Apologia

Apologia- Explanation

Read a word study of the Greek word for Apologetics, Apologia. Linguist Terence Mullins, makes the case for the word Apologia meaning “explanation” rather than a more generally used “defense.” This makes the use of apologetics clearer because when you hear, “Defend,” or “Make a defense,” it puts you on the, shall we say, defensive.

When you use the word “explanation” or “explaining,” it co notates making clearer. Of course our explanation of basic Christian teachings is helpful for us and for people who are seeking. You are not in a position to try to defend your faith as much as you find a opportunity to further clarify. If a person is open but skeptical about the truth claims of Jesus and his followers, explain. If someone is closed and antagonistic about the Christian faith, move on and find the new Christian, open skeptic, or those who are truly seeking.

For practical purposes this means you spend far more time studying so you can be clearer in your explanation, and listening, so you can be helpful with the other person. Also, you spend far less time arguing and you stop trying to develop a “proof text” view of the Bible. We are not about proving, we are about explaining.