Biblical Mandate for Apologetics Discussion TURN IN
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Feb 20, 2024
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1 Peter 3:15 talks about apologetics, but other verses speak about having a defense, such as Philippians 1:16. These verses ask Christians to share their faith and be able to defend it by giving reasons for beliefs. "The apostle Peter commands that we as Christians be able to give an answer for our hope.
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" Sometimes, when you hear the word defense, you may think of a strong argument- it is okay to be passionate and deliver the information with gusto, but to model it after Jesus, it should be done in love and not for the desire to beat someone in the argument or prove someone wrong. The point of a defense is to provide a logical reason for the faith while trying to share the Gospel.
As Christians, we are mandated to go and make disciples ( Matthew 28:18-20). The Great Commission is about spreading the Gospel. Apologetics can play a role by giving rational explanations for the Christian faith. It helps address hurdles when trying to study the Christian faith. "The goal of apologetics is to clear away the debris of doubt and skepticism in order to make a path for the Gospel to be heard.
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" People who study apologetics can engage with others who may have questions or doubts. Studying apologetics helps to strengthen believers' faith, which will help equip them to defend their faith.
The Bible gives reasons for the Christian faith in many ways, including historical, philosophical, and prophecy fulfillment. The Resurrection of Jesus is a historical event often defended in the 1
Chatraw, Josh, and Mark D Allen. 2018. Apologetics at the Cross : An Introduction for Christian Witness. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.
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Chatraw, Josh, and Mark D Allen. 2018. Apologetics at the Cross : An Introduction for Christian Witness. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.
New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 15:14, the Apostle Paul shares the importance of the resurrection. Historical apologetics involves defending the historical facts around critical events such as the life and death of Jesus. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples and then
hundreds of other people. If there were hundreds of witnesses, verifying such events would be easy.
Philosophical apologetics entails discussing philosophical questions such as good and evil, death,
and God's nature. Paul uses these ideas that were common in Greek culture.
An example of Philosophical Apologetics can be found in the Apostle Paul's engagement with the Athenians on Mars Hill, as recorded in Acts 17:22-31. In this passage, Paul employs philosophical reasoning and cultural understanding to present the Christian worldview to a Greek
audience. Paul uses this type of reasoning to explain God as the creator of the universe and how he is the creator but not a created being. He also is not held to human confines. Paul also talks about concepts like repentance and judgment, which come to a point in Jesus' death and resurrection.
Various passages in the New Testament fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. For example, Isaiah 53 predicted the suffering and death of Jesus the Messiah. This shows there is a divine plan behind these true events.
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