Apologetics?

[JTC]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but why do we call this Apologetics? I don't get this. What are we doing, apologizing because we believe in Jesus? Why do we need to apologize for this?

[GoldenEagle]

There is no such thing as a dumb question in my experience. Questions help us understand God, people's perspectives, and the world around us. There are really only poor answers.

Apologetics - Reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine.

God bless,

GE

[gdemoss]

Jon, I have been doing word studies because I have come to realize just how little I know about language. I am learning a lot!

Etymology

The term apologetics etymologically derives from the Classical Greek word apologia. In the Classical Greek legal system two key technical terms were employed: the prosecution delivered the kategoria (κaτηγορίa), and the defendant replied with an apologia. To deliver an apologia meant making a formal speech or giving an explanation to reply and rebut the charges, as in the case of Socrates' defense.

Here is a use of the Greek term by Paul:

Act 24:10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak , answered , Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

He is giving a defense of his position, which is what we do in this section of the forum.

So why do we go to someone and apologize? To make an apology unto someone is to come to them and seek to make amends for past wrongs in that sense of the word and one is seeking to become 'justified' in the eyes of the one they have offended. Often times an apology comes with a reasoned response as to why the wrong will not be committed again, which is a 'defense' or 'appeal' to the offended one.

The definitions of the word are truly closely related one to the other. One simply involves wrong having been done while the other does not. It is simply an answer.

[Guest]

In Greek language of the 1st century, apologia is a legal term. It is a reasonded defense as in a court of law. We apply the term today in a roughly similar meaning. In the case of Christian apologetics, we are presenting the case for God, the Bible, Christ, the gsopel etc. Giving reasons why we beleive what we beleive.

The word is not limited to issues of faith though in modern culture. For example, the president has apologists, people who try to defend his words and actions.

See 1 Pet 3:15 in my signature below, those are our marching orders to be apologists. In the sense that the word is uses, we are not apologizing as in saying we are sorry, we are defending our beliefs without apology, so to speak,

[Mcgyver]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but why do we call this Apologetics? I don't get this. What are we doing, apologizing because we believe in Jesus? Why do we need to apologize for this?

Well, as has been mentioned, the word apologia (from whence we get apologetics) has nothing to do with saying "I'm sorry"...but literally means to "give defense" or "rebut the argument" as it was originally used.

[worshiper70]

I learn something new everyday.