5 Apologetics Questions Every Christian Should Learn How to Answer

Summary

This video explores five key questions every Christian should be prepared to answer as part of Christian apologetics. The topics cover the reliability of the New Testament, evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, the relationship between science and the existence of God, the Bible’s stance on slavery, and historical evidence for Jesus’ existence outside of Scripture. The video encourages Christians to engage in apologetics with gentleness and respect while providing resources for deeper exploration of these critical topics.

Takeaways

• 😀 Apologetics is the practice of defending and explaining the Christian faith through reason, logic, science, philosophy, and history.
• 😀 Every Christian is called to be prepared to give a reason for the hope they have, with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
• 😀 The Greek word 'apologia' (from which 'apologetics' is derived) means to provide a defense for what we believe.
• 😀 The New Testament documents are supported by an abundance of early manuscripts, and textual criticism shows they have been copied with a high level of accuracy.
• 😀 There is significant scholarly consensus on key facts about the resurrection of Jesus, including His crucifixion, the belief of His disciples in His resurrection, and the conversion of Paul and James.
• 😀 Science cannot disprove the existence of God, as it studies only the material world, and God is by definition immaterial.
• 😀 The claim that science disproves God is philosophically driven, often by materialism, which excludes the possibility of anything beyond the physical realm.
• 😀 Biblical slavery, particularly in the Old Testament, was different from modern slavery and was more akin to servitude to pay off debt, with protections in place for the servant's rights.
• 😀 The New Testament does not condone slavery, and the teachings of Paul emphasized that slaves and free people are equal before God.
• 😀 There is significant external historical evidence for Jesus' existence, with mentions by at least 10 non-Christian sources within 150 years of His life, including historians like Josephus and Tacitus.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of Christian apologetics?

The main purpose of Christian apologetics is to provide reasons for the truth of Christianity and communicate those reasons to others. It spans various disciplines like science, logic, philosophy, and history.

Why is it important for Christians to be prepared to defend their faith?

Christians are called to be prepared to give a reason for the hope they have in Christ, as instructed in 1 Peter 3:15. This involves engaging with skeptics or seekers in a respectful and thoughtful manner.

What does the Greek word 'apologia' mean, and how does it relate to apologetics?

'Apologia' means 'defense' in Greek, and it is the root of the English word 'apologetics.' Apologetics involves giving reasons or a defense of one's beliefs.

How does textual criticism support the reliability of the New Testament?

Textual criticism helps reconstruct the wording of ancient texts by comparing numerous early manuscripts. The New Testament has the most manuscripts and the earliest copies of any ancient work, which shows it has been copied with remarkable accuracy.

What is the significance of the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus?

The resurrection of Jesus is supported by a strong body of evidence, including the agreement of over 1400 scholarly works. Key facts, such as Jesus’ death by crucifixion and the belief of his disciples in his resurrection, strongly support the historical reality of the resurrection.

How does science relate to the existence of God?

Science is limited to studying the material world, while God, as a non-material being, cannot be proven or disproven through scientific methods. The statement 'God does not exist' is a philosophical claim, not a scientific one.

What was the nature of slavery in the Bible?

Biblical slavery was different from modern slavery. It often involved voluntary servitude to repay a debt and came with legal protections, such as rights to food, shelter, and humane treatment. Slaves were released after seven years, and human trafficking was punishable by death.

Does the New Testament endorse slavery?

The New Testament does not condone the slavery practiced in the Roman Empire. Rather, it teaches that slaves are equal to free people in God’s eyes and encourages change to come from the heart, laying the groundwork for the eventual abolition of slavery.

What non-biblical sources confirm the existence of Jesus?

Ten non-Christian sources mention Jesus within 150 years of his life, including writings by historians like Josephus, Tacitus, and Pliny the Younger. These references confirm that Jesus was a real historical figure.

What resources can help someone delve deeper into Christian apologetics?

Resources for further study include books like 'Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism' by Peter Gury, 'The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus' by Michael Licona and Gary Habermas, and 'I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist' by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek.