A Reasoned Defense, Spoken in Love
Apologetics is the practice of giving a reasoned defense of the Christian faith. It deals with questions, objections, and doubts by appealing to Scripture, logic, and evidence. Its aim is not to win arguments but to speak the truth with clarity and love, so that people can see Jesus as He really is.
Knowledge can feed our pride, so this study is not about becoming smarter, sharper, or more impressive in arguments, and it is not about winning debates. The goal is that you would know what you believe and why you believe it, so you can speak the truth in love, with a settled heart, a clear mind, and a genuine desire to point people to Jesus rather than to yourself. User discretion is advised.
Paul named the danger in a single line: Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth (1 Corinthians 8:1). Everything in this series is meant to be held with that warning in view. A believer who knows a great deal and loves very little has missed the point. A believer who knows why he believes, and loves the person in front of him, is ready to be used.
The practice of giving a reasoned defense of the Christian faith from Scripture, logic, and evidence, in order to answer honest questions, remove false objections, and point people to Jesus Christ.
Not an Apology
The word sounds like apologize, but it means nearly the opposite. It comes from the Greek apologia, a verbal defense or reasoned reply. In the ancient world it was a word at home in the courtroom: the answer a person gave when he was called to account. Paul used it when he wrote from prison that he was set for the defence of the gospel.
“But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.”PHILIPPIANS 1:17 · KJV
Apologetics, then, is not saying sorry for your faith. It is standing firmly, thoughtfully, and biblically for the truth God has revealed. Earlier in the same letter Paul spoke of the defence and confirmation of the gospel and told the Philippians that they shared that work with him (Philippians 1:7). Defending the Gospel was not Paul's private calling. It belonged to the whole church.
If someone asked you today why Christianity is true, could you answer honestly?
Most believers know that they believe. Fewer could explain why. This study is meant to close that gap, not so that you can win, but so that you can obey.
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For Deeper Study
- Know Why You BelieveAmazon Paul E. LittleA short, warm classic that answers the most common questions about the faith in plain language.
- Evidence That Demands a VerdictAmazon Josh McDowell and Sean McDowellA thorough reference on the evidence for Scripture and the resurrection, updated in 2017.
- The Case for ChristAmazon Lee StrobelA former skeptic's interviews with scholars on the historical evidence for Jesus.
- Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.
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What Is a Worldview?
A worldview is the set of beliefs through which a person interprets reality, and everyone already has one that shapes how they live.
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