Classical apologetics – What is it?

what does the bible say?

Classical Christian apologetics is a branch of Christian theology that aims to defend the faith through rational arguments and philosophical proofs. This approach typically involves a two-step process: first, demonstrating the reasonableness of belief in God, and second, showing that further Christian truth claims, such as miracles or the resurrection of Jesus, are reasonable to believe. It emphasizes the presentation of Christianity as rational and logically coherent, often drawing on philosophical arguments to establish the existence of God and the truth of Christian teachings. When the Apostle Paul addressed a Greek audience in Acts 17:22-34, he first established the fact of God’s existence before presenting the gospel. In Romans 1:18–23, Paul articulates the design argument for God’s existence, saying that those who refuse to believe in God already have sufficient evidence from God’s creation to have believed in Him. We have enough evidence to believe in the God of the Bible. Classical apologetics shows that Christianity is a rational faith, starting with the reasonable belief in God and leading to the logical defense of Christian truth claims. It encourages believers to engage with others through evidence and reason.

from the old testament

• The Lord asks us to use our mental abilities to come to a rational understanding and see His goodness: “Come now, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18).

from the new testament

• When Paul was in Athens, he used reason and logic to explain the truth of the gospel (Acts 17:22-34).
• In Romans 1:18–23, Paul presents the design argument for God’s existence, saying that those who refuse to believe in God have no excuse because the truth is plain to see.
• Apologetics seeks to produce faith in Christ by removing stumbling blocks in the hearts and minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 10:5).
• Christians must be able to articulate and defend their faith in a compelling way, while honoring Christ the Lord as holy in their hearts (1 Peter 3:15).

implications for today

Classical apologetics (also known as traditional apologetics) has as its distinctive feature a two-step approach to establishing a Christian worldview. For example, classical apologists are often hesitant to make an argument directly from miracles to the biblical God. Rather, they prefer to appeal to miracles after having already established a theistic context. Historical figures in classical apologetics include Thomas Aquinas, who presented five ways to argue for God’s existence in his Summa Theologica, Modern proponents of classical apologetics include R.C. Sproul, William Lane Craig, and Norman Geisler. The rational foundation of Christianity is something we can use to build our faith because it invites us to engage both our minds and hearts. Classical apologetics demonstrates that belief in God is not only a leap of faith but also a reasonable conclusion based on evidence. By first establishing the existence of God through reason—whether it’s the design of the universe or the moral law within us—Christianity builds a solid, logical case for its truth claims. This helps us confidently navigate doubts and objections, showing that faith in Christ is grounded in reality, not just in emotion or tradition. As believers, we are encouraged to follow Paul’s example, reasoning logically with others, using evidence to remove obstacles to belief, and ultimately pointing to the hope and truth found in Jesus Christ.

Recap

understand

• Classical apologetics proves belief in God is reasonable.
• Classical apologetics defends Christian truth claims logically.
• Classical apologetics encourages believers to engage others with reason and evidence.

reflect

• How has reasoning through the evidence of God or Christianity impacted your faith?
• How can you use rational arguments to support your belief in Christianity when talking with others?
• How do you respond to doubts about the truth of Christianity, and how can classical apologetics help in those moments?

engage

• What are some arguments from reason, such as the design argument, that we can use when discussing God’s existence with others?
• How does the rational defense of Christianity strengthen our witness in a world that often values emotions over logic?
• How can we honor Christ while engaging others with reason and evidence, as encouraged in 1 Peter 3:15?