Apologetics - What is it?
SIMPLE SECTION IN DEPTH SECTION BIBLICAL SECTION
Simple
Apologetics is a word that comes from the Greek - Apologia, not the English word Apology
Means to make a defense, auditory rebuttal
Easiest word picture would be like that of an attorney cross examining a witness, providing various evidences and materials
Give as a command for all Christians in 1 Pet 3:15
What is apologetics? Answers to questions and doubts people have about God and His Word
Apologetics must always point back to the gospel
Apologetics is never just about information gathering, arguing or debating
Its purpose is to refute accusations brought against the Bible and God, demonstrate the reality and authenticity of what the Bible teaches, remove barriers of sincere questions and doubts for believers and unbelievers that hinder growth and truth and provide sufficient evidence through a multitude of arenas
It's by apologetics (theology, doctrine, evidences, facts, logic etc) that we show Christianity is true, it is by the work of the Holy Spirit we know Christianity is true
Simple practical definition: Apologetics is answers to point people back to God, His Word, the cross, resurrection, ascension of Jesus and working of the Holy Spirit
Seen in a multitude of places within scripture, not just one miscellaneous verse
Multiple Apostles describe the use of apologetics in Jesus life or their life - Peter, Paul, Luke, Matthew, Mark
Apologetics provides Proof, Defense, Offense, and Persuasion of and to the Christian faith
Practical Application: Apologetics can be used in evangelism to the lost, dispelling lies, doubts, questions and falsehood against what the Bible teaches, supporting and strengthening the foundational beliefs of the Faith, and provide believers to be equipped to trust God’s Word for Christians
Christian Application: Apologetics can help to identify paths, rocks, and thorns which prevent the Word from going into good soil and to uproot some of those things with the help of Scripture and by taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (Matt 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15, 2 Cor 10:5)
Apologetics is given as something all Christians must be able to do in 1 Pet 3:15
Commanded to love God with all of us, including out Mind - Matt 22:36-37
Called to reason - Isaiah 1:18
Have mercy on those who doubt - Jude 1:22
As a leader, called to refute those who oppose -Titus 1:9, 2 Tim 2:24-25
Called to discern truth from error - Hebrew 5:14, 1 John 4:6
But what about
1 Cor 1:17, 1 Cor 2:1-5 - does not say to not do apologetics (context is king, apologetics points to the King and the cross)
Col 2:8 - captive by hollow deceptive philosophy, human tradition, elemental spiritual forces of world
Apologetics provides an additional basis for helping people believe the Solas
Apologetics provides support to Sola Scriptura, that the Bible is indeed correct, reliable, inerrant, infallible, true and seeks to show evidence of that, giving reason and backing to Sola Scriptura
God is God over all areas of the universe, consistent, pervasive, so is truth
Some Types/Areas of Apologetics
Classical, Evidential, Experiential, Presuppositional
Philosophy
Theistic Philosophy
Various world religions –Islam, Hinduism, Cults, etc
Atheistic Philosophy
Humanism, Marxism, Existentialism, Rationalism, Atheism, Buddhism, etc
Occultic Philosophy
Animism, Ancestor worship, New Age, Satanism, Tantric etc
Nontheistic Philosophy
Theosophy, Agnosticism, Nihilism
Historical
Bible History, Bible Archaeology, Bible Prophecy, Bible Linguistics, Bible Chronology, Bible Law
Scientific/Rational Apologetics
Bible vs Science, Bible vs Evolution, Bible vs Astronomy, Bible vs Cosmology, Biblical Creationism, Bible Difficulties (Supposed contradictions), Logic and Logical Fallacies
Interdisciplinary Apologetics
Ethics of Christianity, Problem of Evil and Suffering, Legal Apologetics, Relational Apologetics, Existence of God, Miracles and Resurrection
God doesn’t need defending, but He does call us to refute, expose, reproof and rebuke false ideologies and incorrect ideas
C.S. Lewis - "Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered”
In Depth
Within the last few hundred years, there is a term that has become more and more popular, Apologetics, though it is actually centuries old. To be honest when I first heard this term, I thought like most, that it was a form or methodology of apologizing. Then when I heard that it was a Christian practice, I balked at it even more, thinking, “why are Christians apologizing for what they believe?!?” Sadly this is the view of a lot of Christians, yet it is far from the truth.
