A Beginner’s Guide to Christian Apologetics

I first began practicing apologetics by circumstances rather than design. I was raised as a Roman Catholic but left that denomination after my real conversion. Since my family remained predominantly Catholic, I got into many theological debates and had to defend my new beliefs quite early in my spiritual journey. I didn’t know then that what I was doing was called apologetics.

Though it sounds like the English word apology, apologetics has nothing to do with apologizing. It is a transliteration of the Greek word apologia, which means “a speech in defense,” or “intelligent reasoning.” It comes from 1 Peter 3:15 which states:

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.

1 Peter 3:15

Therefore, Christian apologetics is simply making a defense for the Christian faith. Voddie Baucham defines it as “knowing what you believe, why you believe it, and being able to communicate it in a winsome and effective way.”

Some well known Christian apologists are Ravi Zacharias, Nabeel Qureshi, Lee Strobel, Voddie Baucham, Josh McDowell, and Willaim Lane Craig. And in the Bible, we have Paul who provided intelligent reasoning for the faith in Acts 17:1-3; 19:8-10; 26:26-28. And Apollos who practiced apologetics in Acts 18:27-28.

Why we need to practice apologetics

Contrary to popular belief, apologetics isn’t reserved for elite Christians or Seminary graduates. It is for everyone; all Christians are apologists by default. We don’t all have to be experts or participate in televised debates, but we all need to know the basis of our faith and be able to defend it when the occasion calls for it. And here are a few reasons why:

1. It is a biblical mandate

First and foremost, we need to practice apologetics because it is a biblical command. 1 Peter 3:15 is an order to defend the faith, not a suggestion. And this directive applies to all Christians as Peter addressed it to “all of you” a few verses earlier in 1 Peter 3:8.

Jude 3 also urges us to defend the faith. It states, “beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (emphasis mine)

Lastly, Paul instructed us to “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

2. It strengthens our faith

Apologetics helps us grow in our knowledge as it makes us learn theology and essential doctrines. It also makes us know why we believe what we believe. Our hope is not based on myths, fairy tales, or speculative ideas. On the contrary, God has given us enough substantial evidence to understand and to defend our beliefs logically to skeptics.

And when we have a well-reasoned understanding of our faith, it strengthens and confirms us in it. Apologetics also sharpens our discernment skills, which make us grow spiritually.

3. It is part of evangelism

Apologetics at its core is not about winning arguments or engaging in philosophical debates; it is about sharing the gospel and winning souls for Christ. Furthermore, apologetics makes evangelism more effective because it makes us explain the gospel to non-believers, give them a rationale for believing it, and answer their questions. And even though we cannot make them have faith, we can provide them with enough information to challenge their beliefs.

If someone doesn’t think they need apologetics, one has to wonder if they have tried evangelizing lately

Bobby Conway

How to practice apologetics

As with everything, God calls us to do; He gives us instructions on how to do it. And here is how we should practice apologetics using 1 Peter 3:15 as our instruction manual.

1. Start with the heart

“but in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy…”

When we engage in apologetics, we need to remember that it’s not about looking smart and knowledgeable or merely winning philosophical debates. It is primarily about evangelism. Our goal when engaging in apologetics should be to honor Christ by sharing His good news with others so they may come to know Him.

2. Make a defense for Christ

“…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the hope that is in you…”

The focus of apologetics is Jesus: who He is and what He has done. It’s not about proving the world was created in six days, or that Adam and Eve were the first human and other related trivia. There is nothing wrong with defending these things per se. But creationism does not save; the gospel does. Therefore, our main objective should be to provide a reason for our hope, and our hope is Christ alone.

3. Conduct yourself well

“…yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

Defending our faith is not an excuse to behave improperly or rudely toward others. How we conduct ourselves matters to God, and He wants us to behave Christ-like. Even if arguments get heated and the other party gets nasty, we are to remain respectful and keep a clear conscience before God. The goal of apologetics is pointing people to Christ, and our behavior and attitude are part of our defense.

We can’t avoid reasoning; we can only avoid doing it well.

Peter Kreeft, Pocket Handbook of Christian Apologetics

Ways to prepare for apologetics

There are two main methods in Christian apologetics: classical, and presuppositional apologetics.

Classical apologetics is proving Christianity is true by giving substantial evidence of it, while presuppositional apologetics involves counteracting preconceived notions and ideas of skeptics.

Both methods are valid and not mutually exclusive. Here is how to prepare for them:

1. Pray

Prayer is a crucial part of our preparation for defending the faith. Only God can enlighten us with the truth and give us the wisdom to present it engagingly and effectively. (John 17:17)

Also, continually praying keeps us dependent on God, which prevents us from becoming puffed up with our knowledge and wise in our eyes (Proverbs 3:7). We should also pray for the lost ones; that God may change their hearts of stone into hearts of flesh and receive His message.

