“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 is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” – 1 Peter 3:15
This verse is the locus classicus of apologetics. “Make a defense” is from apologia and simply means a verbal defense or a reasoned argument. So, from the Scriptures, we are commanded to engage in apologetics. As we get into this series more, this will be spelled out more clearly, but if this verse in the forefront of our mind, then the various pitfalls can be readily avoided. For example, the two most common ideas about apologetics is that it is either not necessary, an engagement in “worldly wisdom”, or we think it is the primary thing, so we hammer away at anyone who disagrees. The first individual is confronted with the command to “give an answer” and the later individual is confronted with the command to do it “with gentleness and respect”. It is here that the “apologist”, which really includes every Christian, is to live. It is part of being “in Christ”. Apologetics is an everyday part of the Christian life.
The definition above – a reasoned defense or a verbal answer – is simple to grasp, but I find that John Frame’s definition is most helpful: “Apologetics is the application of Scripture to unbelief.”