Retaking Mars Hill

Abstract

Presuppositionalists argue that Paul’s address at Mars Hill offers biblical grounds for presuppositional apologetics and that evidentialists misinterpret the same address in support of their own position. A critical evaluation of this claim requires the examination of six issues in Acts 17:16–34 which have implications for apologetic method: (1) Paul’s pre-Mars Hill ministry in Athens; (2) The captatio benevolentiae of Paul’s exordium; (3) The Unknown God; (4) The parallels to Greek philosophical thought in the body of Paul’s address; (5) Paul’s citation of Greek poets; and (6) Paul’s appeal to the resurrection as proof. A correct interpretation of these issues will prove that the presuppositional criticism of evidentialism is unsubstantiated and that Paul’s Mars Hill address better fits a broad evidentialist apologetic than a presuppositional apologetic.