Apologetics is a word that comes from the Greek language. I am not a Greek scholar, but there are many tools that are easy to better understand the languages that the Bible was written in. Among those would be Strong’s Concordance, Thayer’s Definitions, Hebrew and Greek Lexicons and a multitude of other amazing sources. I highly recommend using these tools whenever you can to better understand some of the basics of Greek and Hebrew. Doing a quick search of those helps to bring clarity to this strange word.
The word is ἀπολογία in Greek and pronounced ä-po-lo-gē'-ä. According to Strong’s Concordance, the term Apologetics comes from the Greek word Apologia (Strong’s #627), which means: A plea, answer (for self), clearing of self, defense. Thayer describes it as: verbal defense, speech in defense. The KJV NT Greek Lexicon states it as a: reasoned statement or argument. The word Apologia occurs 8 times in the New Testament (see the below Biblical section for each occurrence and the surrounding verses for context). One of the other correlating words is Apologeomai (Strong’s #626) found 10 total times in the New Testament. Strong’s Concordance translates it as: give an account (legal plea) of oneself, exculpate (self), make a defense, excuse (self), speak for self. Thayer defines it as: to speak so as to absolve oneself.
The reason that the definition is so important is because it gives the basis for what apologetics actually is in a Biblical sense. Not only does the Greek provide the basis for it, but the ways it is used in Scripture provides a picture for us as well.
The image that is drawn by the definition, but also by the application as well is an attorney, who would be cross examining a witness, providing various evidences and materials. Not only are they able to defend their position but they are able to critique, question and investigate the opposition, displaying the weakness and flaws within their case. This in essence is what Christians are commanded to do in Scripture.
Peter provides the Biblical command, not only for a person, or even for the first century believers, but for all Christians to be able to do Apologetics. 1 Peter 3:15 states:
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: - KJV
But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully. - AMPC
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, -ESV
We will break down this verse within a different post, as this article is to provide a detailed overview of what apologetics is. But at face value and basic read, along with the context of the surrounding verses, Christians are called to be able to make an apologia or apologetic.
What is apologetics? In its most basic form it is to give answers to questions and doubts people have about God and His Word. Biblical Apologetics unequivocally must always point back to the gospel. It is not just in the information gathering or argumentation business. The gospel is paramount and God’s word is the quintessence of apologetics.
Its purpose is to refute accusations brought against the Bible and God, demonstrate the reality and authenticity of what the Bible teaches, remove barriers of sincere questions and doubts for believers and unbelievers that hinder growth and truth and provide sufficient evidence through a multitude of arenas. Using that purpose, Christians are able to give that reason for the hope that is within them, whether to other Christians or non-Christians.
Apologetics though, is not simply arguing or debating. We all have seen the person on the side of the road using the “turn or burn” tactic, yelling at people, arguing continually with them. That is not what Apologetics is or ever should be. It is not about “wining” a debate to show your intellectual superiority or that you have mastered some technique of persuasion or even that there are a plethora of facts you have memorized. In every instance, the goal is always the gospel, to point people to Jesus, back to the sufficiency of Scripture and to think clearly about what it states. In 1 Peter 3:15, it specifically states that it must be done with gentleness and respect. I have heard it stated before, “people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
Paul and Luke are the two people who used the term the most within Scripture. Paul used it six different times and Luke used it twice (Acts 22:1, 25:16, 1 Cor 9:3, 2 Cor 7:11, Phil 1:7, 1:16-17, 2 Tim 4:16). Paul also used apologeomai as well two times and Luke used it eight times (Luke 12:11, 21:14, Acts 19:33, 24:10, 25:8, 26:1-2, 26:24, Rom 2:15, 2 Cor 12:19). Yet Peter, Matthew, Mark, and John write about it as well (though the word is not always used). Jesus practiced Apologetics (more on that in a different article). It isn't a concept that is found in one miscellaneous obscure verse. It is pervasive throughout scripture, if you are willing to look.
