 Okay. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to this class, B.C. 2 on 2. Christian apologetics. Let's just pray and then we will get started. Father V, thank you so much for the beginning of a new academic year in college. And thank you for all of us who could come together in person, online, and those who will be listening to this on the learning. Thank you, Father, for the opportunity to come together, study and learn and grow in the things of God. Holy Spirit, you are the spirit of wisdom. You are the true instructor, our real teacher. We pray that you will open our hearts and minds. Give us Lord revelation, give us understanding and help us to learn these things and begin to use them Lord in our lives to serve you, to serve your people and to see the extension of your kingdom here on earth. So we commit ourselves, we commit this journey we are going to make in this course. Lead us, establish truth in our hearts, strengthen each of us and equip us Lord, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Okay. Welcome, everyone. So some basic preliminaries. Everybody should have a copy of the course notes. Those of you who don't have it here in classroom, I'll just show that you get your copy. Those of you online e-learning PDF copy has been made available for you in the coursework section. So you can download the PDF and use that to follow along in the class. Let me just go ahead and share the notes for those of you online and we will can go through the notes here. So the purpose of this course, Christian apologetics. And we'll talk a little bit more about that word apologetics in a bit just to give us an idea. So what we want to do is answer the questions that we may have ourselves as believers, as well as people around us who questions that they have about the Christian faith, about why we believe, what we believe about the Bible, about things the Bible teaches. How do we answer these questions? And when we talk about Christian apologetics today in the Christian world, people approach it from different ways. Some approach it with a very philosophical way. They approach it with a, you know, more of a thinking about life kind of approach. So that's called philosophical. Then there are those who approach it from a scientific perspective. So typically these would be scientists who try to answer these questions from a scientific evidence based. See, we saw this, we found this, so based on actual evidence. So there are those who approach it from that perspective. And then there are those who approach it from a scriptural perspective. They say the Bible says chapter and verse, this is why, you know, they give a theological reason, explanation for these questions. And then there are those who would approach it purely from a spiritual perspective. You know, there are these spiritual, see the miracles, see the healings and so on. So you have these four different ways that people try to answer the questions that people are asking. Philosophical, scientific, theological and spiritual. What we are going to do is we're going to basically combine all of these. So in this course, some of the responses may be philosophical, a combination of philosophical, scientific, theological. You know, we'll combine this, right? And so we are not going to just take one approach, only philosophical. No, no, we'll combine, we'll combine these things in response to questions. And of course, if you want to pursue further, you know, we can say, okay, here, there's more that you can read in this area, scientific or philosophical, you can read more. But our attempt, our goal will be to blend these things, bring it all together, right? Some of the things that we will be addressing in this course. First of all, we'll start off by explaining what is apologetics and what, how, what is a biblical way to go about this, right? So we call it biblical apologetics. Then we'll start off with basic questions like existence of God, right? So how do we, you know, how do we know there is a God? God exists and talk about creation. How do we know things were created as opposed to other views? Then we talk about science and faith, you know, is science opposed to faith? You know, and how can we bring these two together as people who believe in God, but also work with science? We'll talk about some theories, how our response to theory. So there is the evolutionary theory. So Darwin was, you know, one of the well-known, you know, proponents of evolution. How do we respond to evolutionary theory? We'll also talk about cosmology, the Big Bang theory, which means cosmology is how did this universe begin? And Big Bang is one of the theories that tries to explain, or this is how the universe began, right? So Darwin or the evolutionary theory says this is how life began on Earth. Cosmology is how did this universe come into existence, right? So we will respond to those theories. Then we will get into talking about the Bible itself. How do we know the Bible is true? How do the Bible come to us? And how do we know the scriptures are true, genuine? You just believe this Bible, where did it come from? Did it fall from heaven or something? Why do