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ACTS 3057 Lecture 1 - Introduction to Apologetics 1

Course Objectives

  1. To understand the need to defend our precious Christian faith in today's age
  2. To learn the current cultural challenges that we, as Christians, face in today's world
  3. To give a defense to everyone who asks us for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15)
  4. To know how we ought to answer each one (Colossians 4)
  5. To reason with others on matters pertaining to the Christian faith (as St Paul did in Acts 18)

Apologetics

  • Christian apologetics is a branch in Theology concerned with methods and arguments that proclaim the truthfulness of the Christian Faith.
  • In the Scriptures:
    • "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;" (1 Peter 3:15)
      • This verse makes at least seven assumptions, which are pillars of Christian Apologetics: 
        1. Every believer has hope
        2. There is a reason for this hope - our faith
        3. There will be questions about the reason that we have
        4. We are called to give a defense (ἀπολογία)
        5. We should be ready to give a defense
        6. Preparation for giving a defense is by sanctifying the Lord God in your hearts
        7. Give the defense with meekness and fear
    • "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." (Colossians 4:6)
    • "And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks." (Acts 18:4)
  • The Lord Jesus was a master Apologist
    • Appeals to evidence in Matthew 11
    • Appeals to witness testimony in John 5
    • Appeals to imagination by using parables throughout the Gospels
    • Appeals to Reasoning and Logic
      • Syllogism in Matthew 6
      • A fortiori arguments in Matthew 6:27
      • Ad hominem in Matthew 9
      • Law of excluded middle in Matthew 12
      • Law of non-contradiction in Matthew 7
  • In the Church Fathers
    • St Justin Martyr (Apologist in Rome)
    • St Irenaeus (Against Heresies)
    • St Clement of Alexandria (Exhortations)
    • St Athanasius of Alexandria (On the Incarnation of the Logos)
    • Eusebius (Proof of the Gospel)
    • Tertullian (Apology)

Apologetics and Evangelism

  • Apologetics is sometimes called (in academic circles) pre-evangelism
  • Apologetics is like taking out the weeds, Evangelism is like throwing in the seeds
  • Before laying the seeds of Truth, you must remove the weeds of Falsehood
  • Both are an essential part of the mission of the Church
  • Every Christian is called to be an Apologist and Evangelist (to some degree)

The Seven Principles of Apologetics

  1. Apologetics does not and cannot convert people
    • Apologetics does not heal - it points to the Healer
    • People are converted by responding to the work of the Holy Spirit
    • Apologetics opens a window to the Creator by removing obstacles

  2. Do not neglect the work of the Holy Spirit in Apologetics and Evangelism
    • "And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:5)
  3. Apologetics must first be seen before heard
    • People must SEE Christ in your life before they hear about Him from your lips
    • Three steps:
      1. Know your faith
      2. Live your faith
      3. Share your faith

  4. Apologists are not after winning arguments, but winning souls
    • "he who wins souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30)
    • I don't care about the debate or winning, I care about you
    • If I lose the debate but I got you to think, then I have been successful
    • The goal of most arguments is to destroy your opponent; the goal of apologetics is to win your opponent.

  5. Apologists are not reapers, they are sowers
    • "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." (1 Corinthians 3:6)

  6. Ask Questions
    • Expose hidden assumptions
    • Clarify the real barrier
    • Helps them articulate what they believe in
    • The Lord Jesus Christ answered almost every question with a question

  7. Avoid Contentious Argumentations
    • Anything that sounds like you're arguing or attacking the person with contention
    • Remember "with meekness and fear"
    • Remember "speak the truth, in love" (Ephesians 4:15)

Apologetic Methods and Techniques

  • Classical Apologetics
    • Using Logic
    • Acts 18:4

  • Evidential Apologetics
    • Using Evidence to persuade
    • Evidence around the Scriptures, around the Resurrection, etc.
    • Acts 1:3 - "He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God."

  • Presuppositional Apologetics
    • Starts with a presupposition

  • Experiential Apologetics
    • Using experience to persuade
    • "Come and see" (John 1)

  • Imaginative Apologetics
    • Imagination - storytelling, irony, paradoxes, etc.
    • Can powerfully communicate difficult concepts

  • Relational Apologetics
    • Apologist establishes a relationship with the other person to build trust and credibility

Discussion Post

Apologetics is providing a defense of our faith, and it is a part of our calling as Christians. My Christian Faith is more than just a "religious belief" or "something I do on Sunday" - but rather it is the source of the hope that is in me. And when I am (inevitably) asked about the reason for this hope, I must be ready to provide a defense. This is what St Peter teaches us in 1 Peter 3:15. We see that Apologetics was utilized by the Apostles in the book of Acts and in the Epistles of St Paul, by several of the Early Church Fathers, and most importantly by the Lord Jesus Christ - the Master Apologist.

As an Apologist, I must abide by seven foundational principles. To summarize them: We recognize that Apologetics does not convert people, but rather it is the Lord who gives the increase through the work of His Holy Spirit. We must acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit in every step of the Apologetics and Evangelism processes. As an Apologist, I must know my faith to live my faith and only then will I be equipped to share my faith. I should ask questions to expose hidden assumptions and clarify the real barrier to faith. I should avoid contentious arguments.

There are different techniques to Apologetics. Most often used are the methods of Classical Apologetics and Evidential Apologetics. There is also Presuppositional Apologetics, Experiential Apologetics, Imaginative Apologetics. In all of them, your position is best served when you have established a relationship with the other person and built trust and credibility with them.

This introductory lecture was very easy to follow, and I got to attend the last third of it live. In my local parish, we have started an annual Apologetics Convention for Middle and High School. One thing I was really thinking about as a result of this lecture is that we are focused on giving them all the different answers, and equipping them with data and information and knowledge... but we are not equipping our youth with the methods, or even the basic principles such as "it's not an argument" or "try to win the soul" or "the Lord will bring the increase." I am looking forward to the rest of the semester to pick up these basic methods and learn how to think about Apologetics.

 

 

 

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