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Introduction to Apologetics

Introduction to Apologetics. Apologetics from the Scriptures.

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Introduction to Apologetics

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  1. Introduction to Apologetics

  2. Apologetics from the Scriptures “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 you have that is in you; yet do this with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered by those who rebuke your good behavior in Christ, they may be put to shame.” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV)

  3. Apologetics from the Scriptures "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am--except for these chains.“ Acts:26:29(ESV) “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV) “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 1:3 (ESV)

  4. Defining Apologetics Apologia-“reason or defense” It is the discipline that deals with a rational defense of the Christian faith. A branch of Christian theology which seeks to provide a rational justification for Christianity’s truth claims.

  5. Positive & Negative apologetics Offensive (Positive) apologetics: Presents a positive case for Christianity’s truth claims. Positive grounds and reasons. Defensive (Negative) apologetics: Attempt to rebut or undercut the objections raised against Christianity by its opponents. Objections to God’s existence and objections to Christianity in particular.

  6. Offensive (Positive) apologetics Natural theology: (General Revelation) Is the study of God based on what one can know from nature. In contrast with supernatural theology (specific theology) which is dependent on supernatural revelation. Ex: triunity of God, incarnation of Christ, redemption. (Romans 1: 20) Arguments: Cosmological Argument: (Cosmos-orderly world/universe) Moral Argument: (Distinguishing good from evil) Christian Evidences: (Specific Revelation) Evidences: Fulfilled Prophecy Jesus of Nazareth own radical claims Miracles and resurrection

  7. Deductive Reasoning Syllogism: An instance of a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn (whether validly or not) from two given or assumed propositions (premises), each of which shares a term with the conclusion, and shares a common or middle term not present in the conclusion. premise: All men are mortal. premise: Socrates is a man. conclusion: Socrates is mortal.

  8. Cosmological Argument: (Cosmos-orderly world/universe)attempts to show there is a first cause of sufficient reason for the existence of the cosmos(Universe). 2 premises and 1 conclusion. Premise 1: Whatever begins to exist has a cause. Premise 2: The universe began to exist. Conclusion: Therefore the universe has a cause.

  9. Cosmological Argument: First principal of metaphysics: Things don’t come into being out of nothing. Being does not arise from non-being. Being only comes from being. Something cannot come into existence out of nothing.  Illustrations: Ex: No one believes that a dictionary would pop out of being from nothing. Not even that a dictionary would come into being out of an explosion at a printing press. Ex: To believe otherwise is worse than magic. In magic, when the magician pulls the rabbit out of the hat, you at least have the hat and the magician.

  10. Moral Argument Morality: It is objectively good in it self(an end) not merely good as means. It is something we ought to pursue, a duty. Morality is prescriptive (an “ought”), not merely descriptive (an “is”). Morality deals with what is right, as opposed to wrong. It is an obligation, that for which a person is accountable. Premise 1: If God does not exist objective moral values do not exist. Premise 2: Objective moral values do exist. Conclusion: Therefore God exist.

  11. Moral Argument Objective: Valid and binding independently of whether anybody believes in it or not. Youth resonate with (everything is relative) it is arrogant or immoral to impose their values upon another society.

  12. An apologetic life • Relevance to the listener: • Logos (Intellectual), Ethos (social), Pathos (Emotional) • Paul writes with relevance: Hebrew (Light) Greek (Knowledge) Roman (Glory) “For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness, " has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (ESV)

  13. An apologetic life Mind your Language: “Classical apologetics has generally assumed a common starting point out-side of God for developing arguments for God and Christ…the conventional way of describing God in abstract and negative terms---absolute, infinite, immortal, invisible, impassible, and so on…has the important advantage of not equating God to anything that belongs to finite creation, thus avoiding the possibility of verbal idolatry. However, it creates two huge problems. One we know what God is not, but who is he, and what is he like? Two, if the infinite is defined as the absence of the finite, we also have a philosophical problem. That is should the infinite depend on the finite for its understanding? In the amazing providence of God, he stands revealed not in platitudes and abstracts universals, but in a breath taking narrative recorded for us in the bible.” L.T Jeyachandran

  14. An apologetic life Mind your Language: “Often we use terms like salvation, sin, eternal life, and even God in our conversations and are confident that they hold the same meaning for the person to whom we are talking…However when we are speaking to someone from another culture, familiar terms that we think convey what we mean may not be communicating precisely what we want to say. This suggest that we must carefully define what we mean by our terms and concepts in our evangelistic conversations.” I’Ching Thomas

  15. An apologetic life Asking questions: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. Luke18:18-19 (ESV) Living the Faith we defend: “I have little doubt that the single greatest obstacle to the impact of the gospel has not been its inability to provide answers, but the failure on our part to live it out.” Ravi Zacharias

  16. Credits • Norman L. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker books, 1999), 36-37, 521. • http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/syllogism.aspx • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllogism • Ravi Zacharias, Beyond opinion Living the Faith we Defend (Nashville,TN: Thomas Nelson, 2007),212, 231, 237. • Michael Ramsdem, Foundations of Apologetics, Conversations that count (Norcross, GA: RZIM)

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