APOLOGETICS lesson 1
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Feb 20, 2024
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APOLOGETICS
LESSON 4
THE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF APOLOGETICS
The Bible is ridiculed along with those who take it seriously. Accused of being a source of myth, fable, and old-
wives tales. Almost everything that has been taught by the critics about the origins of Christianity is false. They
claim that The Scriptures and manuscripts have been corrupted, full of contradictions, false statements, and inaccuracies. Christian truth-claims come under attack in many ways today. If the Bible is mistaken or corrupt, no one would
be able to be committed to the Word of God. If the Bible is found to be genuinely mistaken, especially regarding the foundational truths of our faith, Christianity would instantly lose all credibility. We as believers seek to present logical, reasonable responses to critics to show critics that their criticism of the Bible is inaccurate or mistaken. Students of the Bible should desire and be able to give an answer to those with genuine questions about the Bible and Christianity.
Apologetics dates all the way back to the New Testament itself. You can see in the Book of Acts how the Christians presented reasoned answers to various charges made against the Christian faith. To the Jews the church pointed out how Christ was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. To the Gentiles the church argued that God was calling them to repent and turn from their idolatrous and superstitious religions and practices to the true God revealed in Jesus Christ. In the early Church’s apologetics, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was emphasized. They called it the central pillar on which all of Christianity either stood or fell.
All Christians should be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks for the reason for their hope in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:15). Christians should be able to explain what they believe, why they believe it, why others should believe it and why all of the contradictory systems are inadequate to have a response with a stable foundation. Apologetics involves responding to any challenge to the Christian faith. No matter who the challengers are, the Christian must answer all challenges towards biblical Christian faith. THE MEANING OF APOLOGETICS
Apologetics means: A verbal defense; a reply to a formal charge; an answer. It has nothing to do with apologizing.
The Greek Word apologia
is used 20 times in the New Testament.
Scripture for study:
Acts 18:4 – Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Acts 19:8–9 – Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God... [and later] reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. Acts 22:1 – Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense which I make now unto you.
Philippians 1:7 – It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. Philippians 1:16 – I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
1 Peter 3:15 – Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Jude 3 – You should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Apologetics is the defense of BIBLICAL Christianity (Since there are so many distortions of Christianity like Mormonism and Jehovah’s witnesses). BIBLICAL apologetics focuses on spreading and defending the Gospel while challenging non-Christian ideologies and philosophies. As Christians, we respond and engage to the challenges and arguments of unbelievers by offering reasons for belief. We present reason, refute objections, prove conclusions, and offer arguments. Set the arena yourself, you have the Truth. Although we challenge the critics, this does not mean we are to be argumentative or prideful in our character. We are not to argue and challenge in an offensive or arrogant way (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
PURPOSES OF APOLOGETICS
1.
To defend the truth of Christianity and prove that it is true.
2.
To answer objections/criticisms of the Bible and Christianity.
3.
To Evangelize to unbelievers and challenge their faith systems (From the deceptive teachings of Islam to the deadly lies of Mormonism)
Apologetics consists of proof, defense, and offense.
Proof: presenting a logical foundation for faith
Defense: answering objections of unbelief
Offense: exposing foolish teachings of non-Christian faith systems
It is the study of the best ways to explain Christianity to unbelievers, defend Christianity against its critics, and challenge unbelieving and contrary ideas about God.
TWO APPROACHES TO APOLOGETICS
Rationalist:
Setting forth rational, logical arguments defending Christianity with the aim of convincing unbelievers.
This approach focuses on reason and logic to defend the faith. It is often called “traditional” apologetics as it seems to be the approach used by famous apologists from centuries before. Rationalists usually start from a means to prove that God exists and then work towards the evidence of the authenticity of the Bible and Christianity. In other words, before one can discuss historical evidence, one has to set the arena and establish the existence of God. Without the context of deity, no historical evidence will matter to the challenger. To the unbeliever, it would just be another event in history with no divine element. Once God’s existence is established, we can show that the Bible is God’s Word, that Jesus is God’s Son, that Jesus Resurrected, and that Christianity is true. The ONLY true faith.
There is an issue with this approach, with a rationalistic approach one must assume a standard of truth outside of the Bible. For the Bible to be true, it must meet this outside standard. The Bible then becomes subject to man’s reason. Rationalists also seem to rely more on weighty arguments to convert the unbeliever rather than just declaring the Gospel.
Presuppositional:
Starting out with the notion that the Bible is true and that it’s God’s business to convince unbelievers of this fact.
This approach focuses on presenting the truths of our faith as FACT without regard for how unbelievers and challengers respond to it.
John Frame (A presuppositional writer) states, “We should present the biblical God, not merely as the conclusion to an argument, but as the one who makes argument possible.” The problem with this approach is that it assumes what it’s trying to prove which is the Bible. However, this seems to be consistent with Peter’s admonition to recognize the Lordship of Christ in the task of apologetics. There is no gray area, everyone accepts the authority of God’s Word or they do not, and if they don’t then it is sin. The evidence of Noah’s ark or the evidence of Jesus being a historical figure will not convince unbelievers of the truth founded upon the testimony of God’s Word. Only The Holy Spirit can change the heart of the enemies of the Gospel. God doesn’t engage the enemy on their terms but on HIS terms.
Why does which apologetic approach you take matter?
Example: You are attempting to convince a friend that Jesus really did rise from the dead. You show your friend all the evidence from the Bible that the resurrection is a fact. But your friend does not believe the Bible. He says that you can’t use information from the Bible to defend the Bible. The rational apologist would then step back and show that the Bible is indeed trustworthy. The presupposition list, on the other hand, would keep preaching the Bible, knowing that God has promised to
use the Word to draw unbelievers to himself in spite of the unbeliever’s unbelief. One should not revert to the
unbeliever’s worldview just because the unbeliever doesn’t accept the Christian worldview.
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HOMEWORK
What is apologetics?
Why do we need to bother defending The Gospel?
Fill in the blank
__________ apologetics seeks to defend the Bible using external information. It focuses on logical arguments and evidence external to the Bible. __________ apologetics assumes that everyone has a basic understanding of God and that what they need to hear is what the Bible says even if they reject it. Memory verse
1
st
Peter 3:15
HOMEWORK
What is apologetics?
Why do we need to bother defending The Gospel?
Fill in the blank
__________ apologetics seeks to defend the Bible using external information. It focuses on logical arguments and evidence external to the Bible. __________ apologetics assumes that everyone has a basic understanding of God and that what they need to hear is what the Bible says even if they reject it. Memory verse
1
st
Peter 3:15