Bible college and seminary students learn about a subject called apologetics.
In our online seminary, GES is offering a free thirteen-week elective on apologetics, taught by Dr. Jeff Spencer.i
New students can apply to the school by clicking here. Once accepted, they will receive an email inviting them to register. If you are a continuing student, simply email: classes@faithalone.org.
Apologetics is related to the word apology, but not in the modern sense of apology as a regretful admission of one’s offense. The original meaning of apology was “a reasoned defense.” Hence, Christian apologetics is a well-reasoned defense of the Christian faith, especially the fundamentals.
Many authors have written books on apologetics. Josh McDowell wrote Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Lee Strobel wrote The Case for Christ. J. Warner Wallace, a former detective, wrote Cold-Case Christianity. There are scores of excellent books on apologetics.
The reasoned defense of Christianity centers on the most important doctrines of the faith. These include the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead, the reliability of Scripture, the existence of God (theism), the problem of evil, the deity of Christ, and the promise of everlasting life. Dr. Spencer will cover all those topics starting in January.
It is possible to confuse apologetics with evangelism. Apologetics is evangelism only when the doctrine one is defending is salvation by faith alone apart from works. All other aspects of apologetics are pre-evangelism. If you convince a Mormon of the deity of Christ, you have not yet led him to the new birth. He needs to believe the promise of life in order to be born again. If you convince an atheist that Jesus rose from the dead, he has become a theist. But he still needs to believe in Jesus for the gift of everlasting life.
Here is the approach we recommend. First, share the promise of everlasting life. That may lead to lots of discussion. Second, if someone raises a concern about the reliability of the Bible, the problem of evil, the existence of God, or the deity of Christ, then give them the basic information they need in order to answer their question.
Every believer should be able to share the promise of life and to answer basic questions about the faith. That is what the doctrine of apologetics is all about.
Keep grace in focus and you will remain a qualified apologist for the Christian faith.
