Apologetics originates in Scripture with OT prophets appealing to fulfilled prophecy, combatting polytheism and wrestling with the problem of evil.

After his resurrection, Jesus appeals to fulfilled prophecy (Luke 24:27

• After his resurrection, Jesus appeals to fulfilled prophecy (Luke 24:27)
• Multiple post resurrection appearances to disciples
• Luke appeals to eyewitness testimony ((Luke 1:1-4)
• John appeals to eyewitness testimony (1 John 1:1-2)
• Jesus and the apostles routinely offered arguments and gave evidence for their claims.

All 4 gospels are apologies:

• Matthew defends Jesus to Jews as fulfillment of the OT and the Jewish Messiah
• Mark defends Jesus to Gentiles as the God-Man and suffering servant of Isa 53
• Luke defends Jesus as the Son of Man (Dan 7:13) and Davidic son
• John defends Jesus as the Son of God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father

From Matthew to Revelation, much of the NT is an apology. Examples: John 20:21; Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-3; Rom 1:16-17; 1 Cor 2:1-5; 2 Cor 10:5; Phil 1:7,27; 2:9-11; Col 1:15-20; Hebrews; 1 John 1:1-3; 1 Pet 3:15-16; Jude 1:3

Galatians stands as an eloquent and vigorous apologetic for the essential NT truth that people are justified by faith in Jesus Christ——by nothing less and nothing more——and that they are sanctified not by legalistic works but by the obedience that comes from faith in Christ’s work for them, by the grace and power of Christ and the Holy Spirit. It was the rediscovery of the basic message of Galatians (and Romans) that brought about the Protestant Reformation.

The book of Acts provides specific examples of people doing apologetics, speaking to people who are skeptical. The earliest and clearest examples are the seven Kerygmatic (proclamation) sermons. Looking at Acts 4:8-12, Peter is seeking to convince people who do not believe. The audience is Jewish. The central claim is that Jesus, the promised Messiah, was raised from the dead. The evidence provided in these apologetic speeches changes based on the audience but the central claim of the death and resurrection of Jesus never changes; it is central in every case. The other speeches in Acts are 2:14-36; 3:12-26; 5:27-32; 10:34-43; 13:16-41; 17:22-31 – a total of seven different speeches. In these speeches, the evidence changes based on the audience, but the death and resurrection of Jesus is central to every speech.

And he (Jesus) answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27)

Apologetics is central to our faith which is based on historical events in space/time. God does not demand blind faith of us but gives us powerful reasons to believe and place our trust in Jesus Christ. The traditional division of Christian theology into Apologetics, Dogmatics, and Ethics illustrates the need for Apologetics to defend and commend the faith in the context of contemporary thought. Attached is Ed Andrews’ excellent brief history of Apologetics.