Introduction to Christian apologetics. Biblical support for apologetics and some of the challenges to apologetics.

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4. Course Objectives
At the completion of this course the student will be able to:
• Discuss the biblical basis for apologetics, the benefits for ministry,
and the role in the Christian faith.
• Describe different apologetic methods.
• Understand and describe major worldviews.
• Develop their own approach to apologetics based on gentleness
and respect.
• Understand the difference between faith and reason and how they
work together.
• Understand the basic tools of logic employed in apologetics.
• Recognize the major historical and philosophical arguments for
God’s existence.
• Recognize the major historical and philosophical arguments for
Christianity.
• Develop passion and skill for engaging in conversations about the
Christian faith.

5. Required Texts
• Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your
Christian Convictions, by Gregory Koukl
– (Available at Amazon.com and
christianbook.com, also available in
electronic format from Amazon [Kindle])
• Love Your God With All Your Mind, by J.
P. Moreland
– (Available at Amazon.com and
christianbook.com, available in electronic
format from Amazon [Kindle], also available
in audio format from Audible.com)

6. Optional Texts
• Why I Am a Christian: Leading Thinkers Explain Why
They Believe, by Norman L. Geisler & various authors
– (Available at Amazon.com and christianbook.com, also
available for Logos Bible Software)
• Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Baker
Reference Library), by Norman L. Geisler & various
authors
– (Available used, available in electronic format from
Amazon [Kindle], also available for Logos Bible Software)
• Hard Sayings of the Bible, by Walter C. Kalser Jr. et. al.

7. Optional Software
• Prepared Defense: Christian Apologetics
Software by Clay Jones
– WORDsearch

8. Optional Library for Logos Bible
Software
• The Norman L. Geisler Apologetics Library (13
vols.) [For Logos Bible Software]
King James Version
Answering Islam, 2d ed.
Why I Am a Christian
Baker Encyclopedia of Christian
Apologetics
When Cultists Ask
Roman Catholics and Evangelicals
When Critics Ask
Miracles and the Modern Mind
When Skeptics Ask
Come Let Us Reason
Worlds Apart: A Handbook on
Worldviews
Introduction to Philosophy
Christian Apologetics
http://www.logos.com/product/8810/the-norman-l-geisler-apologetics-library

9. Class Scope
• Apologetics 1 – Defending Your Faith
– Introduction to apologetics
– Tools and technics for apologetics
• Apologetics 2
– World religions and other worldviews

10. Class Discussion
• Have you ever found yourself in a conversation
where you did not have good answers to tough
criticism of Christianity?
• Do you feel that some people are hostile to
Christianity?
• Do you see people making outrages claims
against Christianity that you knew were not true
but did not know how to address them?
– How did you handle those situations?
• Do you believe polite people should not discuss
politics or religion?

12. 1 Peter 3:14
“And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to
what is good? But even if you should suffer for
righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear
or be disturbed, but honor the Messiah as Lord in your
hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who
asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. However,
do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your
conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who
denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. For it is
better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will,
than for doing evil.” - 1 Peter 3:13-17 (HSCB)

13. Be Ready
• What do you think Peter means by “be
ready”?

14. Be Ready
• What do you think Peter means by “be
ready”?
– Opportunities will come up unexpectedly
– We don’t need to worry we need to prepare
– “The question you need to answer in advance is,
‘When God opens that door, will I be ready?’” –
Greg Koukl
– “This means you ought to know more than a little
about the Bible.” - J. Vernon McGee

15. Give a Defense
• What do you think Peter means by “give a
defense”?

16. Give a Defense
• What do you think Peter means by “give a
defense”?
– Greek word Apologia means a defense a reply to an
accusation
– In this situation the ‘always’ and ‘everyone’ shows
that this is meant for more than just accusations
– “Both ‘make a defense’ and ‘question’ can indicate
formal legal or judicial setting, but they were also
used for informal and personal situations. The
‘always’ and ‘to all’ in this passage indicates that the
latter is in view.” – Peter H. Davids

17. Anyone who Asks
• What do you think Peter means by “to anyone
who asks for a reason”?

18. Anyone who Asks
• What do you think Peter means by “to anyone
who asks for a reason”?
– Honest inquires
– “…if someone wants to hear about the faith, a
believer should not remain silent or avoid the
subject.” – David H. Stern
– “Their interest should gladly be grasped as an
opportunity for a positive, reasoned presentation
of the gospel.” – I. Howard Marshall

