Welcome to CAPRO

 

• About CAPRO
  • About CAPRO
  • CAPRO Disclaimer
  • Letters to CAPRO
• Apologetics
  • What is Apologetics?
  • Understanding the Importance of Worldviews
  • Apologetics Dictionary
  • Methods of Apologetic Practice
  • Christian Apologetics & Frivolous Lawsuits
• Church Creeds
  • Nicene Creed
  • Apostles Creed
  • Athanasian Creed
  • Chalcedon Creed
  • Canons of Dort
  • Westminster Confession (Long)
  • Westminster Shorter Catechism
• Exams & Quizzes
  • Christian Exam
  • Cult Quiz

 

 

 

 

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What is Apologetics?

Paul Derengowski, ThM

 

Apologetics stems from the Greek word apologia, which means "defense" or "defend." It is first seen in the Book of Acts where Luke records the apostle Paul stating to a crowd of hostile Jews at Jerusalem, just before he is shipped off to Rome to appeal to Caesar, "Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I know offer to you" (Acts 22:1 cf. 2 Tim. 4:16). The word for defense is apologia.

Later, while rebutting the attempt of those same Jews to have Paul condemned to execution, the Roman official Festus cited Roman custom that it was not proper to condemn a man until that man had faced his accusers and had been provided an opportunity to defend (apologia) himself (Acts 25:16).

Several other references allude to the necessity of defense (apologia), including Paul's defense of his apostleship (1 Cor. 9:3), Paul's defense of the Corinthians amid their godly sorrow and repentance (2 Cor. 7:11), as well as his defense of the Philippians sharing in the gospel with him (Phil. 1:7) and those preaching the gospel out of a good will (Phil. 1:16).

The most often cited reference by Christian apologists which points out not only the command, but the necessity, for Christians to make an earnest defense of what it is that they claim is the hope that abides within them is seen in the apostle Peter's statement, "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence" (1 Pet. 3:15).

Apologetics in a nutshell. therefore, is simply a reasonable defensive response that is given to those who either ask a question about the Christian faith, or by those who aggressively attack it. It is activity that all Christians should be conscientiously involved in, yet very few actually are. It is the hope and prayer of CAPRO to be able to equip and motivate Christians to be active in providing a ready defense for what they believed, as well as the courage to actually do it.