Apologetics

Apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith.1 Peter 3:15 is the classic passage that deals with apologetics, Always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you. The word “defense” comes from the Greek word “apologia,” from which we get the words apology and apologetics. It simply means a defense of something. In ancient Greece it referred to a defense made in the courtroom as part of the normal judicial process. After an accusation was made, the defendant was allowed to respond to the charges with a defense (apologia). The accused would attempt to “speak away” (“apo” = away, “logia” = speech) the accusation. The word was used this way by the Apostle Paul when he gave a formal defense against the charges leveled against him (Acts 22:1). The word apologia can also be used in an informal way as simply to defend any idea outside a courtroom. Paul used the word in this sense in regard to defending the Gospel. Philippians 1:7, For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. When Paul dialoged with the Jews in the synagogues, he would always defend the truth of the Gospel (Acts 19:8).

There are different approaches to apologetics that can be boiled down to two categories: evidential and presuppositional. Evidential apologetics present evidences for the existence of God, including the historical account of the resurrection of Christ, the reliability of the biblical manuscripts, fulfilled prophecy, archeology, miracles, etc. Presuppositional apologetics, while not discounting evidence, presupposes God’s existence as a starting place. From there, the faulty presuppositions of those who oppose Christianity are logically exposed and refuted, in order to demonstrate that biblical Christianity is the only worldview that can make coherent and consistent sense of reality. When looking at Scripture, using evidence inside a presuppositional approach is best.

Practically, believers are to give a defense to anyone who asks them about the Christian faith, whether it is before a judge or out in the world. That requires believers to study the Bible carefully in order to know and defend the truth. Jesus was a master at this, He gave answers to people who disagree with Him (Matthew 22:15-46). He responding to the Pharisees in the open square. He responding to the Sadducees in the Temple. He responded to the High Priest at His trial, He always had answers. The Apostle Paul learned that from Jesus because he was the same way. It was his custom to go into the synagogues and defend the truth of Christ (Acts 17:2). He would argue in the highway and byways and would always be ready to give a defense to those who questioned the Christian faith.

While all believers are called to defend the faith once delivered to the saints, there are some believers who are gifted in such a way that they go into vocational apologetics. Whether teaching at a seminary, leading a ministry or writing books, an apologist is someone who makes a living defending the Christian faith. These are experts in intellectual arguments based on the Bible, theology, history and logic. They are specialists at reasoning out the truth of the Bible from the scientific, philosophical, ethical, or cultural disciplines. They professionally attempt to destroy arguments, and speculations that come up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5).