Apologetics Final Exam Review
define apologetics - ANS- the reasoned defense of the Christian faith (or "a vindication
of the Christian philosophy of life")
key verse for apologetics - ANS- 1 Pet 3:15
summary of Christian faith - ANS- Apostles' Creed - Christianity is a worldview
3 perspectives on apologetics - ANS- proof (positive), defense (negative), offense -
each depends on the other two
some purposes of apologetics - ANS- to glorify God; to silence unbelievers; to
(pre-)evangelize; to edify Christians; to protect the church; to promote excellent
theology
apologetics is not... - ANS- an apology; argumentative; bullying; equivalent to
evangelism
2 exhortations for apologetics - ANS- 1 Pet 3:15 and Jude 3
2 examples of apologetics - ANS- Gospel of John, esp. 20:30-31; and Paul in Acts, esp.
ch.17 and following
define worldview - ANS- a network of beliefs, assumptions, values, ideas, that form a
framework for interpretting and interacting with the world
components of a comprehensive worldview - ANS- Theology, Anthropology, Knowledge,
Ethics, Salvation ("TAKES")
Christian Theology - ANS- Creator-creature distinction; Lord (CAP); exclusive aseity;
reflected in creation
Christian Anthropology - ANS- imagehood; fallen; redeemed
the noetic effect of sin - ANS- the corruptuon of the intellect due to sin; the suppression
of the truth; cannot submit to God's word
, Christian Knowledge - ANS- grounded in revelation - natural and special; unregenerate
suppress knowledge
Christian Ethics - ANS- morality is objective; grounded in God's character and
commanded by his revelation; violaters are accountable
Christian Salvation - ANS- problem = human sin deserves divine wrath; ONLY solution =
divine salvation through Christ
Classical apologetics - ANS- "faith based on reason"; two stages: 1) show God exists
using theistic arguments, 2) show Jesus was Son of God using historical arguments
pros of Classical apologetics - ANS- historical pedigree; straightforward logic;
assumptions acceptable to non-Xns
practicioners of Classical apologetics - ANS- Williams Lane Craig, R.C. Sproul
cons of Classical apologetics - ANS- neglects noetic effect; dishonors God's revelation;
cedes tenets of Xn worldview
Evidentialist apologetics - ANS- "Faith based on evidence"; one stage: demonstrate that
Xty is most probably true, in light of evidence
"Evidence" sources? - ANS- existence, fine-tuning, origins of life, MIRACLES,
prophecies, early Christians, church history
main distinction between Classical and Evidential? - ANS- Classical = argue for God
first, then miracles; Evidentialist = straight to evidence for miracles, prophecies, etc.
pros of Evidential apologetics - ANS- "an appeal to reason", intuitive approach; seems
to align w/ NT practice; "objective"; resonates with empiricist, sort of
practicioners of Evidential apologetics - ANS- Josh McDowell, Gary Habermas
cons of Evidential apologetics - ANS- neglects noetic effect (Rich Man and Lazarus);
not every belief can be justified w/ evidence; ignores presuppositions; comprises
authority and self-attestation of scripure
Fideist apologetics - ANS- "faith beyond reason"; Christianity is a given, therefore
mostly defensive apologetics; either (a) show that objects fail to standards of reason
define apologetics - ANS- the reasoned defense of the Christian faith (or "a vindication
of the Christian philosophy of life")
key verse for apologetics - ANS- 1 Pet 3:15
summary of Christian faith - ANS- Apostles' Creed - Christianity is a worldview
3 perspectives on apologetics - ANS- proof (positive), defense (negative), offense -
each depends on the other two
some purposes of apologetics - ANS- to glorify God; to silence unbelievers; to
(pre-)evangelize; to edify Christians; to protect the church; to promote excellent
theology
apologetics is not... - ANS- an apology; argumentative; bullying; equivalent to
evangelism
2 exhortations for apologetics - ANS- 1 Pet 3:15 and Jude 3
2 examples of apologetics - ANS- Gospel of John, esp. 20:30-31; and Paul in Acts, esp.
ch.17 and following
define worldview - ANS- a network of beliefs, assumptions, values, ideas, that form a
framework for interpretting and interacting with the world
components of a comprehensive worldview - ANS- Theology, Anthropology, Knowledge,
Ethics, Salvation ("TAKES")
Christian Theology - ANS- Creator-creature distinction; Lord (CAP); exclusive aseity;
reflected in creation
Christian Anthropology - ANS- imagehood; fallen; redeemed
the noetic effect of sin - ANS- the corruptuon of the intellect due to sin; the suppression
of the truth; cannot submit to God's word
, Christian Knowledge - ANS- grounded in revelation - natural and special; unregenerate
suppress knowledge
Christian Ethics - ANS- morality is objective; grounded in God's character and
commanded by his revelation; violaters are accountable
Christian Salvation - ANS- problem = human sin deserves divine wrath; ONLY solution =
divine salvation through Christ
Classical apologetics - ANS- "faith based on reason"; two stages: 1) show God exists
using theistic arguments, 2) show Jesus was Son of God using historical arguments
pros of Classical apologetics - ANS- historical pedigree; straightforward logic;
assumptions acceptable to non-Xns
practicioners of Classical apologetics - ANS- Williams Lane Craig, R.C. Sproul
cons of Classical apologetics - ANS- neglects noetic effect; dishonors God's revelation;
cedes tenets of Xn worldview
Evidentialist apologetics - ANS- "Faith based on evidence"; one stage: demonstrate that
Xty is most probably true, in light of evidence
"Evidence" sources? - ANS- existence, fine-tuning, origins of life, MIRACLES,
prophecies, early Christians, church history
main distinction between Classical and Evidential? - ANS- Classical = argue for God
first, then miracles; Evidentialist = straight to evidence for miracles, prophecies, etc.
pros of Evidential apologetics - ANS- "an appeal to reason", intuitive approach; seems
to align w/ NT practice; "objective"; resonates with empiricist, sort of
practicioners of Evidential apologetics - ANS- Josh McDowell, Gary Habermas
cons of Evidential apologetics - ANS- neglects noetic effect (Rich Man and Lazarus);
not every belief can be justified w/ evidence; ignores presuppositions; comprises
authority and self-attestation of scripure
Fideist apologetics - ANS- "faith beyond reason"; Christianity is a given, therefore
mostly defensive apologetics; either (a) show that objects fail to standards of reason
