What is Apologetics?

Christian apologetics is essentially giving a reasonable answer to those who inquire about the faith. Apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia, which has to do with making a defense in either word or deed. It is being prepared to share what you believe and why you believe it.

To those who were suffering for the sake of righteousness, the Apostle Peter wrote, “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense [apologia] to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Pet. 3:15).¹ Christians were to demonstrate through word and deed that they were not evil doers but ambassadors of Christ bringing good tidings of great joy concerning the resurrection and everlasting life.

When the teachings the Lord Jesus Christ passed on to the Church through the disciples were being distorted, the Apostle Jude wrote, “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3). Christians were to preserve the good news passed on to them from Jesus Christ through the apostles by correcting those who distorted the message.

Authentic Christian apologetics is always bound together with love. Christ said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). Far from just being nice or making people feel happy, the sort of love Jesus spoke about was one involving sacrifice — the unconditional giving of one self for the betterment of another. One should never think Christian apologetics is solely concerned with spewing out the right answers. Although well-researched cogent answers are part and parcel of doing apologetics, the virtues of grace, mercy and compassion are likewise interwoven in an effective case for Christ. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love….

Apologetics is useful for developing a cogent response pressing issue of the day which can possibly open up an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Apologetics is also useful in bringing comfort and support to those struggling in the faith by helping them grapple well with their questions and doubts. Apologetics is always needed, as all Christians during their earthly sojourn are in the midst of spiritual warfare. Rivals of Christ are constantly assailing the Church from all sides seeking to thwart her mission of making disciples of all nations, and the Christian is to persevere to the end by the grace of God. C.S. Lewis puts it this way: “Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.”²

— WGN

Notes:

1. All Scripture cited from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995) unless noted.
2. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper Collins, 1952), 46