INTRODUCTION TO APOLOGETICS
There are various definitions of apologetics. The word apologetics comes from the Greek word “apologia” which means to defend. My definition and the application of the term in Dr. Melvin James Ministries is, “the reasoned comprehension of Scriptures and the practical application of the Christian faith, from systemic and systematic approaches, which are Christ focused.” I believe that I should expound on the above-mentioned steps and definition.
First, we need reasoned comprehension.
Reasoned comprehension is called Exegesis. The Bible was written over a period of hundreds of years. Hence, we have various cosmic, theological and doctrinal views in both the Hebrew Scriptures (or Old Testament) which represents the religion of Judaism, and the Christian Scriptures which represents the Christian religion. When I read a passage of Scripture, my goal is to understand that passage as the writer intended. Hence, if today I could engage Isaiah, Jeremiah, Matthew and John in conversations on their writings in Scripture, “Would my interpretations be remarkably close to what they meant? That requires genuine, determined, diligent and insightful work. Many of us love to quote Scripture and tend to equate quotation with comprehension which is extremely inaccurate. Then many of us spew Biblical interpretations which have no foundational basis, are illogical, and consequently turn away well-meaning and intelligent persons away from the church and Christianity. Thus, we inflict and cause doctrinal and theological wounds on the Christian Church.
There are various methods of Biblical interpretation. A primary method that I have utilized over the years is the Grammatico-Historical Approach. I call it the three C’s methodology. This addresses CULTURAL, CONTEXTUAL and COMPOSITIONAL questions regarding any passage in the Bible.
1. It means having a firm grasp of the cultural, social beliefs and assumptions at the time of writing, hence, the prevalent and current world views at the time of writing. In Hebrew Scriptures, we need a comprehension of Canaanite worldviews. In Christian Scriptures, we need a comprehension of Greco-Roman world views. The Bible was written to be understood by people who lived within certain cultures and worldviews. The work of an Apologist is to ascertain the meanings of the written word and extrapolate them to modern times. A failure to do so is an invitation for the church to be out of step with modern life.
2. We need to comprehend the contextual issues.
For example, Christ in Matthew 10:5-10, sent his twelve apostles on an evangelical mission. He informed them that they should not go to any non-Jews or Samaritans, but only to Jews. Also, “Don’t take any money in your money belts … Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals.” (9-10). Was this a universal command or a command in a specific situation? Was Christ teaching that the Gospel should only be brought to Jews? Was Christ teaching that when persons go on a mission trip, they should take no money or change of clothes? Well, the verse says so. We can confidently quote the verses. However, we must ask is this a universal command of Christ. If we assume that it is, then it would conflict and contradict the command of Christ to, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mk 16:15, NLT) Hence, quoting verses, and quoting them at a very superficial level without engaging in contextual analysis, leads to much useless, outrageous, and bizarre conclusions. Again, a failure to engage in context analysis, creates confusions in the minds of many who desire to view the Christian religion as a reasonable alternative. So much misunderstanding occurs when persons do not comprehend contextual issues and try to make every verse in Scripture universal by saying, “God said, or the Bible said.”
3. We need to understand compositional issues.
There are various Biblical literature genres which require that one comprehends the structure of the genre, and thus ensures reasonable and rational guidelines for interpretation. Hence, we try to comprehend and interpret the distinct types of Wisdom, History, Poetry, Law, Epistles, Gospel, Prophecy, Eschatology and Apocalyptic Literatures. There are distinct guidelines and parameters to correctly comprehend each genre of Biblical Literature, and Modern Literature. We therefore need to be very diligent, careful, persistent, learned and intelligent in our interpretation of Scripture.
Second, having interpreted or exegeted a passage, we need to focus on the practical application or exposition.
