Became a Catholic in 1991; conversion story in Surprised by Truth (1994). Articles: The Catholic Answer, This Rock, Envoy, & others. Many radio appearances incl. Catholic Answers Live, Faith & Family Live, and Catholic Connection.
Website since February 1997: over 2,300 papers (including 50+ "index"
pages). Sophia Institute Press has published six of my 49 books: A Biblical Defense of Catholicism (2003), The Catholic Verses (2004), The One-Minute Apologist (2007), Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths (2009), The Quotable Newman (editor: 2012), and Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical (2015). Co-author (w Dr. Paul Thigpen) of The New Catholic Answer Bible (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), editor for The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton (Saint Benedict Press: 2009) & author of 100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura (Catholic Answers, 2012). The Quotable Wesley was published by Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Happily married to
Judy (Oct. 1984) with 4 children. Residence: metro Detroit (Michigan).
Thanks again for the great work you're doing for Christ and His Church . . . the Lord clearly has you right where He wants you.
--- Dr. Scott Hahn (Catholic apologist)
I admire, as ever, your fantastic and penetrating work.
--- Patrick Madrid (Catholic apologist)
All of your books are now incorporated into my Logos [Bible Software] program. You have a very impressive body of apologetics. Bravo!
--- Steve Ray (Catholic Apologist; personal letter of 17 May 2012)
You utterly amaze me! Such good stuff . . . Dave, keep up your effective and eternally valuable apologetic journalism!
--- Marcus Grodi (director of The Coming Home Network, and host of the EWTN television show: The Journey Home)
I highly recommend his work, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism, which I find to be thoroughly orthodox, well-written, and effective for the purpose of making Catholic truth more understandable and accessible to the public at large.
--- Servant of God Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. (eminent author, catechist, advisor to Ven. Pope Paul VI and Blessed Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity)
God bless you in your indefatigable labors on behalf of the Faith! Only God knows how many lives your efforts have touched with the truth. . . . God bless you and give you joy and strength in persevering in your important ministry.
--- Fr. Ray Ryland (advisor to Catholic Answers and Coming Home Network)
There is someone out there who says what I have to say much better than I ever could -- the smartest Catholic apologist I know of -- Dave Armstrong.
--- Amy Welborn (Catholic author and blogmaster)
I love your books, love your site, love everything you do. God bless you in your work. I'm very grateful for all you've done, and for all you make available. If someone pitches a hard question at me, I go first to your site. Then I send the questioner directly to the page that best answers the question. I know it's going to be on your site.
--- Mike Aquilina (Catholic apologist and author of several books)
People regularly tell me how much they appreciate your work. This new book sounds very useful. Your website is incredible and I recommend it regularly to new Catholics.
--- Al Kresta (Host of Kresta in the Afternoon [EWTN], author of Why Do Catholics Genuflect? and other books)
Dave Armstrong's book A Biblical Defense of Catholicism was one of the first Catholic apologetics books that I read when I was exploring Catholicism. Ever since then, I have continued to appreciate how he articulates the Catholic Faith through his blog and books. I still visit his site when I need a great quote or clarification regarding anything . . . Dave is one of the best cyber-apologists out there. --- Dr. Taylor Marshall (apologist and author of The Crucified Rabbi)
I love how Dave makes so much use of the Scriptures in his arguments, showing that the Bible is fully compatible with Catholicism, even more plausibly so than it is with Protestantism.. . . Dave is the hardest working Catholic apologist I know. He is an inspiration to me.
--- Devin Rose (apologist and author of The Protestant's Dilemma, 28 May 2012 and 30 Aug. 2013) Dave Armstrong['s] website is an amazing treasure trove representing hours–yea a lifetime of material gathered to defend Catholic doctrine. Over the years Dave has gathered the evidence for Catholic teaching from just about every source imaginable. He has the strength not only to understand the Catholic faith, but to understand the subtleties and arguments of his Protestant opponents. --- Fr. Dwight Longenecker (author and prominent blogmaster, 6-29-12)
You are a very friendly adversary who really does try to do all things with gentleness and respect. For this I praise God. --- Nathan Rinne (Lutheran apologist [LC-MS] )
You are one of the most thoughtful and careful apologists out there.
Dave, I disagree with you a lot, but you're honorable and gentlemanly, and you really care about truth. Also, I often learn from you, even with regard to my own field. [1-7-14]
--- Dr. Edwin W. Tait (Anglican Church historian)
Dave Armstrong writes me really nice letters when I ask questions. . . . Really, his notes to me are always first class and very respectful and helpful. . . . Dave Armstrong has continued to answer my questions in respectful and helpful ways. I thank the Lord for him.
--- The late Michael Spencer (evangelical Protestant), aka "The Internet Monk", on the Boar's Head Tavern site, 27 and 29 September 2007
Dave Armstrong is a former Protestant Catholic who is in fact blessedly free of the kind of "any enemy of Protestantism is a friend of mine" coalition-building . . . he's pro-Catholic (naturally) without being anti-Protestant (or anti-Orthodox, for that matter).
