Introduction to Apologetics

Introduction to Apologetics Handout

Objectives

• Students will be able to define apologetics.
• Students will recognize the Biblical mandate to be ready to give a defense.
• Students will realize that part of making a defense is living a life distinctly different from that which the world endorses.
• Students will recognize the role reasoning plays in making a defense
• Students will recognize three fundamental attacks on Christianity, the attack on God's existence, word, and goodness.

Introduction

Apologetics = Defending Our Faith

The term apologetics is rooted in the greek word απολογια which means defense. The word apology is often associated with admitting error. However, this is not the only meaning. When we talk about apologetics we really are talking about the defense of our doctrines and beliefs. In short, Apologetics is refers to reasoned arguments in justification of our faith.

Main Body

The Biblical Necessity of Apologetics

• What are we commanded to do in 1 Peter 3:15?
  • But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

• According to 1 Peter 3:15, who should be a Christian apologist.
  • One who has sanctified the Lord God in their heart.
• According to 1 Peter 3:15, what is the apologist prepared to do?
  • Give a defense
• According to 1 Peter 3:15, when should the apologist be ready to give a defense?
  • Always
• According to 1 Peter 3:15, what is the apologist defending?
  • The hope that lies within
• According to 1 Peter 3:15, what characteristics should the apologist posses?
  • One of meekness and fear

• What purpose does apologetics serve for

1. 1. the unbeliever? (Acts 18:4)

• • • And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

1. 1. the believer? (Acts 18:27-28)

• • • And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Lived Apologetics

• James 3:17-18 states "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." According to this verse, there are certain characteristics of a Christian that can be and should be modeled as means of reaching the lost. What are these characteristics?
  • Pure: Spiritual integrity and moral sincerity.
  • Peaceful: One who promotes peace
  • Gentle: One who submits to mistreatment with patient humility and without thought of hatred or revenge.
  • Willing to yield: One who is willing to submit to God's standards
  • Full of Mercy: One who shows concern for those who are in pain.
  • Without partiality: One who does not make unfair distinctions between people.

Reasoned Apologetics

Short of pursing a Ph.D. in philosophy, theoretical mathematics, or computer science, it is hard to build a firm grasp on logic and reasoning. However, there are some basic principles of logic that people use in apologetics.

Truth

• What question does Pilate ask in John 18:38?
  • Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

For many, truth is an elusive concept. Philosophers have identified three main views on truth.

1. The correspondence theory of truth argues that truth occurs when there is agreement between a statement and reality.
2. The coherence theory of truth defines truth to be something that fits into a system of accepted statements.
3. The pragmatic theory of truth postulates that truth is that which works.

Christianity certainly works and is coherent. However, we believe that the key aspect of Christianity is that it actually corresponds with reality. In other words, for the Christian truth is more than mere pragmatics or coherence, truth corresponds with reality.

The Law of Non-Contradiction

The law of non-contradiction states that something cannot be both true and untrue at the same time, in the same place, and in the same manner.

Being Rational

• Does God actually call on us to be reasoned rational people?
  • Proverbs 14:15
  • Proverbs 19:2
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:21

The Christian Worldview

• What three fundamental aspects of the Christian Worldview are highlighted in 2 Samuel 7:28?
  • “And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.
    • The existence of God
    • The trustworthiness of God's revelation
    • The goodness of God

• Now suppose that someone challenged you and asked you to prove that God was real. What would you say to them?

Conclusion

Many people suggest that a reasoned person won't succumb to belief in God. However, this is simply not true. Cornelius Van Tis argued that without the existence of God, knowledge is impossible.