APOLOGETICS FROM A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

Did you know that the Bible actually teaches and uses apologetics? From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the apologetic method is seen frequently in the scripture. Let's look at some Biblical and historical examples of the use of apologetics and also answer the question of why this is important for all of us.

Bobby McCallister

4/15/20257 min read

photo of white staircase
photo of white staircase

Apologetics is defined as “reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine.” From the online Oxford Languages. I typically tell people that it is the study of the evidence behind the Christian faith. The main reason that I define it this way is because most people have never heard the word “apologetics,” and think it has something to do with being sorry about something. The other reason is that this is the only way in which I discuss the word.

Apologetics has become quite popular today. One can find many Youtube channels and websites if you just type in the word apologetics, and the vast majority of them will fit my common definition above. I have a few thoughts about why this subject has become so popular, and sadly, not all of them are positive. In order to become proficient in apologetics, you must do more than just dabble in philosophy, science, and, most importantly, broad Biblical studies. This can be done so as to make someone feel smarter than others, in order to win arguments, and other very selfish motives. So let us dive in and see if the Bible has anything to say about learning the apologetic method and, if so, exactly what it says.

The most popular Biblical usage of the base Greek word “apologia” is found in I Peter 3:15. That verse tells us to always be prepared to give a defense (apologia) for the hope that is within us. This word in the first century had the connotation of making a defense as in a criminal trial. Thus, the definition of reasoned arguments or writings above. So if we are commanded to make such a defense, or reasoned argument, what type of things are we to defend? To answer this question, we look at the examples given us in scripture. This writing will attempt to go further than just a surface answer to this question. Apologetics is generally divided into two categories: presuppositional and evidential. Very simply stated, presuppositional apologetics holds that one cannot and should not defend the existence of God, because belief in God is basic, it is already known to all men, and therefore it is foolish to make a defense of a basic tenet. Evidential apologetics holds that we should attempt to prepare and know reasoned arguments for every facet of Christianity, including the existence of God.

Romans 1:18-20 tells us that what can be known about God is evident to men and that men suppress the truth of this knowledge because of their evil. This segment of scripture is often cited in saying that men are indwelt with the knowledge of God and, therefore, it is fruitless to try to argue for his existence. The problem with this argument is that it not only takes these three verses out of the context of the Bible as a whole, but that it isolates only a portion of the three verses themselves. Verse 20 clearly says that God has made himself evident “since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made.” (CSB) What it does not say is that God has made himself evident within what he has made. I believe that this is one of many challenges set out in scripture that tell us to go ahead and investigate whether God exists and all about him that you wish and, as you do so, he will make himself more and more evident to you and in your life.

There is a long history of Christians who had this type of thought process about their faith, or at least something akin to it. On the web site famousscientists.org, a list of 34 great scientists who were committed Christians is compiled. The list is quite fascinating for several reasons, including the fact that so many of the names are familiar and the denominational beliefs are varied. However, what caught my attention the most was the various descriptions of the scientists, including Robert Boyle, who discovered laws related to gases and said that “a deeper understanding of science was a higher glorification of God,” Ronald Fisher, who wrote religious articles and hosted broadcasts and who “unified evolution by natural selection,” Carl Friedrich Gauss, who studied the physical sciences and “believed science revealed the human soul and that there is complete unity between science and God,” Charles Barkla, who studied x-rays and atoms, and “believed science was part of his quest for God,” and finally, Ernest Walton, who won a Nobel prize for artificially splitting the atom, and “said science was a way of knowing more about God.” Even Florence Nightingale, famous for transforming the nursing profession and pioneering sanitary reforms and the utilization of statistics in medicine, said that “God spoke to her, calling her to her work.” It is my belief that these and many others, modern day examples being the likes of Hugh Ross and Francis Collins, are champions of apologetics and of Christianity in that they saw the fact that God does not limit how he reveals himself to us. He has placed his fingerprints all over his creation and invited us to study that creation to know him better.

Most theologians are familiar with the terms special revelation and general revelation. Special revelation is that which is specifically given to us in the Bible or was given to the prophets in history. General revelation is that which God has revealed to all, as in nature and circumstances. One of my favorite verses is I Thessalonians 5:21, which says to “test all things, hold fast to what is good.” So does it really mean to test ALL things or just some of them? Well according to my Greek dictionary, the word pas means each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything. Blue Letter Bible Interlinear. It has been said by some that the Bible does not include any arguments for God; but rather the Bible presumes God. Therefore, we should not argue for the existence of God. However, when I open my Bible to the book of Genesis I find that God spoke to Adam and Eve. He spoke to Noah. He spoke to Abraham. God did not simply leave it to the Old Testament patriarchs to presume his existence. He made himself evident to them.

When we go forward to the exodus, God provided a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night for the Israelites to literally see that he was leading them. As we go forward in time, it becomes even more spectacular. God really showed himself to Elijah and the people of Israel when Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to call down fire on their altars, and then God sent fire to Elijah’s altar, along with the other altars and also to kill the prophets of Baal who were leading his people astray.

The greatest example of God not just leaving humanity with whatever inner knowledge we have of him is the sending of Jesus. Jesus never seems to tell anyone that they should just believe. John 21:25, tells us that if all the things Jesus did were written down, the whole world could not contain it. In John 14:8-11, when the Apostle Phillip asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus told him that those who have seen him have seen the Father. He then went on to say that if they could not believe from what he was telling them that they should believe because of the works he did.

In Luke 7:18-22, Jesus was visited by some disciples of his relative John the Baptist. John had been imprisoned by Herod, and based upon the discussion between Jesus and his disciples, we can presume that he was having doubts. The disciples said that John wanted them to ask if Jesus was actually the Messiah or should they expect someone else. Jesus did not tell them that he said so and they should just have faith. He told the disciples to report to John what they had seen. He had been healing people in front of them.

John chapter 4 contains probably my favorite interaction of Jesus with anyone. It is commonly known as the story of the woman at the well. In this event, Jesus meets a woman at Jacob’s well. He begins the discussion with a great theological question, “Can I have a drink of water?” She is shocked that a Jewish man would speak to a Samaritan woman. He eventually told her that he was the Messiah, but only after he showed her through his knowledge of her personal life without having known her before. She went back into town, not excited about him telling her that he was Messiah, but telling everyone around her about the thing that he did.

When I first began studying apologetics, it was motivated by the fact that I had been asked to teach teenagers. This was something that I had never done and it frankly scared me to death. When I learned that statistics show that about 70% of teenagers fall away from their faith after they leave home, and that many believed it was because we did not give them a good grounding in the truth and evidence of the faith, I learned about apologetics. At that time I believed that the most important reason for doing such a study was basically to win arguments with unbelievers. I was wrong.

Psalm 19:1, says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims his handiwork.” The great scientists of the past had it right when they talked about engaging science to learn about God. You see he created it all. Now please do not take from this writing that we should study the creation to the detriment of studying scripture. That is not the point here. There is a reason that the Bible refers to the church as the bride of Christ. Our relationship with God should be very much like the relationship with our spouse. Sometimes my wife says things are fine even though I know that is not the case. I want to know her well enough to know when things are not fine no matter what. In the same way, I want to know as much about God as possible from every source possible that he provides.

God’s creation is an incredibly beautiful thing and it screams of his existence and blessing. Do not miss that, or you miss a very special part of the most important relationship of your life.