What is Christian Apologetics?

 

Throughout the entirety of the New Testament evangelism is imperative for all believers to practice. In order for a believer to properly share his faith with the unbelieving masses, it is crucial that he be prepared to properly articulate and defend his faith to a both skeptical and hostile crowd if he hopes to attain any progress in conversion. It is in satisfying this requirement does the practice of apologetics find its purpose. It is the author’s intention in this paper to present the nature and purpose of this indispensable element of evangelism and personal discipleship.

The word “apologetic” is derived from the Greek word apologia, which “a verbal defense, as in a legal situation”, or “to plead one’s case.” In relation to the Christian Faith, apologetics seeks to prove the validity of Christianity, while at the same time defending it from opposing ideologies. For evangelistic purposes, apologetics can remove intellectual barriers that may prevent an unbeliever from believing the gospel.

Along with several New Testament passages command believers to provide a verbal defense for the faith they profess (see 1 Pet 3:15, Jud 3, Col 4:6, etc.), Scripture also gives account of both Christ and the apostles using apologetics to persuade unbelievers toward belief (Phil. 1:7, 1 Cor. 15, Jhn 8:18, etc.). From the Biblical witness, it is evidently clear that the practice of apologetics is both Scriptural and necessary for evangelistic purposes. It is also essential to note that the commands concerning apologetics given to believers are universally binding, which means that it is every believer’s responsibility to act as an apologist for the gospel’s sake.

What can Apologetics do?

Since apologetics main task is the defense of the veracity of Christianity, there are both potential tasks it can, fulfill but certain functions it cannot perform. Apologetics can be used to refute opposing theories and ideologies, to vindicate the Christian worldview against its assailants, and defend Christianity as a system. It is also necessary to realize that apologetics can only function only as a necessary element of conversion, but not as a sufficient element.

The Biblical testimony is clear that only through Divine assistance by means of the Holy Spirit and volition participation of the unbeliever can regeneration take place. Although apologetics may bring an unbeliever to the point of witnessing the reality of the gospel, the decision to believe lies in the capacity of the unbeliever’s own volition.

Types of Apologetics

It is also worth noting that there are a variety of apologetic methodologies that are practiced. The classification and study of such methodologies leads to the branch of apologetics known as metapologetics. Within the field of metapologetics, there are a variety of apologetic systems which many have categorized into four main categories based on certain attributes intrinsic to the system.

Classical apologetics consist of arguments that have particular use of reasoning and logic. While much emphasis is placed on the deductive logic, classical apologists often synchronize such reasoning with inductive methodologies (historical evidence as an example). Classical arguments often characterized by two basic steps. First, by proving God’s existence through traditional theistic proofs, and secondly, proving the Resurrection through historical evidence.

Evidential apologetics consist of arguments using evidence to prove Christianity’s validity. Such lines of evidence include historical evidence of miracles and the Resurrection, appeals made to the fulfillment of prophecy, scientific evidence revealing the existence of God, or any other inductive system of gathering evidence.

Experiential apologetics (also known as fideist apologetics) consist of arguments dealing with subjective existential experience to validate the Christian faith. Many supporters of the method claim dogmatically that Christianity cannot be proven through evidence or rationality, but only through experiencing the doctrines of Christianity through faith can one “know” it to be the truth.

Presuppositional apologetics (also known as reformed apologetics) consist of arguments that require certain Biblical presuppositions to be true. Such presuppositions include the existence of the Triune God, the authority of the Word of God, and the sovereignty of God. Such arguments prove the truth of Christianity while taking into account certain Biblical doctrines as being necessary presuppositions.

The categorization of apologetic systems is often not encouraged by several apologists, since there are several areas of overlap between each category, thus making categorization a difficult and redundant process. It is clear that each category has its own set of strengths and advantages, but this also means each system has its own unique weaknesses as well.

It is the author’s personal opinion that there isn’t a “perfect” system, but that through combining each category into an integrative system, several faults and flaws in each method can be neutralized while certain strengths and advantages intrinsic to each system can be multiplied. Now while it is clear that each approach contains areas of overlap, the integrative purposely seeks to combine such methodologies together. This approach of combining apologetic systems into synthetic system is known as an integrative approach to apologetics. Many prominent apologists (including the one in which this group has been named after) have adapted such an approach in an attempt to formulate stronger arguments and eliminate certain faults present in the ones currently possessed.

Conclusion

While this isn’t an exhaustive piece concerning the all the details of apologetics, it serves as an introduction to both the methods and the nature of Biblical apologetics. By observing the Biblical position concerning apologetics, it is imperative that Christians be ready to defend the faith they profess to believe. It also clear that a variety of methods are at the disposal of the Christian apologist, and that apologetics is in itself a branch of Biblical wisdom that should never be neglected.

 

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Kenneth Boa, Robert Bowman, Faith Has Its Reasons (Waynesboro, GA: Paternoster, 2006), 5.

 

Norman Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999), 43.