When examining each of the verses and their context, I believe it is possible to draw the following simple, practical definition: Apologetics is answers to point people back to God, and His His word, especially the cross, resurrection, ascension of Jesus and the working of the Holy Spirit. Apologetics provides the basis of Proof, Defense, Offense and Persuasion of and to the Christian faith. https://bible.org/seriespage/1-what-apologetics This is seen especially by Paul all throughout the book of Acts. In at least 10 different places it records him putting apologetics into practice. This can be seen in the following verses (synopsis below in Biblical section). (Acts 9:22, 13:15-39, Acts 17:1-4, 17:18-34, 18:4, 18:27-28, 19:8-10, 25:1-27, 26:2,22-26, 28:17-31). Paul put into practice continually Apologetics, to those who did not yet know know Jesus as they savior and for those who had already had been Christians. Jesus also used Apologetics as well but that will be for a different article.
As a whole though, Apologetics is not one dimensional. It has the ability to be used in so many different areas and arenas of life and practical application. Apologetics can be used in evangelism to the lost, dispelling lies, doubts, questions and falsehood against what the Bible teaches. It can be vital in supporting and strengthening the foundational beliefs of the Faith. And it can provide believers to be equipped to trust God’s Word.
Apologetics though is never a replacement for the Bible in a Christians life.
For Christians, I like to look at Apologetics in terms provided by the parable of the sower (Matt 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15). Contextually Jesus would have been speaking to a large crowd, so big he had to cast out in a boat. These people have come from various towns nearby. Not all of the people were learned, nor had they gone through schooling, trained by Rabbi’s. Some would have been simple people, who would work the land, make things with their hands, fishermen, etc. This was his audience. Yet the words He spoke were able to minister not only to them, but us today as well.
As He spoke of a farmer who would sow seeds, it was strewn about into all of these different ecosystems. Some landed on a path, others on a rocky place, still more fell into spots filled with thorns and finally there was seed that came to rest on good ground. Now maybe it’s just me, someone with little farming experience, and only a tiny bit of gardening in my time, but something seems slightly off. Whenever I had been tasked with gardening from my mom, one of the first things she told me to do was to get all of the weeds out. Then to remove any rocks and then till the ground. In doing so, when we would come back and plant the seed, it would have a much higher chance of taking root and growing strong. I feel as if this was not something that only I have thought of, but also those in the audience had as well. If you are going to try and plant, why don’t you prepare the ground first? Don’t you either do it yourself or have someone help?
I see Apologetics as preparing the ground for the seed to be sown. Because of that it is not only something for Christians, but also for use within evangelism. What are those paths, rocks, thorns that are preventing the Word from being sown into good ground? As a good farmer or gardener, wouldn’t you work to prepare that ground to receive the seed for the best possible result? It takes time, toil, sweat, effort, learning and can be “dirty” work. Yet the results allow for a vast increase compared to the alternative that Jesus provided. In only 1 out of 4 areas seed was able to truly grow without hindrance. No longer should the devil be able to come along those well worn paths and steal the Word from peoples hearts, or when trials come people fall away or the cares of this life choke out the harvest.
Prepare the ground of not only your heart, but those around you to receive the word by dealing with those paths, rocks and thorns and let the good ground come forth to receive the Word!