19. Gentleness and Respect
• What do you think Peter means by “with
gentleness and respect”?

20. Gentleness and Respect
• What do you think Peter means by “with
gentleness and respect”?
– A Christians’ general pattern of behavior
– Never disrespectful or harsh
– “Peter may have been alluding to the occasion
when he denied Christ out of fear, in words that
were neither gentle nor respectful.” - The Bible
Knowledge Commentary

21. Clear Conscience
• What do you think Peter means by “a clear
conscience”?

22. Clear Conscience
• What do you think Peter means by “a clear
conscience”?
– In the context of the Greek culture in New Testament
times, it is important to note that Sophists in Ancient
Greece used deceptive argumentation techniques,
with the purpose to persuade (win the argument at all
costs) not get at the truth.
– We should not attempt to ‘trick’ people.
– Keep your conscience clear by being honest and
avoiding deceptive tactics.

23. Jude 1:3
“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to
you about our common salvation, I found it
necessary to write appealing to you to contend for
the faith that was once for all delivered to the
saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed
who long ago were designated for this
condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the
grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only
Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” - Jude 3-4 (ESV)

24. Contend Earnestly
• What do you think is meant by contend
earnestly?

25. Contend Earnestly
• What do you think is meant by contend
earnestly?
– ἐπαγωνίζομαι (epagōnizomai)
– “…to contend with intensity and determination…”
Wuest
– “…emphasize that the defense of this faith will be
continuous, costly and agonizing…” Michael Green

26. 2 Corinthians 10:5
• “We demolish arguments and every
pretension that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God, and we take captive every
thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2
Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
• “destroying speculations” “demolish
arguments”

27. Colossians 4:6
• “Let your speech always be gracious,
seasoned with salt, so that you may know
how you ought to answer each person.” (ESV)
• “Let your conversation be gracious and
attractive so that you will have the right
response for everyone.” (NLT)

28. Ephesians 4:29
• “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of
your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs,
that it may benefit those who listen.” (NIV)

29. Paul to the Jews
• “And Paul entered, as he usually did, and for three
Sabbaths he reasoned and argued with them
from the Scriptures, Explaining [them] and
[quoting passages] setting forth and proving that
it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise
from the dead, and saying, This Jesus, Whom I
proclaim to you, is the Christ (the Messiah). And
some of them [accordingly] were induced to
believe and associated themselves with Paul and
Silas, as did a great number of the devout Greeks
and not a few of the leading women.” Acts 17:2-
4 (AMP)

30. Paul to the Jews (cont.)
• “And he reasoned in the synagogue every
Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and
Greeks.”- Acts 18:24 (ESV)

31. Paul to the Jews (cont.)
• “Then Paul went to the synagogue and
preached boldly for the next three months,
arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of
God. But some became stubborn, rejecting his
message and publicly speaking against the
Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the
believers with him. Then he held daily
discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus.” –
Acts 19:8-9 (NLT)

32. Paul to the Jews (cont.)
• Notice here that Paul reasoned and argued
from scriptures in the synagogue. He was
providing them with evidence. Notice his
endeavors lead some people to belief in Jesus
as the Messiah and sometimes it did not.
• The Greek word used in these examples for
reasoned is dialegomai, which means to
discuss with reasonable discourse.

33. Paul to the Greeks
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you
are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar
with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is
what I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in
temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he
himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they
should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their
lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not
far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said,
‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or
stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he
commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by
the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to
hear you again on this subject.” At that, Paul left the Council. Some of the people became followers of Paul
and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a
number of others. – Acts 17:22-34

34. Paul to the Greeks (cont.)
• The "Areopagus" is where the philosophers of Athens
could meet to discuss new ideas.
• Paul quotes from the Cretan philosopher Epimenides
and from the Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratus (Acts
17:27). This is often called contextualization.
• Paul used what they knew to make a convincing
argument for them.
• He did not presuppose the scriptures when he made
his case.
• His proof was instead the resurrection
• Notice again that some believed and some didn’t.

