamprofile.pdf [https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/islamprofile.pdf] Additional Resources FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free [https://www.watchman.org/Free] PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook [https://www.watchman.org/Notebook] SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give [https://www.watchman.org/Give] Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org [https://www.watchman.org/] © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

"The whole world has gone after Him" the Pharisees said to one another about Jesus of Nazareth (John 12:19). He healed the sick, cured the lepers, brought sight to the blind, commanded the winds and the waves, fed the hungry, and even raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. Who is this Jesus? Some say He was just a prophet. Some say He was merely a teacher, but others believed Him to be, the Christ, the Son of the living God, Lord, and Savior. This week and next on the Profile we'll be talking to Dr. Rob Bowman, Jr.,, president of the Institute for Religious Research [https://irr.org] about his new book The Incarnate Christ and His Critics.   [https://irr.org/store/incarnate-christ-and-his-critics-biblical-defense]What do the critics of Christianity say about Jesus? What does the Bible say of Jesus? Using the pneumonic acronym "HANDS" Rob provides us with invaluable wisdom about answering non-believers' critiques of Jesus. Dr. Rob Bowman Jr., a former staff member at Watchman Fellowship, is an evangelical Christian apologist, biblical scholar, author, editor, and lecturer. He has lectured on biblical studies, religion, and apologetics at Biola University, Cornerstone University, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Rob is the author of over sixty articles and the author or co-author of fifteen books including Jesus’ Resurrection and Joseph’s Visions: Examining the Foundations of Christianity and Mormonism, Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ, co-authored with J. Ed Komoszewski, and Faith Has Its Reasons: Integrative Approaches to Defending the Christian Faith, co-authored with Kenneth D. Boa. Dr. Bowman holds the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in biblical studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and South African Theological Seminary. He is widely regarded as the leading evangelical scholar addressing the uses and interpretations of the Bible by such religious groups as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons. Related Links: FREE Four-Page Profile Articles from Watchman Fellowship! * Atheist New Testament scholar Dr. Bart D. Ehrman: www.watchman.org/Ehrman [https://www.watchman.org/Ehrman] * Atheism: www.watchman.org/Atheism [https://www.watchman.org/Atheism] * Latter-day Saints: www.watchman.org/Mormonism [https://www.watchman.org/Mormonism] * Watchtower Bible and Tract Society: www.watchman.org/Watchtower [https://www.watchman.org/Watchtower] * Islam www.watchman.org/Muslim [https://www.watchman.org/Muslim] Additional Resources FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free [https://www.watchman.org/Free] PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook [https://www.watchman.org/Notebook] SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give [https://www.watchman.org/Give] Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org [https://www.watchman.org/] © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Word-faith teachers claim that faith is a kind of power or force that we can utilize to our advantage to help us prosper physically, financially, and spiritually. This week philosopher and apologist Dr. Richard G. Howe will continue to unpack the problematic doctrines and practices of the word-faith prosperity heresy and give us sound, biblical insights as to how we can prevent and counter-act these false teachings.  Dr. Richard G. Howe is a writer as well as a public speaker and debater in churches, conferences, and university campuses on issues concerning Christian apologetics and philosophy. He is Norman L. Geisler Chair of Christian Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary [http://ses.edu/] in Charlotte, North Carolina where he also serves as Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics and as the Provost. Dr. Howe is Past President of the International Society of Christian Apologetics [http://www.isca-apologetics.org/]. Related Links: Here are some of our related 4-page Profiles on the Word Faith Movement, popular Prosperity Gospel preachers, the occult and New Age / Mind Science religions: * Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Word Faith Movement by Dr. Robert M. Bowman: www.watchman.org/WordFaith [https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/wordfaithprofile.pdf] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Benny Hinn by Justin Peters: www.watchman.org/Hinn [https://www.watchman.org/hinn] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Joel Osteen by Dr. Robert M. Bowman: www.watchman.org/Osteen [https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/joelosteenprofile.pdf] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Joyce Meyer by Tim Martin: www.watchman.org/Meyer [https://www.watchman.org/Meyer] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on The Occult by James Walker: www.watchman.org/TheOccult [https://www.watchman.org/TheOccult] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on The Secret by James Walker: www.watchman.org/TheSecret [https://www.watchman.org/TheSecret] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on Christian Science by Craig Branch: www.watchman.org/ChristianScience [https://www.watchman.org/ChristianScience] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on Unity School of Christianity by Rick Branch: www.watchman.org/Unity [https://www.watchman.org/Unity] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on Witchcraft / Wicca by Dr. Brady Blevins: www.watchman.org/Wicca [https://www.watchman.org/Wicca] * Watchman Fellowship's Profile on Spiritual Abuse Recovery Workbook by David Henke: www.watchman.org/SA [https://www.watchman.org/SA] Additional Resources FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free [https://www.watchman.org/Free] PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook [https://www.watchman.org/Notebook] SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give [https://www.watchman.org/Give] Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org [https://www.watchman.org/] © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

