Christian Apologetics
Christian apologetics, put simply, means a defense of Christian belief. The word apologetics is from the Greek word "apologia" which means "a defense". Actually, Christians routinely defend their faith using many different approaches. What the believer says to unbelievers is dependent on what questions the unbeliever has. If the believer is well-versed in his or her beliefs, the conversation should proceed smoothly, and a good defense of the faith will be vocalized. Christian apologetics in this meaning and setting is very basic and down-to-earth. If someone wishes to learn in great detail about apologetics, which may include epistemology (man's existence) or metaphysics, the person can get great insight into a believer's basis for faith through prominent Christian writers.
Apologetics in the Bible is actually a discourse or discussion of questions of faith between two people. The Apostle Paul had discussions of Bible apologetics when preaching to Roman philosophers. Usually people engaging in these types of discussions are interested in discovering how the facts of worldviews compare with those of Christian beliefs. The person wants to find out the evidence for faith or belief. One can say non-Christians are looking for proofs that the faith is real.
When someone discusses the faith in this way, Christian apologetics can provide a platform to persuade the non-believer into a relationship with the Lord. Other discussions may focus on showing how other beliefs that are not Christian are not true. This would be a refutation of the non-believer's viewpoints in an effort to bring them closer to accepting the believer's point of view. Finally, when a person attacks a believer's position of faith, many times the non-believer has heard others viewpoints which are incorrect, or have been distorted. When this happens, the believer will defend the faith to the unbeliever or to the seeker so that points of misunderstanding can be cleared up.
Often believers will shy away from apologetics, thinking that a long on-going study of the works of Plato, Zarathustra or other ancient writings are necessary before an ability is gained to defend the faith to non-believers. This is not necessary. A careful study of the scriptures will yield many examples of conversations between the apostles and unbelievers about their faith which were successful in assisting those people on to a faith in Jesus. Therefore, on the most basic level, Bible apologetics can also be considered to be friendship evangelism. The process of getting to know others, understand what beliefs are being vocalized and speaking truth to people is an apologetic act.
Let us look at supporting scriptures mainly in the Old Testament that are prophetic. Prophetic scriptures about Christ's sacrifice on the cross can be very convincing when discussing the faith with those who do not believe. This approach is particularly effective with those of the Jewish faith, because this faith does not have the New Testament. Providing these scriptures is putting forth a defense of the existence, purpose and deity of Christ, written four-hundred years before Christ was even born. For example in Isaiah Chapter 50 verse 6, it says "I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting" (KJV). This verse is showing a prophecy of Christ's derision and torture by the Roman soldiers just prior to His crucifixion. Also read Psalms chapter 69 verse 21 as well as Isaiah chapter 53 verses 7. No one can say, after reading these passages of scripture, that these verses are not descriptive of Jesus' experiences on the cross. These are very convincing passages of scripture, the events of which did not take place until well into the New Testament times. Citing scriptures such as these to a person who is not of faith is called defending the scriptures, and is Christian apologetics in action.
Paul the apostle was particularly adept at Bible apologetics, because of his formerly rigid stance as an unbeliever. Paul persecuted the Christians while a Roman soldier, and did it heartily, even a participating at Stephen's stoning. God blinded Paul and brought him to faith. After his experience, he was able to expound the truth to others because he understood how they thought. I refer to "they" as those who were Roman citizens and believed Caesar was their only God. In fact, it was the law. God sent Paul to the Gentiles as well. Paul was the very first apostle to preach the Word to them, and had to convince the other apostles that the Gentiles were to receive it, since the Jews had rejected Him.
God uses believers in miraculous ways when someone needs instruction in finding the truth. The book of Acts tells the story of an Ethiopian who was reading the Word, but did not understand all of it. An angel came to Philip and told him to go to Gaza, and to a chariot. When Philip arrived, the Ethiopian in the chariot was reading the book of Isaiah. Philip asked the Ethiopian if he understood what he was reading, and the answer was 'no'. Therefore, Philip expounded the truth of that scripture to him. The particular scripture was speaking about Jesus (the sheep) being led to the slaughter, and He was silent. The Ethiopian indicated he indeed did not understand, and Philip began preaching to him about Jesus. Apparently, according to the story, the two were traveling along in the chariot together when they came to some water. At this point, the Eunuch said he wanted to be baptized, and so Philip proceeded to do so. The entire story is an example of Christian apologetics in action. Philip obeyed the Lord by going to the Ethiopian and preaching truth to him. Any time a Christian goes to an unbeliever and assists them in understanding truth, they are exercising Bible apologetics. It is an easy thing to do - all one needs to do is reach out.