35. Early Church
• Early creeds – as answers to alternative belief
systems
• Against Heresies 5 volumes by Irenaeus
– Apostle John → Polycarp → Irenaeus
– Irenaeus was an early church father and apologist
– Wrote against Gnostics, Marcionites and others
• Ambrose
– Wrote against Arianism (Jesus subordinate to God
the Father)

36. Early Church (cont.)
• Titus Flavius Clemens “Clement” (150 - 215)
– ‘Protrepticus’ – against Greek paganism
– ‘Paedagogus’ - against Gnostics - Clement argues
that faith, not esoteric knowledge [γνῶσις], is
required for salvation
– ‘Stromata’ – against various such as Gnostics,
Marcionites, Greek Paganism and the followers of
Xenophon

37. Early Church (cont.)
• Justin Martyr (103–165)
– First Apology addressed to Antoninus Pius, his
sons, and the Roman Senate
– Second Apology addressed to the Roman Senate
– Other works are lost to us, he wrote against a
number of other heresies including the custom of
exposing unwanted infants
– Justin is mentioned by Eusebius, Irenaeus,
Tertullian, Hippolytus, and others

39. Apologetics
• Apologetics “New Testament Ministry which
seeks to provide rational grounds for believing
Christianity in whole or in part and to respond to
objections raised against Christianity in whole or
in part.” - J. P. Moreland
• “The goal of apologetics is to persuasively answer
honest objections that keep people from faith in
Jesus Christ.” - Five Views on Apologetics
• Apologetics is “providing a defense of the
truthfulness of the Christian faith for the purpose
of convincing unbelievers.” Wayne A. Grudem

40. Greg Koukl
• Diplomacy not D-Day
• Ambassador vs. Soldier

41. The Task of Apologetics
• For the unbeliever
– “Removal of barriers to belief” – Kelly James Clark
– Answering emotion doubts
– Answering intellectual doubts
• For the believer
– Learning why we believe what we believe
– Answering doubts and strengthen faith

42. Obstacles to Belief
Jesus
Intellectual
Barriers
Emotional
Barriers
Spiritual
Barriers
Unbeliever

43. Removing Obstacles
Jesus
Intellectual
Barriers
Emotional
Barriers
Spiritual
Barriers
Unbeliever

44. Our Task
• “Our job, then, is to be the best witness to
Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord that we can
be.” - James Sire
• “One of the few things in life that cannot
possibly do harm in the end is the honest
pursuit of the truth.” - Kreeft and Tacelli

45. Modes of Apologetics
• Offensive Mode
– “Make a positive case for Christianity by offering,
for example, evidence for the existence of God,
for the resurrection of Christ, or for the Christian
faith through fulfilled prophecy.” (G. Koukl)
• Defensive Mode
– “Answers challenges to Christianity like the attacks
on the authority and reliability of the Bible,
answering the problem of evil, or dealing with
Darwinian macro-evolution.” (G. Koukl)

46. Related Fields of Study
• Evangelism
• Theology
• Philosophy
• Epistemology
• Statistics
• Sociology
• Psychology
• History
• Science (Biology & Physics)
• Pastoral care
• Communications
• Legal
• And the kitchen sink

47. Class Discussion
• What is the difference between knowing and
showing that Christianity is true?

49. Challenges
• Relativism
• Pluralism
• Monocultural secularism
• Postmodernism
• Christian Indifference*
• Christian Irrationalism*
• Christian Ignorance*
• Christian Cowardice*
• Christian Arrogance*
• Superficial Answers*
*Groothuis, Six Enemies of Apologetic Engagement

50. Anti-Apologetics
• Fideism
– “Fideism is an approach to apologetics that argues
that the truths of faith cannot and should not be
justified rationally. Or, to look it another way, fideists
contend that truths of Christianity are properly
apprehended by faith alone.” (Boa and Bowman 364)
– “If we are going to be wise, spiritual people prepared
to meet the crises of our age, we must be a studying,
learning community that values the life of the mind.”
– J. P. Moreland

51. Anti-Apologetics
• Fear of fighting (Argue Phobic)
– Value relationship or peace over truth
– In these situations the truth is sacrificed to keep
the peace
– We should be able to disagree without being
disagreeable

52. Argue Phobic
• “There is a difference between an argument
and a fight. Unfriendly quarrels are not
productive. If anyone in the conversation gets
mad, then you lose. Arguments, on the other
hand, are good things. Indeed, arguing is a
virtue, because it advances clear thinking. If
done well, it helps refine our understanding of
truth.” - G. Koukl

53. Anti-Apologetic Passages
• Matt 12:38-40
• Luke 16:19-31
• Luke 23:8-12
• John 20:24-29
• 1 Corinthians 2:2-5

54. Matt 12:38-40
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to
Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous
generation demands a sign, but no sign will be
given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish
three days and three nights, so the Son of Man
will be in the heart of the earth three days and
three nights. – HCSB

