Replies

I would be interested to know of works of Christian Apologetics published prior to 1930 (now public domain) that you would recommend, from your book collection.

If commentaries are to be included, then the free E-sword program has many to choose from. Install and look under Downloads. Some that I have:

Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others, with introduction by R. A. Torrey. Published in 1834; public domain.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible Adam Clarke, LL.D., F.S.A., (1715-1832)

WORD PICTURES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Archibald Thomas Robertson

Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament Johann (C.F.) Keil (1807-1888) & Franz Delitzsch (1813-1890

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Dr. John Gill (1690-1771)

A Devotional Commentary by F. B. Meyer, B.A.

And from perplexity.ai

Knowing your conservative evangelical audience (Bible‑inerrant, literalist, anti‑modernist), here are top pre‑1930 public domain apologetics classics—still freely available as PDFs/ePubs. These emphasize Scripture authority, miracles, fulfilled prophecy, and rational defense against liberalism/atheism.ntslibrary+2
Core Recommendations (Evangelical Favorites)
Title & Author Year Why It Fits Free Download
Evidence That Demands a Verdict (Josh McDowell excerpts, but core from older works like Greenleaf's Testimony of the Evangelists, 1846) Pre‑1870 Legal/historical case for Gospels as eyewitness testimony. Gold for literalists. archive.org[ntslibrary]
The Fundamentals (4 vols, R.A. Torrey et al.) 1910–1915 Cornerstone anti‑modernist essays (inerrancy, miracles, creation). The conservative manifesto. archive.org full set[ntslibrary]
Many Infallible Proofs (Henry M. Morris roots in older like Biblical Inspiration by Robert P. Dick, 1885) Pre‑1920 Evidences for Scripture, prophecy, archaeology. NTSLibrary [ntslibrary]
Lectures on the Evidences of Christianity (William Paley, updated by Thomas Cooper, 1870s ed.) 1794/1870 Design argument, miracles, resurrection. Timeless rational defense. Gutenberg[gutenberg]
The Bible and Modern Criticism (F.W. Robertson, but better Is the Bible Infallible? by Robert Mackey, 1885) Pre‑1900 Vs. higher criticism; verbal inspiration. archive.org[ntslibrary]
Best Free Sources (All PD Pre‑1930)
Internet Archive: Search "apologetics [author]" (e.g., Torrey, Hodge). Borrow/print.[archive]
NTSLibrary: 100+ apologetics PDFs (Hodge, Shedd, Warfield pre‑1920).[ntslibrary]
Project Gutenberg: Paley, Butler (Analogy of Religion, 1736).[gutenberg]
CCEL (Christian Classics): Chalmers, McCheyne defenses.[olddeadguys]
Standouts for your crowd:
B.B. Warfield (Inspiration & Authority, pre‑1920 essays)—Princeton inerrancy powerhouse.
A.A. Hodge (Outlines of Theology, 1860)—Systematic, anti‑liberal.
These resonate with fundamentalists (e.g., The Fundamentals directly shaped post‑1925 evangelicalism). Download, print cheap PDFs for your blog/archive!
Need specific PDFs or topical lists (resurrection, prophecy)?

Title & Author	Year	Why It Fits	Free Download
Evidence That Demands a Verdict (Josh McDowell excerpts, but core from older works like Greenleaf's Testimony of the Evangelists, 1846)	Pre‑1870	Legal/historical case for Gospels as eyewitness testimony. Gold for literalists.	archive.org[ntslibrary]
The Fundamentals (4 vols, R.A. Torrey et al.)	1910–1915	Cornerstone anti‑modernist essays (inerrancy, miracles, creation). The conservative manifesto.	archive.org full set[ntslibrary]
Many Infallible Proofs (Henry M. Morris roots in older like Biblical Inspiration by Robert P. Dick, 1885)	Pre‑1920	Evidences for Scripture, prophecy, archaeology.	NTSLibrary [ntslibrary]
Lectures on the Evidences of Christianity (William Paley, updated by Thomas Cooper, 1870s ed.)	1794/1870	Design argument, miracles, resurrection. Timeless rational defense.	Gutenberg[gutenberg]
The Bible and Modern Criticism (F.W. Robertson, but better Is the Bible Infallible? by Robert Mackey, 1885)	Pre‑1900	Vs. higher criticism; verbal inspiration.	archive.org[ntslibrary]