Page 3 - AIU Distance Learning Courses - Sample

Apologetics
By Dr. Kris Bjorgen

This is a sample of two chapters (sections) from the Apologetics Course

Study Section 1: What is Apologetics?

1.1 Connect
Are you living your life in such a way that other people ask you questions about what makes
you different from the rest of the world? As believers in Christ, we are to be LIGHT to this
world, shining forth God’s Word and His ways to a lost world. People should see your light.
Generally, they will be filled with questions about God, the World, and the purpose for life.
They may come to you with their questions. You must be ready to give them answers to
their questions with the hope that they may come to Christ in repentance and receive His salvation. To
be ready, you must study the issues and know what God’s Word says about them. You must be able to
give them good and honest answers. That’s what this course is all about. So let’s dive in and learn how
to defend your faith!

1.2 Objectives
1. The student should be able to give the definition of what an apologist is.

2. The student should be able to site the verse in Scripture that demand that they become an
apologist, along with its cautions.

3. The student should be able to give the theological argument for the existence of God.

1.3 What is an apologist?
The Scripture demand that every believer become an apologist. There is a great difference
between the word, “apologize” and an “apologist”. An apologist does not apologize to
others for his faith; he rather defends why He believes what He believes with gentleness
and respect. The Greek word apologia means “defense” and is a legal term which relates to
the defense of a person who is being prosecuted in a court of law. The defense attorney
declares the truth of the case before the judge.

The very first apologists in the Christian faith were the disciples and Apostle Paul, along with others in
the first century who were spreading the Gospel in the Roman world. Here is what is said of them:

Acts 9:22 – Paul is described as “confounding” and “proving”
Acts 17:22 – Paul is “reasoning” and “disputing”
Acts 17:17 – Paul is “reasoning” and “arguing”
Acts 19:9 – Paul is “dialoguing” and “persuading”
Phil. 1:1 – Paul describes his ministry as the defense and confirmation of the gospel
Acts 18”22 – Apollos engaged in “public debate” and “arguing powerfully”

(from a lecture by Ravi Zacharias introducing the importance of apologetics - https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/apologetics-
evangelism/#why-jesus)

3