Apologetics

What is Christian Apologetics?

Christian Apologetics is the study and practice of giving answers for the reasonableness and truth of the Christian faith. The word comes from the Greek apologia and means “to give a defense.” In 1 Peter 3:15, Christians are commanded to give an apologia to anyone who asks the reason for our hope.

On this page you will find key topics that dive into important reasons why understanding apologetics is crucial to living the Christian life. We must be prepared to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15), stand firm in our faith (Ephesians 6:10-20) and tear down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) that come up against the Truth of scripture. As you read through this page, take time to click on the headers of each section and read the articles written by the Answers in Genesis ministry team who specialize in apologetics to defend the origins of creation as revealed in God’s word. You also will find helpful courses and resources that teach Christian apologetics in the hope that the knowledge they provide will help equip you to stand firm in your faith and prepare you to give an answer for the hope that is in you. Remember that we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) and He makes His appeal through us to all who are lost, to be reconciled to God.

Defending the Christian World View

In a culture where God’s Word is constantly under attack from those both inside and outside of the church, we must always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in us. Christianity is rooted in history—real people and events of the past.

More than Winning an Argument

We can shoot down arguments and offer reasons for our beliefs, but if we don’t lead people to the soul-saving gospel of Jesus Christ, we have not successfully defended the faith.

Listen below as Wes Huff, Bible scholar, and Christian apologist, explains this approach.

We Should Start with the Bible!

The Bible not only claims to be a revelation from the infinite Creator, but it gives a very detailed history concerning origins to enable us to come to right conclusions. No other book does this. We have a revelation from an omnipotent God, who gives us the history we need to know so we can interpret the evidence of the present correctly.

As Christians we should know why we trust the Bible and believe it is true. Below is a great reason to believe the Bible that I have adopted and recommend to anyone who needs a concise, factual statement on why the Bible can be trusted:

If anyone asks you what the reason is for the Bible, you can provide them this short, thought provoking definition:

“The Bible is comprised of the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament God promises to defeat humanity’s greatest enemy – death, and the New Testament tells us how He did it.“

Now there is a lot more to the Bible than this, as you may well know, but by using man’s greatest fear, death (Hebrews 2:15), as the main theme it brings about the curiosity of the reader to look into its pages closer and therefore discover that it is truly God’s infallible word and answer to humanity’s biggest questions.

For a more in-depth look at the Bible and its origins, go to our page “The History of the Bible“.

---

Free and Fee-based Courses & Resources in Christian Apologetics

Apologetics Web Series

In a culture where God’s Word is constantly under attack from those both inside and outside of the church, we must always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in us. This web series on Apologetics is designed to give you the tools required to defend the faith.

Critical Thinking

Learning to think critically when faced with an argument is an essential skill that can work as an insulator against cultural brainwashing.

Logic

In logic and reasoning eventually you have to appeal to an absolute authority. Which is your authority: the Bible or man’s word?

Presuppositions

Presuppositions are simply beliefs that everyone has that affect how we think, view the world, interpret evidence, and read the Bible.

Responding to Compromised Curriculum

Because theistic evolution and the Bible are mutually exclusive, both cannot be right. And since foundational doctrines that affect the gospel are at stake, we cannot withhold criticism.

---

Bahnsen U

Apologia Studios offers this free apologetics course called Bahnsen U. These courses provide an introductory to a seminary-level theological education straight from the teachings and writings of the late Greg L. Bahnsen. Greg L. Bahnsen (1948–1995) was an American Reformed philosopher, theologian, minister, and apologist known for promoting the presuppositional method of apologetics and theonomy. As a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, he was a prolific author, debater, and lecturer, and served as the Scholar-in-Residence at the Southern California Center for Christian Studies.

Some of the free courses include:

Apologetics: An Overview

A Biblical Introduction to Christian Apologetics

Mid-Level Course In Apologetics

Seminary Apologetics

The complete library of free courses can be found here: Bahnsen-U

---

C.S. Lewis Institute

Basic Apologetics Course 

---

Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM)

---

More to come…