As with anything as complicated as the many ministries of Christianity and other religions that exist across the world, there are both general ways of defining such branches of religious teachings that cover it as broadly and simply as possible, and there are also much more detailed and nuanced explanations that tend to go much deeper in informing the person who wants to know more about it. When it comes to the Apologetics Ministry, hearing the simple definition of it as basically a defense of Christianity might mislead one into thinking that this is all there is to it to these types of ministries. It can be very revealing to find out all that this really entails for those who want a more in-depth explanation.
"Apologetics" is a word that has been around for a lot longer than people realize, but the meaning of it has changed quite a bit over the years. To the ancient Greeks, an apologia was something that was used in a court of law, and it was a way for someone accused of committing a crime to defend themself. This clears up a lot of confusion for those who are thinking of the word in a more modern context.
The Greek word "apologia" originally comes from two words, "speak" and "away." This means that the person making the defense or apologia was trying to speak away their alleged crimes. Knowing this helps a lot in trying to understand ministries like these and what exactly their teachings focus on.
Anyone who has ever heard of the philosopher Plato might be familiar with one of his most famous pieces of writing, The Apology, but aren't sure of what it is about or how the title actually relates to the dialogue. Knowing the traditional meaning of the word helps to make sense of the fact that the dialogue involves Socrates defending himself for preaching about unusual gods. His statements are his apology in the traditional sense.
The New Testament is full of different uses of apology as a form of defense. Many times, the person who is making the defense is trying to prove to others that their actions or words were justified. Each of these instances helps shed light on how one can make their own defense.
In Luke's books recorded in the Bible, there is an example of a Jewish person, Alexander, defending himself when threatened by an angry mob. This rioting was caused by the people who were making idols. Because of the preachings of Paul, their whole business was put in jeopardy.
Those who followed Jesus in his time were, of course, persecuted greatly. Paul the apostle was one of the main targets of this persecution. That is why he is seen in the Bible, defending the messages of Christ in front of those who saw it as illegal.
By taking a look at historical and biblical examples of the word being used, it is much easier to make sense of how this plays into ministries like these. The main focus of these types of religious teachings is the act of defending their belief against different ways of thinking. However, rather than rejecting the findings of science, philosophy, and history, these ministries seek to rationalize their religion in terms of these other branches of study.
"Apologetics" is a word that has been around for a lot longer than people realize, but the meaning of it has changed quite a bit over the years. To the ancient Greeks, an apologia was something that was used in a court of law, and it was a way for someone accused of committing a crime to defend themself. This clears up a lot of confusion for those who are thinking of the word in a more modern context.
The Greek word "apologia" originally comes from two words, "speak" and "away." This means that the person making the defense or apologia was trying to speak away their alleged crimes. Knowing this helps a lot in trying to understand ministries like these and what exactly their teachings focus on.
Anyone who has ever heard of the philosopher Plato might be familiar with one of his most famous pieces of writing, The Apology, but aren't sure of what it is about or how the title actually relates to the dialogue. Knowing the traditional meaning of the word helps to make sense of the fact that the dialogue involves Socrates defending himself for preaching about unusual gods. His statements are his apology in the traditional sense.
The New Testament is full of different uses of apology as a form of defense. Many times, the person who is making the defense is trying to prove to others that their actions or words were justified. Each of these instances helps shed light on how one can make their own defense.
In Luke's books recorded in the Bible, there is an example of a Jewish person, Alexander, defending himself when threatened by an angry mob. This rioting was caused by the people who were making idols. Because of the preachings of Paul, their whole business was put in jeopardy.
Those who followed Jesus in his time were, of course, persecuted greatly. Paul the apostle was one of the main targets of this persecution. That is why he is seen in the Bible, defending the messages of Christ in front of those who saw it as illegal.
By taking a look at historical and biblical examples of the word being used, it is much easier to make sense of how this plays into ministries like these. The main focus of these types of religious teachings is the act of defending their belief against different ways of thinking. However, rather than rejecting the findings of science, philosophy, and history, these ministries seek to rationalize their religion in terms of these other branches of study.
About the Author:
Learn more about the Christian religion, right now. You can also get more info about a Christian apologetics ministry at http://www.faithdefenders.com/about today.
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