you believe this so much? Of course, we can give some valid reasons why we believe in the authenticity and the accuracy of the scriptures. The uniqueness of Jesus Christ, why do you say Jesus is the only way? I can't say Jesus is one of the many ways. Why? So the uniqueness of Jesus, right? Then the resurrection of Jesus Christ, how can you say? You were not there 2,000 years ago. Jesus rose from the dead 2,000 years ago. You were not there on that day in Jerusalem. Yeah, we are 2,000 years later. We're saying Jesus rose from the dead. How can you be so convinced? Right? So we have to respond to that. Then salvation in Jesus Christ. Then extending this to how do you share Christ with the Hindu? I'm still on page one of the introduction here, course overview. How do you say Christ with the Hindu? How do you say Christ with the Muslim? We're not going to go into full depth, but enough to have a conversation so that if you keep this thing in your mind, you know, okay, and I speak to a Hindu, I must point out these things. I speak to a Muslim must point out these things. So, you know, this is what the main differences are when we present the gospel. Then we'll talk about social challenges, a lot of questions social in society. A lot of questions. How kinds of issues? What does the Bible say about these things? Then a big question is about suffering. Why is there evil and suffering in the world today? Say God is a good God. Say God is all powerful. God is on the throne. But then so much of evil, so much of suffering, innocent people are suffering. How can you? How do we answer that question? You know, why is there suffering? How do we understand suffering? Right? Look at that. And then in the end, if we have some time, we'll try to address some common questions. So there's this lot of ground we have to cover in the semester on apologetics. So we will try to do our best in the sun. And as we go through the course, feel free to ask questions. Anita, okay, so keep it open. This is the whole point of this course, ask questions. So ask your questions, anything as we go through these various topics, we will try to answer them. We will have three assessments. I mean, basically, I'll give you one assessment, but it'll be broken. The three parts, 30, 30, 30, different covering different portions of this content. It'll be easy. You don't have to memorize anything. It'll be an open book exam. So you don't have to worry about it. Right? So that's what we're going to cover in the course. Let's get started. And those of you online, please feel free to type your questions in the chat. I will look at the chat from time to time and we will go to you. Okay, let me just pause here. Online students, you're able to stop presenting. You're able to see my, I mean, you were able to see my PDF, audio, video, everything's okay, any questions? All good? Okay. So if you have any questions, just type it in the chat. Every now and then I'll pause. I'll come back and look at it and take time to respond to your questions. Okay. So let's move forward now with our course content. Let's get started. All right. So let's go to lesson number one, biblical apologetics. And we want to explain the meaning of the word. And also I want us to understand a biblical perspective to this whole area. Right? That's what I want us to understand. So the word apologia, this is the Greek word. So the English word apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia, which we find many times in the New Testament. And I've, you know, I've pointed out a few of these references. Let's look at them quickly, please. If you go with me in your Bible, we go to Acts 22 and verse one. Just look at the places where this word apology is used so that we try to get an understanding of the meaning of this word. And I want to highlight something here, you know, from a biblical perspective. So Acts 22 verse one, Paul is speaking. He says, brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now. Hear my apologia before you. So, sorry, PDF is not visible. PDF is not visible. Oh dear, stop sharing. Are you not able to see my PDF? Oh, it was showing the classroom. Share the entire screen. Okay. How about now? Yeah. PDF. Now it's gone. Okay. All right. Sorry, I didn't show this to you earlier. So basically, just before this, I went through the course overview. I just kind of introduced this, went through the outline, what we're going to cover. We'll have three assessments. That's what we will do. And now we are starting off lesson number one, right? So let's look at these scriptures where the word apology is being used. And just to get an idea of the meaning of that word. Acts 22 one, Paul says, brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you. So Paul actually has been at this point, he's been arrested for the preaching of the gospel. He's been questioned. Why are you doing this? And he's saying, I want you to listen to my defense. Right. So the word apology is translated defense. I'm defending something. I'm defending something I'm standing for. I'm defending something I believe in. So apologia. You're defending something that you're standing for believing in. Acts 