The word-faith prosperity gospel is not really the Gospel at all. Much of the heretical theology and practice within the word-faith movement comes from much older and long-standing occult beliefs and practice. This week and next on Apologetics Profile, we'll be featuring president of Watchman Fellowship James K. Walker's conversation with Dr. Richard Howe about the occult influences in the doctrines of highly popular word-faith teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn and Joyce Meyer. Dr. Richard G. Howe is a writer as well as a public speaker and debater in churches, conferences, and university campuses on issues concerning Christian apologetics and philosophy. He is Norman L. Geisler Chair of Christian Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary [http://ses.edu/] in Charlotte, North Carolina where he also serves as Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics and as the Provost. Dr. Howe is Past President of the International Society of Christian Apologetics [http://www.isca-apologetics.org/]. Related Links: Here are some of our related 4-page Profiles on the Word Faith Movement, popular Prosperity Gospel preachers, the occult and New Age / Mind Science religions: * Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Word Faith Movement by Dr. Robert M. Bowman: www.watchman.org/WordFaith [https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/wordfaithprofile.pdf] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Benny Hinn by Justin Peters: www.watchman.org/Hinn [https://www.watchman.org/hinn] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Joel Osteen by Dr. Robert M. Bowman: www.watchman.org/Osteen [https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/joelosteenprofile.pdf] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Joyce Meyer by Tim Martin: www.watchman.org/Meyer [https://www.watchman.org/Meyer] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on The Occult by James Walker: www.watchman.org/TheOccult [https://www.watchman.org/TheOccult] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on The Secret by James Walker: www.watchman.org/TheSecret [https://www.watchman.org/TheSecret] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on Christian Science by Craig Branch: www.watchman.org/ChristianScience [https://www.watchman.org/ChristianScience] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on Unity School of Christianity by Rick Branch: www.watchman.org/Unity [https://www.watchman.org/Unity] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on Witchcraft / Wicca by Dr. Brady Blevins: www.watchman.org/Wicca [https://www.watchman.org/Wicca] * Watchman Fellowship's Profile on Spiritual Abuse Recovery Workbook by David Henke: www.watchman.org/SA [https://www.watchman.org/SA] Additional Resources FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free [https://www.watchman.org/Free] PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook [https://www.watchman.org/Notebook] SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give [https://www.watchman.org/Give] Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org [https://www.watchman.org/] © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

In early 1820 a young farm boy by the name of Joseph Smith believed he had a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ appearing to him, exhorting him not to join any of the existing churches of his day, for they were all corrupt. Just over 200 years later in 2023 in Wilmore, Kentuck in the main chapel on the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary, something of a revival began. For two weeks, thousands of people from all over the world came to Ashbury to see for themselves what was happening. During these two weeks, people prayed and sang worship songs. Many Christians, however, debated as to whether or not this was a genuine revival or just an emotive outpouring of mostly Gen-Z'ers. And most Evangelical Christians criticize Joseph's Smith's first vision as either legendary, completely fabricated, or theologically aberrant. How can we rightly discern whether or not people's personal experiences are truly from God? This week on the Profile we wrap up our conversation with theologian and literary scholar Dr. Jeffery Barbeau about his new book The Last Romantic - C.S. Lewis, English Literature, and Modern Theology [https://www.amazon.com/Last-Romantic-Literature-Theology-Lectureship/dp/1514010518/] and consider more of Lewis's insights and how they can equip us to think biblically about personal religious experiences. Jeffery Barbeau (Ph.D., Marquette University) is professor of theology at Wheaton College, Editor of The Coleridge Bulletin [http://www.friendsofcoleridge.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=29], and a writer on British Romanticism, religion and literature, and the history of Christian thought. His other works include The Cambridge Companion to British Romanticism and Religion (2021), The Spirit of Methodism: From the Wesleys to a Global Communion (2019), and Religion in Romantic England (2018). Related Links: Go deeper with these related apologetics tools: * Watchman Fellowship's Spiritual Abuse Recovery Workbook by David Henke: www.watchman.org/SA [https://www.watchman.org/SA] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on the International Christian Church: by Steve Matthews and Dr. Brady Blevins: www.watchman.org/ICC [https://www.watchman.org/ICC] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Tim Martin: www.watchman.org/Mormonism [https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/ldsprofile.pdf] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman, Jr: www.watchman.org/Mormonism [https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/ldsprofile.pdf] * Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Islam by James Walker: www.watchman.org/Muslim [https://www.watchman.org/Muslim] Additional Resources FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free [https://www.watchman.org/Free] PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook [https://www.watchman.org/Notebook] SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give [https://www.watchman.org/Give] Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org [https://www.watchman.org/] © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.