Biblically we are called and equipped to do just that. According to 2 Cor 10:5
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, - ESV
[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), - AMPC
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; - KJV
So not only are we commanded to give an apologetic, we are supposed to take thoughts, imaginations, arguments, lofty opinions, theories, reasonings, and every high thing captive. This is possible because God has commanded (not suggested, commanded!) us to love Him with all of us, including out mind. Matt 22:36-37 states:
Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (emphasis mine)
In the book of Isaiah God speaks to him and states “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord”. In Jude we are told to, “have mercy on those who doubt” (Jude 1:22). Christian leaders are told by Paul, that to be qualified for their position they must be able to refute those who oppose the faith because of sound doctrine, correcting them (Titus 1:9, 2 Tim 2:24-25). We are told that we are to discern through training and through the Holy Spirit what is truth and error (Heb 5:14, 1 John 4:6). There seems to be a theme all throughout scripture, especially seen within the New Testament of the call for what we call Apologetics (a defense of the faith).
But I have had many Christians say that the Bible tells us we are only to rely on “faith”, not arguments, or talking, or “wisdom”, especially not philosophy, as we are to walk by faith, not by sight. Right!? (1 Cor 1:17, 1 Cor 2:1-5, 2 Cor 5:7, Col 2:8). Now I won't get into a detailed explanation regarding that in this article, but I will make one soon. The short answer to it is
based upon other previous text, there is a precedence for presenting evidence to people
there is an overabundance of evidence available today, unlike previous generations which can and does help why not use it
there are certain times where demonstration can be more necessary than discussion
faith comes by hearing the Word, but if you don’t trust the Word how can your faith be built? Trust is built in relationships through truth, evidence, action and answers, all of which increase confidence in God and His Word
Also those texts are not looked at generally within their full context, historically, to whom they are addressed, application
They not a God given commission to not use those things ever (sometimes situational/circumstantial application)
Also when Paul went to Corinth in Acts 18:1-4 it states in verse 4: “And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.” He stayed there for over a year and a half doing that and teaching the Word
In Colossians, Paul had specifically address the type of Philosophy that was plaguing them (not all philosophy). As the certain type being practiced there lead to vain deceit as it was after the traditions of men and elemental spirits of this world, not according to Christ (we all practice philosophy in a sense, again more on these verses in a different article)
With taking all of those previous points in then, some might wonder if this is trying to make an argument for something else as authoritative beyond the scriptures. No. Plainly and simply no. The Bible is the ground and basis of authority for the faith and practice of Christianity. This is generally what is meant when stating “Sola Scriptura.” Gotquestions.org states: “The phrase sola scriptura is from the Latin: sola having the idea of “alone,” “ground,” “base,” and the word scriptura meaning “writings”—referring to the Scriptures. Sola scriptura means that Scripture alone is authoritative for the faith and practice of the Christian. The Bible is complete, authoritative, and true.” The Bible is complete/closed (nothing else can be added to it), authoritative and true. https://www.gotquestions.org/sola-scriptura.html
To quote an article from Ligonier, saying,
“Sola Scriptura simply means that all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture. It is not a claim that all truth of every kind is found in Scripture...Therefore, Scripture is the highest and supreme authority on any matter on which it speaks….
“The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.” —Westminster Confession of Faith.”
According to Ligonier.com - https://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-does-sola-scriptura-mean/
Therefore, the argument being made is not that Apologetics “adds” to scripture or supersedes it, but simply gives an additional backing to what Scripture claims. Apologetics aim is simply to confirm what is spoken of in scripture. It provides through the various sciences, logic, philosophy, and different areas of learning, a basis to show that what the Bible says is indeed true and verifiable. That what God said can be seen plainly and there is a plethora of amazing evidence to back up the claims of Scripture. God has made these things available to us now in the modern times and they provide another tool in the believers arsenal to help preach the truth of the Gospel. Apologetics gives exemplary support to Sola Scriptura, that the Bible is indeed correct, reliable, inerrant, infallible, true and seeks to show evidence of that, giving reason and backing to what the Bible affirms. The Bible can stand alone and does. But why not use the things that speak to its truth?