25 verse 16. Here Paul is before King Agrippa. He's been brought before King. He's again now being tried for what is preaching in the gospel. And Acts 25 verse 16. Was it verse 16? Yeah. So here it's he is explained to King Agrippa. I says to them, I answered. It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him. Right. To answer for himself. Actually, it's one word. Apology. Yeah. So apologia to answer for himself. Yeah. So he's been questioned. He's answering. That is apology. You're giving an answer for what you stand for, for what you believe. Right. So it's used like that in that sense. Another interesting look is in second Corinthians. I'm just skipping some verses here. Let's go to second Corinthians chapter 7 verse 11. Second Corinthians chapter 7 verse 11. And here that same word apologia is used to clearing yourself, clearing of yourself. So for observe this very thing that you saw it in a godly manner, what diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what women desire, what zeal, what vindication. In all things, you prove yourselves to be clear in this matter. So basically, you know, the current things are being corrected. And when Paul, you know, addressed them, they responded and they, it was them saying, okay, okay, I accept. And this is our, you know, their response to whatever charges that were brought to them. Okay. It was a clearing of yourselves. You're responding to the charges being brought. And let's go to first Peter 315. Now this is the classic scripture that is used all the time. First Peter 3 verse 15 to explain what the word, what apologetics is all about. So first Peter chapter 3 verse 15. Right. So whenever, you know, somebody is talking about apologetics, almost all the time they will come to this passage as Peter chapter 3 verse 15. Peter says, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. That is set the Lord God apart in your heart, hold them with reference and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. So this is a very beautiful scripture. It kind of gives us the definition, the meaning of apologia. What is it? Give a defense to everyone who asks you for a reason. Why? They ask you for a reason. Why you have this hope in you, but do it with meekness and fear. Meekness, do it humbly. Do it with meekness and reverence. Fear means respect. Do it humbly. Do it respectfully, but give a defense. Give an explanation for the reason for the hope you have when somebody asks you. So this is a very classic, very good definition. It's to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason. Why you have this hope? Why you believe? Why you know there is a God? Why you have joy even in tribulation? Why you are so hopeful? So many questions people ask. So you're giving a defense. That is apologia. But do it humbly. Do it respectfully. So we're not doing it with the intent to fight. We're not doing it with the intent to argue or even to prove that we know everything because we don't know everything. We don't know everything, but we have this hope. Somehow we are convinced. I can only share what I know and I do it humbly and I do it respectfully. That's all. That's all the Bible is saying. Do it humbly. Do it respectfully. So you can look at the word now. Interestingly, Apology is used both in the context of when you are speaking to a group or when you're speaking one-on-one. It's the same thing. So when we say apologetics, don't think, oh, I have to stand in front of hundreds, thousands of people and give one big lecture. No, even if you're explaining to one person, that is apologia. You are giving a defense or you are explaining yourself. You're answering a question. You're doing apologetics, you know, technically. That's what you're doing. So it's used in both contexts. So if you want to put it in some sentences here, I just, you know, it'd be explaining the reason what we believe. We point to evidence for what we believe. We respond to ideas. Now, of course, you know, people will ask, was Jesus an apologist? Well, I think, yeah, he answered questions. He was not afraid to take the questions of the people. People came to him with questions and he was not afraid. Yeah, you ask what is your question? Ask and he took the questions. Sometimes he knew people were asking questions just to get him in trouble. The question was not genuine. They were only asking the question to trap him. Even he listened to those questions and then with the wisdom of God, he asked them back a question. So they tried to trap him, but he gave, he usually gave. He said, okay, you answer this question, we'll see. But when people came with genuine questions, he took it. He answered, he responded and he was not averse to answering the questions of the people. So we can say that, you know, the Lord Jesus was the greatest apologist. He was a very simple man, meaning he grew up as a carpenter, but he took the questions of everyone, lawyers, scribes, Pharisees, all simple people. He took everybody's questions. He answered those questions. And so he spent time. Even his own disciples would come and say, Lord, you gave that parable. We did not understand. Can you please explain