Bible Semester 1 Junior Final
Important/Need to know
Apologetics = defending Christian faith in non-Christian world.
Been a challenge for centuries, as new issues arise.
Different methods and approaches developed to tackle these challenges.
We’re diving into Christian apologetics and its history.
Meet four main approaches: Classical, Evidentialism, Reformed, and Fideism.
Each approach focuses on reason, fact, revelation, or faith.
Sarah: Doubts Christianity due to philosophy and questioning.
Murali: Thinks all religions are equal; wonders about religious claims.
We’ll see how these approaches work in practical conversations.
Questions people ask:
Why trust the Bible?
Are all religions equal paths to God?
Can we prove God’s existence?
If God’s good, why’s there evil?
Did Bible miracles actually happen?
Is there proof for what Christians say about Jesus?
Four ways to defend: Apologetic Approaches
Classical Apologetics: Uses logic and reasoning.
Evidentialism: Shows evidence and facts.
Reformed Apologetics: Stands on God’s Word in Scripture.
Fideism: Puts faith and trust at the forefront.
What is Apologetics?
Apologetics defined as the defense of the Christian faith (1 Peter 3:15)
“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,”
In our hearts we need to ALWAYS be prepared to defend all things. We need to grow in this area because we don’t know everything. Be more prepared to answer someone everyday.
Derived from the Greek word “apologia” - defense or reply in a legal context (Acts 22:1).
Acts 21:27-28 - When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia seeing him (Paul) in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”
Acts 22:1 - “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense (Apologia) that I now make before you.”
In ancient Athens, “apologia” referred to a defense made in the courtroom (Acts 19:33).
Accused could refute charges with a defense (apologia).
Example of Socrates’ defense against preaching strange gods (Plato’s “The Apology”).
New Testament usage of “apologia” and “apologeomai” for defense of vindication.
Instances where Paul and other apostles used defense in trials. (2 Timothy 4:16).
At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.
Second century: Apologists defended Christianity against attacks (Justin Martyr, Tertullian).
Names like Justin Martyr and Tertullian defended against charges
The term “Apologetics” was not used until 1794 for a specific discipline.
Debate about its place in Christian thought.
Functions of Apologetics
Historically, apologetics has three main functions.
Vindication or Proof: Developing logical arguments and evidence for Christianity.
Evil vs Christian faith
Defense: Clarifying Christian beliefs against misunderstandings and objections.
Building a Case from the Ground Up - Norman Giesler
Classical Apologetics
Truth about reality is knowable.
Know what reality is
There is a belief that we are living in a simulation
The opposite of true is false.
Know what is true and what is false
It is true that the theistic God exists.
We are ordered
Logically if we are ordered and we are getting more chaotic, then there must be a higher order
If God exists, then miracles are possible.
Since God is outside of our universe, it’s possible for Him to do supernatural things.
Miracles can be used to confirm a message from God (i.e., as an act of God to confirm a word from God).
Jesus is unique because he does supernatural things, was born of a virgin mother, died and resurrected. He is marked with uniqueness.
The New Testament is historically reliable.
Historically the book of Morman isn’t real or true. No historical evidence.
The New Testament says Jesus claimed to be God.
Jesus’ claim to be God was miraculously confirmed by:
His fulfillment of many prophecies about Himself;
His sinless and miraculous life;
His prediction and accomplishment of His resurrection.
His disciples ran when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus
Each disciple died a martyr’s death
They were proclaiming His story to thousands of people days later after His death
People don’t die for what they know is a lie.
Therefore, Jesus is God.
Whatever Jesus (who is God) teaches is true.
Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God.
Therefore, it is true that the BIble is the Word of God (and anything opposed to it is false).
Rationalism: reason is the sole test of truth.
Relativism: is the belief that statements of fact or value are true from some perspectives but not from others.
Postmodernism: a cultural movement that has applied relativistic thinking.
Rationalism wrongly elevates human reason to the level of an ultimate arbiter of truth. Because God transcends the universe, the human mind cannot arrive on its own at substantive knowledge about God.
If you are rational but your truth center is off, your decisions aren’t true or rational. Don Caves is not Dean Delzell’s father even though Mr. Delzell’s father’s name is Don.
General Revelation: God showing Himself through that which was created. All people are open to this form of revelation. Romans 1:19-20
Special Revelation: God revealing Himself beyond natural creation, through the work of the Word and/or the Holy Spirit. Matthew 16:13-17
God is moving through Muslims through visions. They have visions or dreams that are of Jesus calling to them.