---"CPA": Lutheran professor of history [seehis site]: unsolicited remarks of 12 July 2005
Dave is basically the reason why I am the knowledgeable and passionate Catholic I am today. When I first decided in college to learn more about my Catholic faith, I read all of the tracts at Catholic Answers ... but then I needed more. I needed to move beyond the basics. Dave was the only one who had what I needed. I poured over his various dialogues and debates and found the answers to even the most obscure questions. His work showed me that there really is an answer to every conceivable question of and objection to the Catholic faith. That was a revelation for me, and it is one I will never forget. My own apologetical style (giving point-by-point rebuttals, relying heavily on Scripture, and being as thorough as possible) is influenced very heavily by his, and to this day I continue to learn and grow a great deal through his work explaining and defending the Catholic faith.
--- Nicholas Hardesty (DRE and apologist, 28 May 2015)
Dave has been a full-time apologist for years. He’s done much good for thousands of people.
You have a lot of good things to say, and you're industrious. Your content often is great. You've done yeoman work over the decades, and many more people [should] profit from your writing. They need what you have to say.
I know you spend countless hours writing about and defending the Church. There may not be any American apologist who puts in more labor than you. You've been a hard-working laborer in the vineyard for a long time.
--- Karl Keating (founder and director of Catholic Answers, the largest Catholic apologetics organization in the world; 5 Sep. 2013, 1 Jan. 2015, and 16 July 2015)
Whether one agrees with Dave's take on everything or not, everyone should take it quite seriously, because he presents his arguments formidably.
Dave is one of the best Catholic apologists.
--- Lutheran Pastor Ken Howes (LCMS), 12-19-13 and 2-1-14 on my personal Facebook page
I like the way you present your stuff Dave ... 99% of the time. --- Protestant Dave Scott, 4-22-14 on my personal Facebook page.
Who is this Dave Armstrong? What is he really like? Well, he is affable, gentle, sweet, easily pleased, very appreciative, and affectionate . . . I was totally unprepared for the real guy. He's a teddy bear, cuddly and sweet. Doesn't interrupt, sits quietly and respectfully as his wife and/or another woman speaks at length. Doesn't dominate the conversation. Just pleasantly, cheerfully enjoys whatever is going on about him at the moment and lovingly affirms those in his presence. Most of the time he has a relaxed, sweet smile.
--- Becky Mayhew (Catholic), 9 May 2009, on the Coming Home Network Forum, after meeting me in person.
Every so often, I recommend great apostolates, websites, etc. And I am very careful to recommend only the very best that are entirely Catholic and in union with the Church. Dave Armstrong’s Biblical Evidence for Catholicism site is one of those. It is a veritable treasure chest of information. Dave is thorough in his research, relentlessly orthodox, and very easy to read.
--- Tim Staples (Catholic Answers Apologist), 25 January 2015 on his website.
Discussions with you are always a pleasure, agreeing or disagreeing; that is a rarity these days.
--- David Hemlock (Eastern Orthodox Christian), 4 November 2014.
What I've appreciated, Dave, is that you can both dish out and take argumentative points without taking things personally. Very few people can do that on the Internet. I appreciate hard-hitting debate that isn't taken personally.
--- Dr. Lydia McGrew (Anglican), 12 November 2014.
Dave Armstrong is a friend of mine with whom I've had many discussions. He is a prolific Catholic writer and apologist. If you want to know what the Catholic Church really believes, Dave is a good choice. Dave and I have our disagreements, but I'll put my arm around him and consider him a brother. There is too much dishonesty among all sides in stating what the "other side" believes. I'll respect someone who states fairly what the other believes.
--- Richard Olsen (Evangelical Protestant), 26 November 2012.
Dave writes a powerful message out of deep conviction and careful study. I strongly recommend the reading of his books. While not all readers will find it possible to agree with all his conclusions, every reader will gain much insight from reading carefully a well-crafted view that may be different from their own.
--- Jerome Smith (Evangelical Protestant and editor of The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge), 26 May 2015 on LinkedIn.
I think it's really inspirational, Dave, that you pursue your passion and calling in this way, understanding that it's financially difficult, but making it work anyway. You and I don't agree, but I have to respect the choice as opposed to being some sort of corporate sell out that may make decent money but lives without purpose. You can tell your grandkids what you did with your life, whereas some corporate VP will say that he helped drive a quarterly stock price up briefly and who cares? It's cool to see.
Protestantism: Critical Reflections of an Ecumenical Catholic
Twin Scourges: Thoughts on Anti-Catholicism and Theological Liberalism
Orthodoxy & Citation Permission
To the best of my knowledge, all of my theological writing is "orthodox" and not contrary to the official dogmatic and magisterial teaching of the Catholic Church. In the event of any (unintentional) doctrinal or moral error on my part having been undeniably demonstrated to be contrary to the Sacred Tradition of the Catholic Church, I will gladly and wholeheartedly submit to the authority and wisdom of the Church (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Timothy 3:15).
All material contained herein is written by Dave Armstrong (all rights reserved) unless otherwise noted. Please retain full copyright, URL, and author information when downloading and/or forwarding this material to others. This information is intended for educational, spiritual enrichment, recreational, non-profit purposes only, and is not to be exchanged for monetary compensation under any circumstances (Exodus 20:15-16).