2. Study the Bible

We need to be grounded in God’s word before attempting to defend our faith; a well-grounded Bible student is a well-prepared apologist. Knowing God’s word is critical because it is our starting point. When Paul engaged in apologetics, he reasoned with them from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2). Apollos also used Scriptures to prove Jesus was the Christ (Acts 18:28). We ought to follow their examples.

This means studying the Bible using principles of biblical hermeneutics, knowing systematic and biblical theology, and understanding essential elements of Christianity such as substitutionary atonement, justification, sanctification, the Trinity, etc. The Westminster Confession of Faith, The Westminster Shorter Catechism, and The Westminster larger Cathechism may help you learn these.

Since everyone won’t believe in the validity of the Bible, it is also essential to study the history of the Bible alongside its story. The Bible is the most reliable ancient text in existence, and there is a lot of evidence to support its validity and accuracy. Make sure to learn them because the trustworthiness of the Bible will most likely be attacked. You can also research the extrabiblical sources that mention the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

2. Read good Christian/ apologetic books

Supplement your Bible study with good Christian books that will deepen your understanding of Scriptures and also provides you with knowledge pertinent to apologetics.

I have only read a handful of books dealing with apologetics, but they have been beneficial to me, and I highly recommend them. They are, The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis, and No God but One: Allah or Jesus, by the late Nabeel Qureshi.

I also recommend Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi. It is his testimony of how he went from being a devout Muslim to a pious Christian. I think it helps to read testimonies like these for their unique perspectives and insights. This book helped me engage with one of my oldest and best friends, who is a Muslim. It provided me with more knowledge of his beliefs and also served as a conversation starter.

4. Familiarize yourself with different religions

It’s quite helpful to learn what other people believe. I am not advocating studying all the religions of the world or become an expert in the Qur’an or the book of Mormons or other religious texts. I recommend knowing only what the people in your area of influence generally believe.

For example, I am mostly surrounded by Roman Catholics, so it has been advantageous to learn more about Roman Catholicism. Granted, as a former Catholic, I have insider knowledge and didn’t have much studying to do. But I still had to learn how Roman Catholics interpret the Bible to support their unbiblical practices, and how to refute their argument with Scriptures. Also, my father is agnostic, so I also study creationism to know how to address his arguments.

Similarly, if you mostly deal with Jehovah’s Witness, learn more about their beliefs and which Scripture to use to counter their arguments. Same thing if they are Mormons, Muslims, Hebrew Israelites, atheists, etc.

Be careful not to assume everyone will believe the same thing. The same way many Christians disagree on some issues like baptism, eschatology, or spiritual gifts, people in other religions may also disagree. Make sure always to listen and be sure of what they believe before speaking.

5. Learn humility and patience

Lastly, we need to practice humility and patience before we practice apologetics.

If you are someone who gets easily angered or short-tempered, you might not be ready to do apologetics. When we defend the faith, we represent Christ and must act like Him. Hence, we must strive to exhibit patience and the other fruit of the Spirit in our everyday lives first (Galatians 5:22-23)

We must also learn to reign in our pride (James 4:6). If you are someone who likes to have the last word and doesn’t know how to admit you do not know or can’t apologize quickly. You might not be ready to do apologetics. No one knows everything, and it’s fine to be incapable of answering a question. But it is not okay to lie, and inadvertently cause someone to stumble. Learn to be humble enough to admit you don’t know and get back to the person when you do.

Some useful resources for apologetics

There is a lot more to learn if you want to be an effective apologist. Here are a few resources to help you get started.

Books

• Apologetics Study Bible
• Expository Apologetics: Answering Objections with the Power of the Word by Voddie Baucham
• Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World by Josh McDowell
• Defending Your Faith: An Introduction to Apologetics by R.C Sproul
• The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Strobel
• Cold Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels by J. Warner Wallace
• Can We Trust the Gospels by Peter J. Williams
• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller
• Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Gregory Khoul

Apologetics Ministries

• Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
• Got Questions
• Answers in Genesis
• Alpha & Omega Ministries

Free apologetics courses/ sermons

• Ligonier: Handout Apologetics
• Voddie Baucham: expository apologetics part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4

You must know how to defend your own beliefs. If we cannot answer their genuine questions, we will “confirm” in their minds what they are often brainwashed into believing: that Christianity is intellectually flawed. This is what they are told. One doesn’t need to have all the answers, but one should know where they are found.

Ravi Zacharias

We are all called to defend our faith to skeptics; it’s our duty and an immense privilege. So, let’s equip ourselves with knowledge and training to become effective apologists and fulfill the great commission our Lord has given us.

  Grace and peace to you!