Matthew 16:13-17 - Jesus asked his disciples who people say he is. His disciples say he might be John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or a prophet. Jesus asks who they say he is. Simon Peter says “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus says Simon is blessed and it was beyond Simon’s ability to observe that he is the Son and it was revealed by God to Simon.
Claim: Batman is a Superhero. If Batman were a superhero, we’d expect… he saves citizens; he seeks justice; he defeats super villains. Batman is just a hero.
Christian Truth Claim: Jesus is God. If Jesus were God, we’d expect… superhuman characteristics.
Reflection:
What is your rationale for believing Jesus is God? (General Revelation)
The miracles that Jesus performed on earth shows he is God.
What has God shared with you personally that leads you to believe Jesus is God? (Special Revelation)
Reading the Bible and just seeing the beauty of the sunrises and sunsets. After early morning XC practices and we have just done a hard workout, I feel very accomplished and strong and I see the sunset. It just reminds me that God is the creator and Jesus walked this earth. Jesus was human and Jesus is God.
Relativism: You are certain that truth is not absolute for everyone. Truth is not absolute for him.
Carter in his truth statement identifies as a female. Delzell says no you’re not. Those are both truth claims. What is your support of your truth claim? Carter feels like a woman. Carter dressed up in girls clothes when he was younger, Carter cares about his hair and that’s a girls thing. If Delzell disagrees, he is intolerant and he doesn’t believe Carter’s truth statement. If we take a blood sample of Carter and look at it they would say Carter is male. Rationally Carter is a male.
Complexity rationally tells us there is a designer, by nature there is a designer. The irrationality of relativism will show up. Logic will have to be thrown out the window for relativists.
Epistemology: The study of knowledge. How do we know what we know?
Metaphysics: The study of the nature of reality. What parts do dreams play in our lives? What is it that allows us to have memory?
Ethics: Proper conduct in light of reality. How should we react or behave?
Stealing even if you are saving your mom from dying is still wrong.
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Things to Remember in the Classical Approach:
Logic never replaces faith, but can allow a person to respond in faith.
Stick to the fundamentals of the Christian faith.
Keep to the credibility of the claims of Christianity. It’s up to the Spirit to move an individual to believe.
Keep Christian apology above any particular social, political, economic, or scientific, claim. Don’t connect the established with the changing.
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Evidentialism Apologetics
Absolutely certain proof of Christianity lies beyond human reach.
Defends the truth claims of the faith as eminently reasonable.
Argues that these crucial truths can be shown to be highly probable.
Natural theology: The argument for God’s existence based on the argument from design.
Watch providing evidence of a watchmaker.
Organized complexity that points us to a designer and maker.
The watch is designed to do specific functions
Historical evidences for the central biblical events.
That the Bible, written so long ago by so many writers over such a long period of time, is not viewed as more problematic than it is–that it has not been completely refuted and set aside.
History tells us that the Bible has something significant in its’ words to have survived the scrutiny it has gone through
“The gospel is no mere proclamation of “eternal truths,” but the discovery of a saving purpose of God for mankind, executed in time. But the doctrines are the interpretation of the facts. The facts do not stand blank and dumb before us, but have a voice given to them, and a meaning put into them.” -James Orr
Evidentialism arose as a defense against Deism. (Non-miraculous God)
Evidentialism is commonly portrayed as being in a courtroom.
“Beyond reasonable doubt.”
An impartial jury, examining the evidence as one would in a court of law, would have to conclude that Jesus rose from the dead.
You have to just look at the evidence and be impartial. Look at the resurrection through an evidentialist view.
Richard Whately (1849)- the skepticism of Hume regarding miracles such as the resurrection of Jesus, followed through consistently, would lead to skepticism regarding the existence of Napoleon (who had died in 1821)
Biblical history should be presumed accurate in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
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Induction v. Deduction
Deductive reasoning is a logical approach where you progress from general ideas to specific conclusions.
If there were more speed traps on Douglas, we could see more people getting speeding tickets.
It’s often contrasted with inductive reasoning, where you start with specific observations and form general conclusions.
No change of driving habits, less patrol.
Deductive reasoning: a logical approach to where you progress from general ideas to specific conclusions.
Inductive reasoning: a logical approach where you progress from specific ideas to general conclusions.
The “if/then” approach to Deductive and Inductive reasoning.
Deductive: If there was a global flood, then we should see this evidence.
