The Difference

[Willie T]

Would it be interesting to ask "what is Biblical apologetics" and what is "biblical Evangelism"? As in, how does the Bible teach us to go about each in the right way?

THAT seems to touch upon the heart of the matter.

 

[Free]

If it's based on theology then it would make it basically the same as we find history, philosophy and science in scripture, but not worldviews which would make the diference between the two as the world can not perceive the things of God, 1Corinthians 2:13, 14.

Again, no, they are not basically the same. When I say that Christian apologetics is based on theology, I mean that there can be no apologetic if there is no theology to defend. I also mean that one of the goals of apologetics is to show that Christian belief is rational, to get people to think correctly about the Christian worldview.

Apologetics is giving a reasoned defence of what one believes to be true. Theology is the study of God. While there is some overlap, the two are rather distinct.

 

[Free]

Evangelism is preaching the truth to the lost, so they will be reconciled to God.

Agreed.

Apologetics is teaching the truth to Christians, so they won’t become lost, and remain reconciled to God, in which they will receive eternal life on that Day.

No, that is preaching/teaching. Apologetics, as has been given several times in this thread, is a reasoned defence of one's beliefs. It is generally outward focused, towards unbelievers, and meant to show why Christian belief is rational and why an unbeliever should, at the very least, investigate the claims of Christianity.

 

[for_his_glory]

Again, no, they are not basically the same. When I say that Christian apologetics is based on theology, I mean that there can be no apologetic if there is no theology to defend. I also mean that one of the goals of apologetics is to show that Christian belief is rational, to get people to think correctly about the Christian worldview.

Apologetics is giving a reasoned defence of what one believes to be true. Theology is the study of God. While there is some overlap, the two are rather distinct.

How does one rationalize scripture other than using logic which to me would be a carnal worldview of Christianity. God's word is Spiritual for those who have Spiritual eyes and ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is teaching. The carnal mind can not perceive that of the Spiritual, but can only rationalize what is being read. Their can be no apologetic if there is no truth found in theology that comes from a worldsview.

 

[Free]

How does one rationalize scripture other than using logic which to me would be a carnal worldview of Christianity. God's word is Spiritual for those who have Spiritual eyes and ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is teaching. The carnal mind can not perceive that of the Spiritual, but can only rationalize what is being read.

Apologetics is "to give a reasoned defence of what one believes". "Reasoned" means to use one's reasoning, to use logic. That is biblical. We cannot not use our reasoning when reading the Bible, much less in understanding it. You seem to be falsely equating "logic" with "carnal mind". That is unbiblical, for a number of reasons.

Their can be no apologetic if there is no truth found in theology that comes from a worldsview.

I don't quite understand what you're saying here.

 

[for_his_glory]

II Peter 1:5 kjv And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lately I wonder how many of these abound in me. eddif

II Peter 1:5 kjv And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lately I wonder how many of these abound in me. eddif

This is the best answer yet to the OP. Defending that of a surety with full knowledge of truth that through love and patience we need to have for others that might not have yet come into all truths we present our self in all godliness bearing the fruit of knowledge as we are faithful with what God has given us through His Holy Spirit.

 

[Free]

This is the best answer yet to the OP.

But it actually doesn't address the OP at all.

 

[for_his_glory]

II Peter 1:5 kjv And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lately I wonder how many of these abound in me. eddif

II Peter 1:5 kjv And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lately I wonder how many of these abound in me. eddif

This is the best answer yet to the OP. Defending that of a surety with full knowledge of truth that through love and patience we need to have for others that might not have yet come into all truths we present our self in all godliness bearing the fruit of knowledge as we are faithful with what God has given us through His Holy Spirit.

 

[JLB]

No, that is preaching/teaching. Apologetics, as has been given several times in this thread, is a reasoned defence of one's beliefs. It is generally outward focused, towards unbelievers, and meant to show why Christian belief is rational and why an unbeliever should, at the very least, investigate the claims of Christianity.

I see, so it can’t possibly be a defense of what the Bible teaches as truth, against false teachers who spread heresy throughout the body of Christ, because you are the only one who can define what Apologetics means.



Thanks for sharing your opinion.




JLB

 

[for_his_glory]

II Peter 1:5 kjv
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lately I wonder how many of these abound in me.

eddif

This is the best answer yet to the OP. Defending that of a surety with full knowledge of truth that through love and patience we need to have for others that might not have yet come into all truths we present our self in all godliness bearing the fruit of knowledge as we are faithful with what God has given us through His Holy Spirit.

