Designer watch?

Chris Sinkinson  |  Features  |  defending our faith
Date posted:  1 Aug 2023
Share Add       
Designer watch?

image: iStock

One of the most influential Christian apologists in the 18th century was inspired by a pocket watch in his presentation of the faith.

William Paley (1743–1805) was an Anglican minister, mathematician, and philosopher. He wrote extensively on arguments in favour of miracles, the reliability of the New Testament, and fulfilled prophecy in the life of Jesus. His works became standard textbooks at Cambridge University.

But Paley’s most famous argument starts with the story of finding a watch abandoned on heathland. In Natural Theology he compares finding the watch with finding a stone. If we asked how they happen to be there, the stone needs no explanation. Natural processes are enough to explain the presence of a stone. However, the watch can’t be dismissed so easily.

Share
< Previous article| Features| Next article >
Read more articles on:   apologetics
Read more articles by Chris Sinkinson >>
Features
The training challenge

The training challenge

One of the great challenges facing the church is how we train the next generation of apologists, pastors, evangelists and …

Features
One man’s quiet legacy

One man’s quiet legacy

Archaeological excavations at Corinth have revealed a wealth of remains that help us understand the New Testament and also demonstrate …

Subscribe

Enjoy our monthly paper and full online access

Find out more

Looking for a job?

Browse all our current job adverts

Search