But do not misunderstand. This is not an appeal to tradition on equal footing with the Bible. Anything that does not line up with what the Word says must be tested against Scripture.
If God is indeed God, He would be Lord over all areas of the universe and therefore consistent and pervasive, upholding and implementing His truth in all arenas of life. It is because of this we are able to do all the various sciences, utilize logic and reasoning, know truth from error and so much more (more on that in another article).
Apologetics uses various internal (Bible) and external (various sciences, logic, languages, philosophy, history, and other interdisciplines, etc), evidences that the Christianity is true and the claims of Christianity are verifiable, reliable, historical and accurate.
So with explaining all of that, here are some types and areas of Apologetics (not an exhaustive list, but a basic foundation). Apologetics can be done in any of these to display the claims of the Bible and the basis of error of those things which try to refute it.
Styles of Apologetics
Classical, Evidential, Experiential, Presuppositional
Philosophy
Theistic Philosophy
Various world religions –Islam, Hinduism, Cults, etc
Atheistic Philosophy
Humanism, Marxism, Existentialism, Rationalism, Atheism, Buddhism, etc
Occultic Philosophy
Animism, Ancestor worship, New Age, Satanism, Tantric etc
Nontheistic Philosophy
Theosophy, Agnosticism, Nihilism
Historical
Bible History, Bible Archaeology, Bible Prophecy, Bible Linguistics, Bible Chronology, Bible Law
Scientific/Rational Apologetics
Bible vs Science, Bible vs Evolution, Bible vs Astronomy, Bible vs Cosmology, Biblical Creationism, Bible Difficulties (Supposed contradictions), Logic and Logical Fallacies
Interdisciplinary Apologetics
Ethics of Christianity, Problem of Evil and Suffering, Legal Apologetics, Relational Apologetics, Existence of God, Miracles and Resurrection
Therefore in conclusion, God does not need defending, but He does call us to refute, expose, reproof and rebuke false ideologies and incorrect ideas.
CS Lewis is quoted saying: “Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy must be answered” https://www.equip.org/article/good-philosophy-must-exist/
- C. S. Lewis, “Learning in War-Time,” in The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses (Orlando, FL: Macmillan, 1980, rev. and exp. ed.), 28.
C. S. Lewis (1984). “The Business of Heaven: Daily Readings from C. S. Lewis”, p.226, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Now it is up to use to choose based upon the evidence, we will fulfill the Biblical mandate to do the great commission, implementing the call to provide an Apologetic for the hope that is within you?
Or for those who are not yet a Christian, are you willing to look at the evidence in an unbiased way and evaluate the truth claims being made by Christianity and follow where the evidence leads? Are you willing to be changed and change the way you do things? We would love to help in the next step of your journey, wherever that might be.
Biblical
Within this section I try to lay out all applicable Bible verses that I have been able to find along with various Greek and Hebrew words and their definitions to provide a better understanding as we try to properly look at scripture. My desire is to never take a verse out of context, or to misuse the Word to twist it into saying something it does not. I do not want to do Eisegesis rather than correct Exegesis. The lists below are not exhaustive and I am always willing to take more examples or fix anything that might be out of place.
Specific Word studies
Apologia - 8 Times in Scripture - Strong’s #627 - https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/apologia.html
Definition https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G627&t=NKJV
Strong’s
Answer for self, clearing of self, defense
Thayer
Verbal defense, speech in defense
verbal defense, speech in defense
a reasoned statement or argument
Acts 22:1 - ESV - "Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you."
Acts 25:16 - ESV - I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.