Apologetics in the Bible is actually a discourse or discussion of questions of faith between two people. The Apostle Paul had discussions of Bible apologetics when preaching to Roman philosophers. Usually people engaging in these types of discussions are interested in discovering how the facts of worldviews compare with those of Christian beliefs. The person wants to find out the evidence for faith or belief. One can say non-Christians are looking for proofs that the faith is real.
When someone discusses the faith in this way, Christian apologetics can provide a platform to persuade the non-believer into a relationship with the Lord. Other discussions may focus on showing how other beliefs that are not Christian are not true. This would be a refutation of the non-believer's viewpoints in an effort to bring them closer to accepting the believer's point of view. Finally, when a person attacks a believer's position of faith, many times the non-believer has heard others viewpoints which are incorrect, or have been distorted. When this happens, the believer will defend the faith to the unbeliever or to the seeker so that points of misunderstanding can be cleared up.
Often believers will shy away from apologetics, thinking that a long on-going study of the works of Plato, Zarathustra or other ancient writings are necessary before an ability is gained to defend the faith to non-believers. This is not necessary. A careful study of the scriptures will yield many examples of conversations between the apostles and unbelievers about their faith which were successful in assisting those people on to a faith in Jesus. Therefore, on the most basic level, Bible apologetics can also be considered to be friendship evangelism. The process of getting to know others, understand what beliefs are being vocalized and speaking truth to people is an apologetic act.
Let us look at supporting scriptures mainly in the Old Testament that are prophetic. Prophetic scriptures about Christ's sacrifice on the cross can be very convincing when discussing the faith with those who do not believe. This approach is particularly effective with those of the Jewish faith, because this faith does not have the New Testament. Providing these scriptures is putting forth a defense of the existence, purpose and deity of Christ, written four-hundred years before Christ was even born. For example in Isaiah Chapter 50 verse 6, it says "I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting" (KJV). This verse is showing a prophecy of Christ's derision and torture by the Roman soldiers just prior to His crucifixion. Also read Psalms chapter 69 verse 21 as well as Isaiah chapter 53 verses 7. No one can say, after reading these passages of scripture, that these verses are not descriptive of Jesus' experiences on the cross. These are very convincing passages of scripture, the events of which did not take place until well into the New Testament times. Citing scriptures such as these to a person who is not of faith is called defending the scriptures, and is Christian apologetics in action.
Paul the apostle was particularly adept at Bible apologetics, because of his formerly rigid stance as an unbeliever. Paul persecuted the Christians while a Roman soldier, and did it heartily, even a participating at Stephen's stoning. God blinded Paul and brought him to faith. After his experience, he was able to expound the truth to others because he understood how they thought. I refer to "they" as those who were Roman citizens and believed Caesar was their only God. In fact, it was the law. God sent Paul to the Gentiles as well. Paul was the very first apostle to preach the Word to them, and had to convince the other apostles that the Gentiles were to receive it, since the Jews had rejected Him.
God uses believers in miraculous ways when someone needs instruction in finding the truth. The book of Acts tells the story of an Ethiopian who was reading the Word, but did not understand all of it. An angel came to Philip and told him to go to Gaza, and to a chariot. When Philip arrived, the Ethiopian in the chariot was reading the book of Isaiah. Philip asked the Ethiopian if he understood what he was reading, and the answer was 'no'. Therefore, Philip expounded the truth of that scripture to him. The particular scripture was speaking about Jesus (the sheep) being led to the slaughter, and He was silent. The Ethiopian indicated he indeed did not understand, and Philip began preaching to him about Jesus. Apparently, according to the story, the two were traveling along in the chariot together when they came to some water. At this point, the Eunuch said he wanted to be baptized, and so Philip proceeded to do so. The entire story is an example of Christian apologetics in action. Philip obeyed the Lord by going to the Ethiopian and preaching truth to him. Any time a Christian goes to an unbeliever and assists them in understanding truth, they are exercising Bible apologetics. It is an easy thing to do - all one needs to do is reach out.
Christian Apologetics
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