 

[Free]

This is the best answer yet to the OP. Defending that of a surety with full knowledge of truth that through love and patience we need to have for others that might not have yet come into all truths we present our self in all godliness bearing the fruit of knowledge as we are faithful with what God has given us through His Holy Spirit.

Three times??? Surely once was enough...

 

[for_his_glory]

Apologetics is "to give a reasoned defence of what one believes". "Reasoned" means to use one's reasoning, to use logic. That is biblical. We cannot not use our reasoning when reading the Bible, much less in understanding it. You seem to be falsely equating "logic" with "carnal mind". That is unbiblical, for a number of reasons.


I don't quite understand what you're saying here.

There is nothing false about equating logic with the carnal mind. Logic when used correctly can point us to all truths, but yet can be misleading in how one uses logic. Scripture is literal and Spiritually also Spiritually discerned as it takes a Spiritual mind to understand the logic within that which can be a mystery to the carnal mind.

 

[for_his_glory]

Three times??? Surely once was enough...

sorry, a computer glitch on my end and didn't have a chance to correct it.

 

[for_his_glory]

But it actually doesn't address the OP at all.

Do you like to argue for the sake of arguing!!! I felt that it did by how eddif gave nothing more than scripture. If you could not reason it out I'm sorry, but I did.

 

[Free]

I see, so it can’t possibly be a defense of what the Bible teaches as truth, against false teachers who spread heresy throughout the body of Christ, because you are the only one who can define what Apologetics means.



Thanks for sharing your opinion.

Anyone who knows anything about apologetics knows that that is not just my opinion. Apologetics, as it is used in the Bible, is in giving a defence of the faith to unbelievers. That is a standard definition given by every apologist I have read. You have here changed what you said.

You first stated: "Apologetics is teaching the truth to Christians, so they won’t become lost, and remain reconciled to God, in which they will receive eternal life on that Day."

I replied that that is preaching/teaching. Indeed, if I am wrong, what then is preaching/teaching and what is its purpose?

 

[Free]

Do you like to argue for the sake of arguing!!! I felt that it did by how eddif gave nothing more than scripture. If you could not reason it out I'm sorry, but I did.

No, I never argue for the sake of arguing. I was not even the first to point out that his post seems to have nothing to do with the OP. Giving nothing more than Scripture says nothing, especially when it isn't clear as to how it relates to the OP. The OP was the simple question: "What is the difference between apologetics and witnessing/evangelism?" That's it, nothing more.

 

[JLB]

Anyone who knows anything about apologetics knows that that is not just my opinion. Apologetics, as it is used in the Bible, is in giving a defence of the faith to unbelievers. That is a standard definition given by every apologist I have read. You have here changed what you said.

You first stated: "Apologetics is teaching the truth to Christians, so they won’t become lost, and remain reconciled to God, in which they will receive eternal life on that Day."

I replied that that is preaching/teaching. Indeed, if I am wrong, what then is preaching/teaching and what is its purpose?

Anyone who knows anything about Apologetics, knows that Apologist’s have defended against heresy since The Apostle Paul.


Protecting the Church against heresy was much of what Paul wrote about in his letters.


Was Paul writing to unbelievers or believers?



JLB

 

[Free]

Anyone who knows anything about Apologetics, knows that Apologist’s have defended against heresy since The Apostle Paul.


Protecting the Church against heresy was much of what Paul wrote about in his letters.


Was Paul writing to unbelievers or believers?

If you're not going to answer my questions, I'm not going to answer yours. Fair enough?

 

[Willie T]

Is a Catholic defending their Succession of Popes, Mariolatry, and Transubstantiation considered "Apologetics?" After all, those things are what they consider rational reasons for belief of their faith.

 

[eddif]

I agree with this but I don't understand what it has to do with the O.P.??

Let me try to explain:
The lady wanted to discuss doctrine (where to worship - physical location).

Now it gets difficult to discuss in apogetics or witnessing a physical location when Jesus has a totally different viewpoint.
So
Jesus goes inward to deal with the issue.

This thread seemed a little outward oriented (more human minded), so I thought of turning it inward - not seminary words.

Peter knew he would die and gives IMHO a version of the great commissions (all things). Peters list (complete with progression) is outside my complete understanding. A lot of the list tends toward the abstract, and will not have completely concrete definitions.

Mississippi redneck
eddif