BOOK DESCRIPTION
J. Gresham Machen (1881–1937) was an American Presbyterian theologian, New Testament scholar, teacher, and writer who became a leading defender of historic Christianity during the theological conflicts of the early twentieth century. A careful scholar and defender of Scripture, Machen clearly distinguished biblical Christianity from religious systems that retained Christian terminology while rejecting essential Christian truth.
 
In The Christian Faith in the Modern World, Machen addressed whether historic Christianity could still be believed and proclaimed in an age shaped by skepticism, naturalism, theological liberalism, and distrust of biblical authority. Originally published in 1936, the work defended Christianity as revealed in Scripture rather than a faith reconstructed to satisfy changing cultural expectations.
 
THIS EDITION IS NOT A VERBATIM REPRINT OF MACHEN’S ORIGINAL 1936 WORK.
 
Nearly a century has passed since Machen addressed the religious conditions of his generation. The biblical truths he defended have not changed, but language, cultural assumptions, controversies, and forms of unbelief have changed considerably.
 
This volume is therefore a twenty-first-century modernization, expansion, and reworking of Machen’s original message. His biblical convictions, reasoning, and defense of historic Christianity have been preserved while the language, organization, explanations, and applications have been revised for modern readers.
 
The purpose is not to make Machen appear to have written a twenty-first-century book or to attribute every expression in this edition directly to him. Rather, the aim is to preserve and develop the central burden of his work: Christianity is founded upon objective truth revealed by God, Scripture must remain authoritative, Jesus Christ must be understood according to the Bible, and the Christian message cannot be altered merely to make it acceptable to the prevailing thought of an age.
 
Christianity is not merely a religious feeling, moral philosophy, or collection of uplifting ideals. It makes definite claims about God, mankind, sin, Jesus Christ, His sacrificial death and resurrection, salvation, and divine revelation. If those truths are removed or redefined, what remains may retain Christian language but is no longer the faith proclaimed by Christ and His apostles.
 
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation: Scripture is considered according to its historical setting, vocabulary, grammar, context, and intended meaning. Christian doctrine must arise from the inspired biblical text, not from speculation, theological fashion, religious tradition, or changing cultural opinion.
Christianity continually faces pressure to adjust its teachings concerning truth, morality, human nature, miracles, Jesus Christ, Scripture, and salvation. Yet Christianity cannot remain Christianity if its defining truths are surrendered whenever society finds them unacceptable.
 
Biblical faith is not a rejection of reason. Christians should think carefully, examine evidence, understand objections, and explain why they believe. Yet human reason does not stand above Jehovah as the judge of what He may reveal. Sound reasoning serves truth; it does not possess authority to rewrite divine revelation.
 
Scripture therefore remains the final authority for determining the content of the Christian faith. The church must not create a Christianity suitable for each generation but understand, defend, proclaim, and obey the faith revealed in God’s Word. Christians must know what they believe, why they believe it, and why the biblical gospel cannot be exchanged for a message shaped by the spirit of the age.
 
That was the urgency behind Machen’s work in 1936. The challenges now appear in new forms, but the fundamental question remains: will the modern world redefine the Christian faith, or will the Word of God define what Christianity truly is?
 
BOOK DETAILS
Publisher: ‎Christian Publishing House
Publication Date: ‎ August 23, 2026
Language: ‎ English
Print Length: ‎ 190 pages
ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8194367009
Item Weight: ‎ 12.2 ounces
Dimensions: ‎ 6 x 0.43 x 9 inches
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J. Gresham Machen (1881–1937) was an American New Testament scholar, Presbyterian theologian, author, and influential defender of historic Christianity during the rise of theological liberalism in the early 20th century. Educated at Johns Hopkins University and Princeton Theological Seminary, Machen later taught New Testament at Princeton, where he became known for rigorous scholarship and his unwavering commitment to the authority and truthfulness of Scripture.
 
Following the reorganization of Princeton Seminary, Machen helped establish Westminster Theological Seminary in 1929, where he continued teaching and defending conservative Christian doctrine. He also played a leading role in the formation of what became the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
 
Among his best-known works are Christianity and Liberalism, The Virgin Birth of Christ, and What Is Faith? Machen’s writings continue to challenge Christians to distinguish biblical faith from religious sentiment and to ground their convictions firmly in the revealed Word of God.