See the effects of the flood
See destruction of property
Have geological effect
Waters covered the tops of the mountains - every part of land shows evidence that it was once covered by water
Courtroom - if they are guilty, then what is their motive, means
Inductive: If we see this evidence, then we can believe.
Police work - pieces of evidence
Points to a suspect
If we see this evidence then there must have been a worldwide flood
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7 Points to Remember
Christian evidentialism is primarily inductive.
We discover evidence that supports our fundamental truth claims.
Police
The evidence never provides certainty, but it does find claims to be probable.
Certainty is a product of faith. (Hebrews 11:1)
It will still come down to accepting through faith the truth. Once we accept it, our certainty is in faith.
Evidentialism uses methods that are, in principle, acceptable to non-believers.
If the method is not suitable to them, then they will not accept it.
Naturalist - use science.
Historical study of things - use history to approach them.
Evidentialism is counter-culture to post-modernism and religious pluralism.
Modernist belief - people can bring about a perfect world or utopia. Ended after WWI. All the advancement of technology brought mass killings and society turned away from technology being the savior and ended the thought of utopia. You get relativist thought.
Religious pluralism - religions fighting each other. There is no religion that is completely right or completely wrong. The coexist stickers.
Evidentialism strongly defends the historicity of the Bible.
A real book, written at a real time, about real places and events should have real historical evidence.
Evidential arguments are found in Scripture.
Acts 2:22-36, 26:26
Peter is taking the facts and evidence he saw.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
John 20:24-29
The apologetic task is not to construct a rational substitute for faith but to provide a factual ground for faith.
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Testing the Reliability of the Scripture
Bibliographical Test: Seeks to determine whether the existing or extant copies of a document are reliable reproductions of the wording of the original document. John Worwick Montgomery Quote.
Internal Test: considers the claims of the writings as to their historicity and internal consistency.
External Test: Asks whether the testimony of the biblical writings is corroborated or undermined by extra biblical sources.
Prophecy Fulfillment:
The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies concerning the rise and fall of various nations and cities surrounding Israel, such as Egypt, Tyre and Sidon, Babylon, and Nineveh.
The existence and history of Israel as an amazing fulfillment of biblical prophecy
Evidentialists are especially impressed by the fulfilled prophecies in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The Uniqueness of the Fulfillment of Prophecy through Jesus
He was to be born a human son, yet he preexisted as God (Micah 5:2; Isaiah 9:6-7).
He will be humble yet exalted (Daniel 7:13-14; Zechariah 9:9).
He will suffer ignominiously yet be vindicated and exalted as universal ruler (Psalm 22; Isaiah 52:13-53:12).
He will be both king and priest, offices kept separate in Judaism (Psalm 110).
Newman also cites prophecies indicating that the Messiah would come toward the end of the Second Temple period (ca. 515 b.c.-a.d. 70), making it impossible that any individual living after that time could be the Messiah (Haggai 2:3-9; Daniel 9:24-27).
Prophecy Fulfillment: Testing Prophecy
In order for a prophecy to be legitimate it must:
It must be clear.
Someone in this room in the next month is going to have a life changing experience.
The prophecy must be given prior to the event prophesied.
Like post prophecies given in a timestamp before the event when they are actually
It cannot be fulfilled by the person giving the prophecy.
It must be either uniquely specific or long-range as to be remarkable.
The true prophecy cannot be accompanied by a number of false prophecies.
Jean Dixon predicted a lot of things but was only right about a few of them. As a true prophet you have to be right on every one.
Prophecy: (or any other gift for that matter)
Ephesians 4:11-16
Equipping the saints for ministry.
Edifying (building up) the body of Christ. Should build up the church or warning.
Unity in faith. Prophecy not propaganda.
Knowledge of Jesus.
Grounds in Biblical doctrine.
Truthful (Establishing or Correcting).
Loving. Can be harsh but good intentions of the heart.
Causes unity and growth.
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What is the Truth?
What is a human Embryo?
Reformed Apologetics:
Also known as Presuppositionalism, it emphasizes the presentation of Christianity as revealed–as based on the authoritative revelation of God in Scripture and in Jesus Christ.
Presupposition:
Suppose God’s Word is true…
Suppose we apply what it says to our world…
How do we view what we see?
The Premise of this Approach
1 Corinthians 2:14
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
“We appeal to facts, but never to brute facts. We appeal to God-interpreted facts.”
Reformed apologetics is heavy on deductive reasoning. God and His Word are true, therefore what do we see specifically?