The movement from Exegesis to Exposition or from Hermeneutics to Homiletics. St. Paul reminds us of the source, purpose and practical application of Scripture when he stated in 2 Tim 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (NLT). It is very painful and sad, that over the two millennia of Christendom, the Bible has been used for the opposite intent as stated by Paul. We have used the Bible to propagate racism and xenophobia, generate conflicts, engage in wars, defame others and construct denominational walls even when we cannot clearly articulate the fundamental differences among denominations. The overall purpose of Scripture is to develop our minds and behaviors into the mind and behavior of Christ, and to implement the ethical, moral values and principles of the Kingdom of Heaven, in all earthly spheres, social, economic, religious, and political. An examination of the life of Christ reveals that there were three major ethical values that guided and engrossed his life. They were Truth, Love and Compassion (TLC).
Third, we need to bring to our exegetical approach, systemic and systematic methodologies.
A systemic approach means that we can examine a passage from multiple perspectives and then systematically (logical sequence) arrive at a reasonable conclusion. So often I hear persons quote a Bible verse, and then what is articulated next has no relation to the verse. A main reason for such faulty interpretation of Scripture relates to our system of education. Many of our students at both the secondary and college levels are subjected to the LAME pedagogic method. That method teaches students to be Linear, Ahistorical, Myopic in outlook, and Ethnocentric in thinking and reasoning. Having taught at all levels in the educational system, I have found that these four approaches brutally paralyze rational thinking.
Fourth, our interpretation of Scripture should be Christ focused.
As previously mentioned, the Bible consists of the sacred Scriptures of two religions. Judaism and Christianity. The focus of Judaism centered on the Law and the Prophets. Christ indicated that the essence of the Law and Prophets was fulfilled in His life and teachings. He stated in Matthew 22: 37, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (NIV). Hence, as Christians as we apply any Scripture to our lives and to society, it should be interpreted in the mind and spirit of Christ in terms of love for God and equal love for all human beings regardless of racial, ethnic, nation of origin or other differences.
Hence, if we utilize the forementioned approach to comprehend Scripture, we will arrive at conclusions which are remarkably close to the intent and message of the Biblical writers. The challenge for me and for everyone is, “Are we willing and ready to be open to the truth when it contradicts our well-established beliefs?” Someone has said “Truth either enlightens us or embitters us.” I trust that as we take this journey together, it will be fun and glorious times of enlightenment.
First, we need reasoned comprehension.
Reasoned comprehension is called Exegesis. The Bible was written over a period of hundreds of years. Hence, we have various cosmic, theological and doctrinal views in both the Hebrew Scriptures (or Old Testament) which represents the religion of Judaism, and the Christian Scriptures which represents the Christian religion. When I read a passage of Scripture, my goal is to understand that passage as the writer intended. Hence, if today I could engage Isaiah, Jeremiah, Matthew and John in conversations on their writings in Scripture, “Would my interpretations be remarkably close to what they meant? That requires genuine, determined, diligent and insightful work. Many of us love to quote Scripture and tend to equate quotation with comprehension which is extremely inaccurate. Then many of us spew Biblical interpretations which have no foundational basis, are illogical, and consequently turn away well-meaning and intelligent persons away from the church and Christianity. Thus, we inflict and cause doctrinal and theological wounds on the Christian Church.
There are various methods of Biblical interpretation. A primary method that I have utilized over the years is the Grammatico-Historical Approach. I call it the three C’s methodology. This addresses CULTURAL, CONTEXTUAL and COMPOSITIONAL questions regarding any passage in the Bible.
1. It means having a firm grasp of the cultural, social beliefs and assumptions at the time of writing, hence, the prevalent and current world views at the time of writing. In Hebrew Scriptures, we need a comprehension of Canaanite worldviews. In Christian Scriptures, we need a comprehension of Greco-Roman world views. The Bible was written to be understood by people who lived within certain cultures and worldviews. The work of an Apologist is to ascertain the meanings of the written word and extrapolate them to modern times. A failure to do so is an invitation for the church to be out of step with modern life.
