For many, Dr. William Lane Craig is considered to be a Christian scholar's scholar. Even attempting to list the books, articles, debates, lectures, etc. would not do justice to his importance for Christian apologetics, theology, and philosophy. He has defended the historic Christian faith against countless attacks and has demonstrated that Christian thinkers are a force that cannot be brushed aside or ignored. His latest book, In Quest for the Historical Adam, is generating as much if not more attention than any of his previous publications. This text is controversial, but the controversy is not primarily from those outside the faith. His claims penetrate to the foundations of classical orthodox theology, and many Christians are alarmed at his conclusions. He has set out on a quest to discover, by philosophical argument, analysis of the biblical text, appeal to contemporary evolutionary theory, and arguments from an array of disciplines, whether the Adam depicted in Genesis was an actual historical person. Following the structure of his book, this essay is a critical evaluation of his arguments and conclusions about the historical Adam.
Thomas A. Howe is Emeritus Professor of Bible and Biblical Languages at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is coauthor with Dr. Norman L. Geisler of When Critics Ask and The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. He is also author of Objectivity in Biblical Interpretation and Daniel in the Preterists’ Den.
“Howe’s background in philosophy, theology, and in teaching the biblical languages for over forty years places him in a position to evaluate the claims of Craig’s attack on the historical Adam. As a master teacher, Howe makes this critique accessible to all of us. If there were one book to buy for a systematic and comprehensive response to Craig’s In Quest of the Historical Adam, Thomas Howe’s book is the one you want.”
—Bernard James Mauser, Liberty University
“Howe offers an exceptionally compelling and concise response to the many arguments in William Lane Craig’s book In Quest of the Historical Adam. As a world-class professor of biblical studies and hermeneutics, Howe offers an incisive analysis of the pertinent hermeneutical and linguistic debates . . . . This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the debates concerning the historical Adam.”
—William C. Roach, Veritas International University
“Dr. Howe’s giftedness in both ancient Near Eastern languages and the philosophy of language enables him to bring a depth of analysis rarely found in contemporary Old Testament studies. These skills, together with his vast knowledge of ancient and contemporary sources relevant to the topic at hand, make his critique of Dr. Craig’s thesis a much-needed voice in the current discussions surrounding the historicity of Adam and the integrity of the biblical record.”
—Richard G. Howe, Southern Evangelical Seminary
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