VERITAS
The History of Apologetics
By Craig Branch
January 2008

The History of Apologetics is the 39th issue of the Areopagus Journal. In our seven year history we have produced 38 issues coving a wide range of relevant apologetics topics.

They have included foundational topics such as the existence of God, epistemology, the authority and canonicity of Scripture, numerous cults, Islam, Roman Catholicism, common objections, and cultural issues like homosexuality, genetic engineering, war, building a Biblical worldview, and abortion.

We have also covered heretical movements within the visable church such as name-it, claim-it prosperity teachings, the Emerging Church Movement, Apostolic and Prophetic Movement, and the New Perspective on Paul.

There are many more and we encourage you to order specific back issues, or an entire set for a significant savings so that you (and your family) can be “equipped for every good work.”

In our first journal Veritas, I presented the goals of the Apologetics Resource Center as well as the Biblical basis and scope of apologetics for the individual and the Church. Many of our subscribers have received topical journals but have not understood the “big picture.” I will revisit the Biblical basis and calling in a moment.

In May – June 2006 issue, we presented “Three Apologists Every Christian Should Know,” for our readers to be exposed to the life and ideas of three contemporary influential apologists. Part of our reason for this was to provide an application of the passages in Hebrews 12 and 2 Cor. 3:2-3, to be stimulated, encouraged, and instructed by the lives of a “great cloud of witnesses surrounding us,” and to be imitators of those who are “letters written in our hearts, known and read by all.”

In that article I did mention a number of “those who have gone before us,” both in early church history, and other influential contemporary men and women apologists. But we realized that we had not presented a good overview of the history and development of the apologetics enterprise.

Apologetics is not a monolithic field in its application. Whereas there is agreement that we are about the Biblical task of defending, commending, and advancing the faith in the lives of believers, unbelievers, and culture to the glory of God, there are a number of different approaches and emphases adopted by various Christian leaders and others in the field.

The early apologists entered into this field for various reasons. One of the first noted apolotists was Justin Martyr who challenged the Platonic Stocism in the Roman culture in the mid second century. ____ in his article, “The Apologists” begins with Martyr and moves to Iranaeus, to Tortullian, to Origin, presenting a survey of the issues and responses until about 253 AD.

Our second article presents a summary of Augustine (354-430 AD).

Craig Branch is director of the Apologetics Resource Center, Birmingham, Alabama.

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