55. Matt 12:38-40
• What is the context of the confrontation?
• Is this passage even about apologetics?
• “Jesus understands the heart condition of his
audience and knows that nothing will satisfy their
skepticism. They have not responded to the
Word of God or the signs already done by Jesus.
…It is not the request for evidence that he
rebukes but the corruptness of the heart that lies
behind the question.” (Geisler and Zukeran, The
Apologetics of Jesus 131)

56. Luke 16:19-31
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and
fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus
who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich
man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. “Finally, the poor man died
and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was
buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham
in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham,
have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool
my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son,
remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had
nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides,
there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no
one can cross over to us from there.’ “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father
Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want
him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ “But Abraham said,
‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the
dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ “But Abraham said, ‘If they
won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from
the dead.’ ” NLT

57. Luke 16:19-31
• In Luke the example in verse 31 says that they
will not believe even if someone rose from the
dead.
• This is prophetic because that is what Jesus
did. He rose from the dead and people still
find reasons not to believe.
• The question then is, are they honest seekers?

58. Luke 23:8-12
When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased,
because for a long time he had been wanting to see
him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped
to see him perform some miracle. He plied him
with many questions, but Jesus gave him no
answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the
law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.
Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked
him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him
back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became
friends—before this they had been enemies. - NIV

59. Luke 23:8-12
• Herod asked Jesus to perform a miracle for
him.
• It was simply to entertain Herod.
• Jesus does not give evidence for people who
simple want to be entertained.
• Was Herod an honest seeker?

60. John 20:24-29
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with
them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We
have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his
hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of
the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was
with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and
stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said
to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out
your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but
believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus
said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” -
ESV

61. John 20:24-29
• Jesus apparently rebuked Thomas who was
looking for evidence. However notice that
Jesus provided the evidence for Thomas. Why
Thomas and not the Pharisees?
• “Jesus refuses to present evidence to the
hard-hearted Pharisees (Matt. 12:38-39), but
he responds to Thomas’s request because he
is open to God and seeking the truth.” (Geisler
and Zukeran, The Apologetics of Jesus 135)

62. 1 Corinthians 2:2-5
For I decided that while I was with you I would forget
everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was
crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and
trembling. And my message and my preaching were
very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive
speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy
Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human
wisdom but in the power of God. - NLT

63. 1 Corinthians 2:2-5
• Read ‘wise and persuasive words’ as empty
rhetoric.
• Paul quotes Greek philosophers In Acts 17:22-
34.
• Paul gives many reasons using logic in his
apologetic approach.
• Paul does not use the sophist approach.

64. Sophist
• ancient Greek philosopher: a member of a
school of ancient Greek professional
philosophers who were expert in and taught
the skills of rhetoric, argument, and debate,
but were criticized for specious reasoning.
• somebody using clever talk to deceive: a
deceptive person who offers clever-sounding
but flawed arguments or explanations
http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+sophist&qpvt=sophist&FORM=DTPDIA

65. Class Discussion
• Are you an apologist? If not why?
• Share some way in which you as a believer have been
strengthened through the study of Apologetics. Be
specific.
• Why is it shortsighted to depreciate the value of
apologetics because “no one comes to Christ through
arguments”?
• Why should we not be discouraged if many unbelievers
remain unconvinced by our apologetic arguments?
• Has your view on apologetics changed since the
beginning of class?

67. Apologetic Approaches
• Evidential
– Classical
– Cumulative
– Historical
• Presuppositional
• Combinational
• Missional
• Integrative

68. Classical
Existence
of God
Christianity
is True
Two part process. First establish that there is good evidence for the existence of
God. Second show that Christianity is the true understanding of God.
This approach is best for Atheists who deny the existence of God.

69. Cumulative
Truth of Christianity
Historical
Evidence
Resurrection
Evidence
Biblical
Evidence
This method seeks to create a
case based upon the
preponderance of the
evidence. Much like a court
case the point is to out
weight any other opposing
view.
This view is good for people
who already believe in a god
but not Christianity.

70. Historical
Gospels
Extrabiblical
Sources
Church
History
This method makes a case for
Christianity based upon the
historical evidence available.
This include the biblical
account, other extrabiblical
(non-Christian) sources and
Church history.
This view is good for people
who already believe in a god
but not Christianity.