The Importance of Biblical Apologetics

The term “apologetics” stems from the Greek word, “apologia,” which means “to give a defense,” or “a reasoned statement or argument” in support of something. Biblical apologetics is not apologizing for the Christian faith, but rather presenting a clear defense of the basis of what we as Christians believe. This defense of our faith is important because there are many false teachers and skeptics and even professing Christians who do not accept as Truth the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of God's Word.

The basis of Biblical apologetics is found in the following admonition in 1 Peter 3:15; “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:...” Every Christ follower should be able to give a reasonable answer for why she or he places faith in the Christ of Scripture. This doesn't mean that we all have to be Bible scholars, but it does mean that we should be able to give a good accounting of why we believe God's Truth.

There are three pieces of advice given in the above verse that every Christian apologist should take to heart. The first is in the phrase, “ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:” The Greek word for “sanctify” is “hagiazo,” which means “to separate from profane things and dedicate to God,” or “to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow.” To be effective apologists, we must first acknowledge God as sovereign and holy. When we acknowledge the sovereignty and holiness of God, we will understand and accept the fact that His Word is inspired and inerrant.

The second piece of advice is the crux of the verse which tells us to be ready always to explain “the hope that is within us.” Every Christian's hope is in Christ! Apologetics is the means by which we are able to explain this hope and point others to the Christ of Scripture.

The final piece of advice is that we share this hope “with meekness and fear.” There is no room for anger or disrespect of others' beliefs when we are defending our faith. We are admonished to be Christlike and in our explaining the reason of our hope in Christ, we are to use humility and respect.The fear mentioned in this phrase does not mean that we should be timid in our defense of our faith. It does, however, indicate that we should, in our fear of God, the Author of Truth, ensure that we are presenting it as He intended. There are those who twist God's Word to suit their own foolish fancies, but 2 Peter 1:20 states emphatically “that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” A Biblical apologist will always present Truth with the fear of God, realizing that God will not hold unaccountable those who twist and pervert His Word.

Apologetics is particularly important in light of the the fall of man because it first requires a thorough and thoughtful study of the Truth of God’s Word followed by a complete acceptance of all that He has said. Had Eve trusted God and viewed things from His perspective rather than from her own (and Satan’s), she would have resisted temptation. Had she and Adam taken God at His Word, they could have enjoyed the Garden of Eden in the way that God had intended.

Genesis 3:1 indicates that the root of the fall (and of all sin) is doubting God’s Word. Satan planted the seed of doubt in Eve’s mind when He asked, “Hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” When Eve responded correctly that God had not forbidden her and Adam to eat from any but the one tree, Satan planted a second seed of doubt and twisted God’s Truth by stating “Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” As is his custom, Satan spoke partial truth, but with an ulterior motive. He was right that Adam’s and Eve’s eyes would be opened by eating of the tree, but not in the way that they thought. He also knew they would lose their innocence and purity before the Lord by disobeying Him.

When Jesus was tempted of the devil, the way in which He responded should give every Christian a clear example of apologetics at work. The devil tempted Him with the three major sources of all temptation, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Jesus’ response in each case was to quote Scripture and answer each of the devil’s attempts at deception with clear Truth.

Romans chapter one clearly elucidates the primary necessity of apologetics in the life of every Christian. In verse 15, Paul indicates that he is “ready to preach the gospel.” In verse 16, he states that he is “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” Verse 18 describes why God’s wrath toward unbelievers is warranted because the evidence of God’s existence has been made clearly visible through His creation. Verse 20 adds that even “the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead;…” (v. 20) and have condemned themselves to an eternal hell by their own unbelief.

Verses 21-32 describe the downward spiral of unbelievers as a result of their vain imaginations, their pride, their lust, and their conscious choice to believe lies rather than the Truth. As a result, “God gave them up to their vile affections” and “gave them over to a reprobate mind.” Their ultimate judgment is found in verse 32, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death,…”

Christians are charged by Jesus Himself to go “and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19) the Truth of His Word. Apologetics is a means of taking the message of the gospel and teaching the whole Truth of God’s Word to a lost and dying world.