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APOLOGETICS
INTRODUCTION
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The Need for
Apologetics
God told us to do apologetics
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1 Peter 3:15 (the apologetic mandate)
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Readiness of intellect
Readiness of attitude
Pre-evangelism
Acts 19:8 – people need persuading
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
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Paul had a killer instinct, not against people, but against
pretensions
Give no quarter
It’s a battleground, brother, not an amusement park
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Apologetics: Defending
the Good News
The Gospel is not neutral
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Matthew 10:34-36, 11:12, 16:18
Defense is appropriate, when under attack
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Philippians 1:7 and 1:16
Jude 1:3
Case study: David (1 Samuel 22)
Case study: The mighty men of valor (1 Samuel
23)
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Apologetics: Refute in
order to Restore
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Refute those who oppose, and encourage
others in the process
Titus 1:9
 Proverbs 26:4-5 & 12
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Repentance is the ultimate goal
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2 Timothy 2:24-25
Mercy and truth are in full accord
Jude 22
 Psalm 85:10
 John 1:17
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Apologetics: Reason
Demands It
Who we are
Genesis 1:27
 Colossians 3:10
 Aristotle: Man is the rational animal
 Jude 10
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Apologetics: The World
Needs It
Belief That _____
(Affirmation)
Belief In _____
(Affection)
•Romans 10:9-10
•Psalm 37:4-5
•Zephaniah 3:17
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Objections to Doing
Apologetics
“The Bible doesn’t need to be defended.”
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Hebrews 4:12
“God can’t be known by human reason.”
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Kierkegaard: “God is totally other.”
1 Corinthians 1:21
But what about
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Romans 1:19-20?
Acts 1:3?
Romans 2:12-15?
John 20:31?
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More Objections to
Doing Apologetics
“Natural humanity can’t understand.”
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1 Corinthians 2:14
“Without faith one cannot please God. Why
focus on reasons?”
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Hebrews 11:6
‘We should be content to simply believe.”
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Matthew 12:39
But what about
Exodus 4:1-9?
Acts 1:3?
Hebrews 2:4?
Matthew 11:4-5?
Acts 4:22?
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A Few More Objections
to Doing Apologetics
“Logic can’t tell us anything about God.”
“Logic can’t prove the existence of
anything.”
“Reason is useless in religious matters.”
“You can’t prove God by reason.”
“No one is convinced through
apologetics.”
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We Will Nonetheless
Have to Do Apologetics
Watchmen
Must announce impending danger: Ezekiel
33:6
 Must be able to face hostility: Hosea 9:8
 Must open the gate for the Shepherd and
His Sheep: John 10:3
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Case study: Apollos (Acts 18:24-28)
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Four Main Approaches To
Apologetics
Classical Apologetics
Philosophical arguments
for God's existence are
emphasized before turning
to the specific case for
Christian revelation claims.
Evidential Apologetics
Presuppositional
Apologetics
Argues that belief in a biblical
truth is a presupposition, and
from that vantage point nontheistic assumptions are
proven to be fallacious.
Fideistic
Apologetics
Empirical arguments about
creation, the life, miracles,
death and resurrection of
Christ are presented as
probabilistic proofs.
Argues that complete reliance
on faith alone without evidence
or reason is sufficient, for the
core truths of Christianity
present us with paradoxes
irresolvable by reason.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE MASTER APOLOGIST?
Apologetics in the Bible
 1 Kings 18:20-40: In this passage, Elijah uses evidence
to demonstrate to the false prophets of Baal that the
God of Israel is the true God.
 Isaiah 1:18: God exhorts Israel to utilize reason with
Him in regards to their spiritual condition.
 Isaiah 48:3-5: God gives a prophecy as an apologetic
for His unsurpassed greatness.
The term apologetics comes from the
Greek word “apologia “ translated
as “defense” in scripture
Paul uses the term “apologia” in his trial
speech to Festus and Agrippa when
he says, “I make a defense..” (Acts 26:2)
Philippians 1:7 Paul speaks of his mission
as one of "defending and confirming the gospel."
He added in verse 16, “I am put here for the
defense of the gospel." (Phil 1:16)
Apologetics in the Bible
 Miracles in the Bible are connected directly or
indirectly with “truth claims.” They are ways to tell a
true prophet from a false prophet (Deut. 18:22).
 They confirm the truth of God through the servant of
God (Heb. 2:3–4). A miracle is the sign that confirms
the sermon. The message and miracle go hand-inhand.
 Miracles have a distinctive purpose: to glorify the
Creator and to provide evidence for people to
believe
by accrediting the message of God through the
prophet of God.
Apologetics in the Bible
 Apologetics is also associated with polemics- the art of
controversy and disputation.
 Jesus and the Apostles were engaged in polemical
debate.
 This is not argument for the sake of argument; this is
not a manifestation of an argumentative spirit; this is
not indulging one’s prejudices.
Apologetics in the Bible
 Miracles confirmed the prophetic claim through Moses
(Exodus 4:8-9).
 Miracles also confirmed the apostolic claim
(2 Corinthians 12:12)
 Miracles confirmed the messianic claim (Matt 12: 38-39
; Luke 7:20-22; John 3: 1-2; Acts 2:22).
Apologetics in the Bible
 The Apostles appealed to fulfilled prophecy and the
resurrection as the basis for the evidence of Jesus’
Messiahship: Acts 2:14-32-39; 3:6-16, 4:8-14;
17:1-4; 26:26.
 They also appealed to objective eyewitness
testimony: Luke 1:2-4; John 1:14; 19:31-35-36;
20:24, 30-31; 2 Peter 1:16; 1 John 1:1-3.
 When the Apostles had to reach out to the Gentile
or pagan community, they appealed to nature: Acts
14:14-17; Romans 1:18-21.
The Resurrection
Peter’s first sermon (Acts 2:22-40).
Peter’s sermon at temple (Acts 3:14, 26).
Resurrection was context of Peter’s
message before Sanhedrin (Acts 4:10).
Paul (Acts 23:6 – 7) “I am on trial
concerning the hope of the
RESURRECTION of the dead.”
ACTS 17 : 1-4
“Paul went into the synagogue
explaining and giving evidence that
THE MESSIAH HAD TO SUFFER
AND RISE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD.”
ACTS 17 : 31
Paul cites Jesus' resurrection as the
“proof” of the Messiah’s identity.
The resurrection is God’s display of the “proof”
that Jesus has been appointed the judge of all
mankind.
Apologetics in the Bible
 The book of Hebrews is addressed to a predominately
Jewish audience. The apologetic in Hebrews is based on
typology and the fulfillment of the Tanakh (the Old
Testament).
 John 20:31: We see in this passage that John’s purpose
is apologetic. His purpose in writing is to defend the
gospel and enable individuals to believe that Jesus is
the Messiah who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies
and who is substantiated by God-wrought miracles.