Genesis 1
Mankind through science and education are going to be able to bring about a lasting change for mankind. Cure diseases. Then two huge world wars. They found that Enlightenment brings out and magnifies who we are. Enlightenment helps steal more, have more powerful weapons and kill more.
The rationalistic impulse is an expression of the desire by fallen human beings to subject all of reality, including God, to rational inspection and evaluation. Rationalism, in this broad sense, is the error of treating the human mind as capable in principle of determining what is true and what is right.
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Questions
Why should we believe in the Bible?
All knowledge requires a foundational starting point, and the Bible provides one.
Don’t all religions lead to God?
Christian theism presents a worldview of which knowledge and ethics are possible or intelligible.
Non-Christian religions make man or chance ultimate; Christianity alone makes God truly ultimate and alone presents the means (in Christ’s redemptive work) by which sinful man can come to recognize and honor God as the absolute personal Creator.
How do we know that God exists?
Belief in God can be (or even should be) a properly basic belief. (A point of presupposition)
If God does exist, why does He permit evil?
Everything in God’s world must count as evidence for God’s existence. The reality of God must be presupposed even to make the judgment that something is evil.
Aren’t the miracles of the Bible spiritual myths or legends and not literal fact?
The biblical miracles are to be believed because they are part of God’s self-revelation to us.
Why should I believe in Jesus?
The foundation of our apologetic, then, should be the self-attesting Christ of Scripture.
Read the Scriptures, look at who Jesus is reported to be in the Scriptures, and decide whether to follow Him or not.
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Strengths of Reformed Apologetics
Strong connection to Theology - Everyone has a theology that shapes their view.
Challenges your understanding of knowledge - How do you know what you know? (Epistemology)
Does not require prior knowledge. Requires biblical understanding.
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Evil and Suffering Points
John 5:1-15 & 9:1-11
Suffering can have greater clarity in the view of eternity.
Suffering is a natural consequence of our fallen world. To NOT have suffering is a greater question.
Sin is A reason for suffering, but it is not the ONLY reason.
God receiving glory can be a reason for suffering.
God can create temporary suffering for eternal benefit. 2 Corinthians 4:17
Woltersdorff
God suffers with us. Since God is omnipresent, He is with everyone suffering. He physically, spiritually, and emotionally cannot get away from us.
God will overcome the greatest suffering (death).
God will make up for all suffering to those who trust in Him.
As image bearers of God, we will suffer as He suffers.
Fideism: “By Faith”
Fideism: the truths of Christianity are properly apprehended by faith alone.
The word fideism derives from the Latin fide (pronounced FI-day), meaning “faith”
Christian truth as “above” or “beyond” or even “against” human reason
A step more beyond human reason
Rather, fidists answer those apologetic challenges by explaining why reason is incompetent to provide a satisfactory answer and then showing that faith does provide a way to deal with the problem.
It is their contention that the truths of Christianity at their core present us with a “paradox” that no amount of rational analysis can eliminate even for Christians.
The Paradoxes of the Christian Faith
To live we must die
No longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me
To gain we must lose
Go and give all that you have and you will be rich in the kingdom of God
To lead we must be a servant
The last will be first
The least shall be the greatest
Revelation 3: 17-18
Isaiah 55:1
General Knowledge:
God is…
There is something higher
He Created…
God created, everything did not come from nothing
Everything is designed
He is just…
There is universal right and wrong
He punishes and blesses…
Wrong should be punished, good should be blessed
Laws and promotions
Special Knowledge:
WHO is God…
Faith gives us the understanding of God
What He desires…
Besides good and evil, we know His understanding of what is good
We don’t have the capacity to know what is right and wrong
What He has done…
How He wants us to respond…
“What God has done for human beings–becoming incarnate, dying and rising from the dead–seems quite unreasonable to them.”
Human mind without faith cannot grasp what God has done.
“All works and words of God are contrary to reason.”
Fideisms Problem With Reason
The passions of the soul trouble the senses, and make false impressions upon them. Reason, therefore, as valuable as it is, cannot be fully trusted, since it is “blown with a breath in every direction”. - Blaise Pascal
“Although the will does not create belief, it is one of the chief factors in belief because it can influence the mind to look at things according to the likes and dislikes of the person.” - Pascal
Strengths of Fideism
Emphasizes the personal dimension of God and His revelation
Takes seriously the limitations of human reason and knowledge
Centers the Christian witness in apologetics on Christ
Weaknesses of Fideism
Pits the personal against the basis of truth claims
Underestimates the role of reason and knowledge in faith
Unnecessarily undermines confidence in the Bible