INTRODUCTION TO APOLOGETICS

Grace Bible Church Sunday School

Dec. 09 – Feb. 10

What is Christian apologetics?

“Apologetics is the branch of Christian theology which attempts to give a rational defense of the Christian faith.”

Why should we do apologetics? The Bible commands us to Jesus did it Paul did it The early church did it It helps us

What are the goals of apologetics?

Proof Defense Refutation Persuasion

What are the different methods of Christian apologetics?

Classical – Evidentialist – Reformed/Presuppositional - Fideism/Experiential –

What is the history of apologetics?

Apologetics in the NT: Apologetics by the early church Apologetics by the later church

What is philosophy The term philosophy derives from “love of wisdom”. Aesthetics - the study of beauty, judgments of

sentiment, or taste. Epistemology - studies the nature and scope of

knowledge and belief. Ethics - study of the right, the good, and the valuable. Logic - is the study of good reasoning, by examining

the validity of arguments and documenting their fallacies.

Metaphysics – studies principles of reality transcending those of any particular science and is concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world.

Metaphysics Ontology Theology Universal Science (study of First Things)

Four essential principles of knowledge

The Law of non-contradiction - The Law of Causality The basic (although not perfect) reliability

of the senses The analogical use of language

Epistemology The theory or science of knowledge. How do we know what we know?

General theories: A priori – knowledge that is known independently of

experience (arrived at beforehand) Posteriori – knowledge that is known by experience

(empirical, arrived at afterwards)Specific theories: Analytic Empiricism Rationalism Constructivism

What is truth? There is a difference between a belief and

truth. Truth is a justified belief.

Worldviews“A worldview is a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (which may be true, partially true, or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides that foundation on which we live and move and have our being” (James Sire, “The World Next Door”)

WorldviewsPremodern Modern Postmodern

Deism

PolytheismPantheismGreek philosophy

?BC 300BC 1500’s 1600’s 1700’s 1800’s 1900’s 2000’s

NaturalismHumanism

NihilismExistentialis

mRelativism

Atheism

SocratismPlatonismAristotelianismEpicurianismStoicism

Theism

(There is no truth)

(Man discovers truth)

(God reveals truth)

Postmodern

Logic Aristotle wrote the first explicit work in logic, introducing

the syllogistic. Logic is often divided into induction and deduction.

An example of deductive reasoning:All men are mortal Socrates is a man (Therfore) Socrates is mortal

An example of inductive reasoning:All observed crows are black. Therefore: All crows are black.

There are different kinds of logical fallacies that people make in presenting their positions. 

Logic is a valuable tool in witnessing, particularly when using proofs of God's existence. 

So what?1. Set Christ as Lord (1 Pet. 3:15a)2. Pray3. Study4. Memorize5. Interact appropriately and effectively