1 Corinthians 9:3 ESV - This is my defense to those who would examine me.
2 Corinthians 7:11- ESV- For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
Philippians 1:7 - ESV - It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Philippians 1:16 - ESV - The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
2 Timothy 4:16 ESV - At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!
1 Pet 3:15 - ESV - but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Apologeomai - 11 Times in Scripture - Strong’s #626
Definition - https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G626&t=NKJV
Strong’s
to give an account (legal plea) of oneself, i.e. exculpate (self):—answer (for self), make defence, excuse (self), speak for self.
Thayer
To defend oneself, make ones defense
To defend a person or a thing
Luke 12:11 - “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.
Luke 21:14 - “Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;
Act 19:33 - And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.
Act 24:10 - Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,
Act 25:8 - while he answered for himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”
Act 26:1 - Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
Act 26:2 - “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews,
Act 26:24 - Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
Rom 2:15 - who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
2 Co 12:19 - Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.
Some Correlating verses
Psalm 19:1-4 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
Isaiah 48:5 -“Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, ‘My images brought them about; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.”
Acts 6:8-10 - And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
Romans 1:18-20 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 - “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 -We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 - Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Colosians 4:5-6 - Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
2 Peter 1:16 - “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”
1 John 1:1-3 - “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.”
Jude 1:3 -“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.”
Jesus using Apologetics and Questions
Matt 11:16-19 -
Matt 12:22-28 - not casting out demons by the power of the devil
Matt 16:1-4 - sign from heaven
Matt 8:11-13
Matt 21:23-27 - His authority - John’s Baptism from heaven or humans
Matt 22:20 - Taxes to Caesar - Whose image
Matt 22:22-23 - Jesus explaining marriage and resurrection
Matt 22:41-46 - Nature of the Messiah
Mark 2:23-28 - Doing work on the Sabbath
Luke 7:19-22 - Apologetic of the miracles he was doing
Luke 13:15-17 - Doing work on the Sabbath
Luke 16:27-31 - Lazarus, didn't listen to Moses and the Prophets
Logic that Jesus used
Reductio Ad Absurdum (taking something to its logical absurd conclusion)
Matt 12:22-28
Matt 20:30-31
Matt 22:41-46
Luke 11:42-46
A Fortiori (From the stronger)
Luke 13:10-17
John 7:21-24
Appeal to His miracles
Mark 2:1-12, 10:22-24
Luke 7:20-23
Paul Practicing Apologetics
Acts 9:22 - confound people, proving Jesus
Acts 13:15-39 - Speaking in the synagogue
Acts 14:8-18 - Paul and Barnabas appeal to God, maker of heaven and earth after being mistaken for Greek gods because of healing
Acts 17:1-4 - reasoned from the scriptures
Acts 17:18-34 - Areopagus - Altar to the unknown god
Acts 18:4 - reasoning and persuading in the synagogue every Sabbath
Acts 18:27-28 - refuting and demonstrating Jesus was the Messiah
Acts 19:8-10 - reasoning and persuading for three months
Acts 25 - Before Agrippa
Acts 26:2,22-26 - His trial before Festus
Acts 28:17-31 - Persuade them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets
1 Cor 13:4-8 - Love rejoices in truth
Various Uses of “evidence”
Resurrection - Matt 12:38-45, Acts 3:15, 4:33, 24:15, 1 Cor 15, 1 Thes 4:14
Appeal to fulfilled prophecy - Isa 46:9, 48:3-5, Acts 10:43, Rom 1:3-4, 15:12, 16:25-26, 2 Pet 1:19,
Eye witness testimony - John 21:24, Acts 1:8,22, 2:32, 3:15, 5:32, 13:31, 1 Cor 15:3-8, 1 Pet 5:1, Rev 1:2
Command to leaders to defend faith - Titus 1:9, 2 Tim 2:24-26
Creation shows the glory, power and testimony of God - Psalm 19:1–6, Romans 1:18-25
Personal testimony - Acts 4:33, 22:18, 1 Cor 1:6, 1 John 5:9-11
Miracles - Acts 14:7-9, 19:11-12, 28:8, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Romans 15:19