Apologetics (2)

Paul’s Areopagus sermon, a classic example of biblical apologetics

Paul speaks to his listeners on their own ground, starting on their own terms

Acts 17:22–23 LEB

So Paul stood there in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see you are very religious in every respect. For as I was passing through and observing carefully your objects of worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an unknown God.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, this I proclaim to you—

Paul presents the Christian position

Acts 17:24–27 LEB

the God who made the world and all the things in it. This one, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands as if he needed anything, because he himself gives to everyone life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of humanity to live on all the face of the earth, determining their fixed times and the fixed boundaries of their habitation, to search for God, if perhaps indeed they might feel around for him and find him. And indeed he is not far away from each one of us,

Paul supports his argument in a culturally appropriate way

Ac 17:28 Paul quotes from two secular writers, first from the Cretan poet Epimenides, and secondly from the Cilician poet Aratus.

Paul concludes his argument and calls for a response

Acts 17:29–31 LEB

Therefore, because we are offspring of God, we ought not to think the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought. Therefore although God has overlooked the times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man who he has appointed, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Apologetics as a regular feature of Paul’s ministry

Acts 18:4 LEB

And he argued in the synagogue every Sabbath, attempting to persuade both Jews and Greeks.

See also Ac 9:26–30; Ac 18:19; Ac 19:8–10; Ac 28:17–31

Apologetics is part of the work of church leaders

Titus 1:9 LEB

holding fast to the faithful message according to the teaching, in order that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to reprove those who speak against it.

All Christians share responsibility for the task of apologetics

1 Peter 3:15 LEB

but set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense to anyone who asks you for an accounting concerning the hope that is in you.

Other examples of Christians engaging in apologetics

Acts 18:28 LEB

For he was vigorously refuting the Jews in public, demonstrating through the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

See also Ac 2:14–41; Ac 6:8–10

Apologetics alone is an inadequate way of presenting the gospel

1 Corinthians 1:17–25 LEB

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel, not with clever speech, lest the cross of Christ be emptied. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the intelligence of the intelligent I will confound.” Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. For indeed, Jews ask for sign miracles and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a cause for stumbling, but to the Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

See also 1 Co 2:1–5