2. We need to comprehend the contextual issues.
For example, Christ in Matthew 10:5-10, sent his twelve apostles on an evangelical mission. He informed them that they should not go to any non-Jews or Samaritans, but only to Jews. Also, “Don’t take any money in your money belts … Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals.” (9-10). Was this a universal command or a command in a specific situation? Was Christ teaching that the Gospel should only be brought to Jews? Was Christ teaching that when persons go on a mission trip, they should take no money or change of clothes? Well, the verse says so. We can confidently quote the verses. However, we must ask is this a universal command of Christ. If we assume that it is, then it would conflict and contradict the command of Christ to, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mk 16:15, NLT) Hence, quoting verses, and quoting them at a very superficial level without engaging in contextual analysis, leads to much useless, outrageous, and bizarre conclusions. Again, a failure to engage in context analysis, creates confusions in the minds of many who desire to view the Christian religion as a reasonable alternative. So much misunderstanding occurs when persons do not comprehend contextual issues and try to make every verse in Scripture universal by saying, “God said, or the Bible said.”
3. We need to understand compositional issues.
There are various Biblical literature genres which require that one comprehends the structure of the genre, and thus ensures reasonable and rational guidelines for interpretation. Hence, we try to comprehend and interpret the distinct types of Wisdom, History, Poetry, Law, Epistles, Gospel, Prophecy, Eschatology and Apocalyptic Literatures. There are distinct guidelines and parameters to correctly comprehend each genre of Biblical Literature, and Modern Literature. We therefore need to be very diligent, careful, persistent, learned and intelligent in our interpretation of Scripture.
Second, having interpreted or exegeted a passage, we need to focus on the practical application or exposition.
The movement from Exegesis to Exposition or from Hermeneutics to Homiletics. St. Paul reminds us of the source, purpose and practical application of Scripture when he stated in 2 Tim 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (NLT). It is very painful and sad, that over the two millennia of Christendom, the Bible has been used for the opposite intent as stated by Paul. We have used the Bible to propagate racism and xenophobia, generate conflicts, engage in wars, defame others and construct denominational walls even when we cannot clearly articulate the fundamental differences among denominations. The overall purpose of Scripture is to develop our minds and behaviors into the mind and behavior of Christ, and to implement the ethical, moral values and principles of the Kingdom of Heaven, in all earthly spheres, social, economic, religious, and political. An examination of the life of Christ reveals that there were three major ethical values that guided and engrossed his life. They were Truth, Love and Compassion (TLC).
Third, we need to bring to our exegetical approach, systemic and systematic methodologies.
A systemic approach means that we can examine a passage from multiple perspectives and then systematically (logical sequence) arrive at a reasonable conclusion. So often I hear persons quote a Bible verse, and then what is articulated next has no relation to the verse. A main reason for such faulty interpretation of Scripture relates to our system of education. Many of our students at both the secondary and college levels are subjected to the LAME pedagogic method. That method teaches students to be Linear, Ahistorical, Myopic in outlook, and Ethnocentric in thinking and reasoning. Having taught at all levels in the educational system, I have found that these four approaches brutally paralyze rational thinking.
Fourth, our interpretation of Scripture should be Christ focused.
As previously mentioned, the Bible consists of the sacred Scriptures of two religions. Judaism and Christianity. The focus of Judaism centered on the Law and the Prophets. Christ indicated that the essence of the Law and Prophets was fulfilled in His life and teachings. He stated in Matthew 22: 37, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (NIV). Hence, as Christians as we apply any Scripture to our lives and to society, it should be interpreted in the mind and spirit of Christ in terms of love for God and equal love for all human beings regardless of racial, ethnic, nation of origin or other differences.
Hence, if we utilize the forementioned approach to comprehend Scripture, we will arrive at conclusions which are remarkably close to the intent and message of the Biblical writers. The challenge for me and for everyone is, “Are we willing and ready to be open to the truth when it contradicts our well-established beliefs?” Someone has said “Truth either enlightens us or embitters us.” I trust that as we take this journey together, it will be fun and glorious times of enlightenment.