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When we first hear the word apologetics, we cannot help but think of our typical use of the word apology, and that may lead some to think that Christian apologetics is the task of apologizing for the Christian faith as if to say we are sorry. In Christian apologetics, however, we do not say that we are sorry for what we believe. The word apologetics is from the Greek word apologia, which means “an answer” or “a defense.” Apologetics is not an apology; it’s an answer—a defense of what we believe.
In his first epistle, Peter writes, “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15, NASB). In the Greco-Roman world of the first century, the word apologia was primarily used as a legal term in court. A defendant, along with his witnesses, would give an apologia—a defense—in answer to criminal charges. Followers of Christ in the first century were certainly familiar with the legal term apologia, and they were experienced in having to defend themselves, their doctrines, and their practices in a culture that was largely hostile to Christianity.
Just like Christians in the first century, we as Christians in the twenty-first century must be able to clearly articulate what we believe to those who ask us to give an account of the hope that is in us, and we must always do so with gentleness and respect. Furthermore, such an account should never be divorced from Christians’ loving other Christians. When the world sees our love for one another, it sees one of the greatest apologetics of our faith (John 13:35).
At the foundation of the hope in us is Christ—His gospel, His truth, and His Word. When the watching world sees our good works in the midst of our persecution, we must be always ready to give an answer. When the world sees our hope, peace, and joy in the midst of our trials and suffering, we must be always ready to give an answer. When the world sees our love for one another, we must be always ready to give an answer. When the world sees our steadfast trust in our sovereign God when everything is crumbling down all around us, we must be always ready to give an answer. For, ultimately, the gospel of Christ is the only answer that will save the souls of a watching world.