it to us? And then privately, he would say, okay, this is what the meaning of the parable is. This is what it is. So he took that to explain things, right? He, in John 7, you know, when Jesus was speaking, it says that, you know, they were amazed at his words. You know, the officers had sent some people to go catch him. They came, they were listening to him speaking. They were amazed at his words. So we can't, we have never heard a man speak like this man. Never heard a man speak like this man. And they went away. They didn't, they didn't catch Jesus. They were sent to catch him. But when they came and heard, listened to him speaking, said, they've never heard somebody speak like this. But when he explained the mysteries of the kingdom, as I mentioned, when people tried to trap him with words they couldn't. You remember the time when the Pharisees and other, I forget exactly which group it came, they said, okay, we have a question. Should we pay taxes to Caesar or not? So that was a trick question. Because if he said yes, then there's, oh, you're a Roman agent. You're agent from the Roman Empire. They have sent you here. You're telling us to give money to the Romans. If he said no, they'll call the Romans. So this, come, come, come. This man is telling us not to pay tax. Either way, he's going to get into trouble. So it's a trick question. You can't say yes, you can't say no. What is this? He said, you bring me a coin. They brought him a coin. So whose picture you're seeing here? Caesar. Then he says you give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. You give to God what belongs to God. Finished. So even when people came asking questions with the wrong intent, you know, trying to trap them, they, like he, he, he was so, you know, intelligent in the defense and the response. They couldn't hold them, you know. So you find Jesus dealing with this. And then of course, there are people who came with him, came to him, genuine questions. He said, Lord, what must I do to inherit eternal life? You know, Nicodemus came in the night. You know, he didn't want anybody to see him because he was, he himself was a very educated man, a scholar. So he came in the night. He said, Jesus, I have some questions. You know, I know you're a teacher. Come from God. Nobody can do these things except God is with him. And then Jesus begins to talk to him. So you see, you need to be born again. The Nicodemus doesn't understand. What does it mean to be born again? Jesus explains. So he welcomed people who came to him with questions. But what I want to point out is this, that Matthew 1354, Jesus not only demonstrated wisdom, but he also did mighty works. So even in the ministry of Jesus, he didn't depend exclusively on his preaching and teaching and the wisdom. It was there. People saw it. Nobody could trap him. So there was a wisdom of God, true. But he didn't just depend on that. He combined that with mighty works. So when people looked at his whole ministry, so let's go to Matthew 13 and verse 54. So when people looked at his whole ministry, that was their comments. That means they observed both, you know, not just part of it. They said, you know, where is Matthew 1354? When he'd come to his own country, he taught them in the synagogue so that they were astonished and said, where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? So there was both wisdom and mighty works, both. Okay. So Jesus just didn't depend on wisdom. That was part of it. But he also demonstrated mighty works. Now, I want to just expand on this thought that through apologetics or biblical, I should say biblical apologetics is like this. It is a combination of wisdom and mighty works. That is biblical apologetics. And as you answer the questions, you explain the mysteries of the kingdom, you respond to the questions of the people. That is wisdom. But you also have mighty works. That is biblical defense. So I want you to think about this with me. When we look at the Apostle Peter, we know that Peter actually was a very simple man, very simple man. He was actually a fisherman. He was not a scribe or a highly educated scholar. He was a fisherman. And 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 15, the verse which we just read, 1 Peter 315, where Peter is saying, give a defense, 1 Peter 315, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. When Peter says, give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason. Think about this. Peter was a very simple man. So he's not, I don't think, just going by that. I don't think he's thinking about some big scientific explanation to everybody who come and ask you for it. He's a simple man. He's a fisherman, but whom the Lord called to be an apostle. So when he says, give a defense, give an apology. I don't think in his mind he's thinking, oh, think of something very complicated to tell people and they ask you why you have this hope in you. No, basically he says, okay, just explain, just tell them. And if you look at Peter's own ministry, in his ministry, his biggest defense was the demonstration of power. So if you go to Acts chapter 4, Acts 4, 13 and 14, the bottom of that page, Acts 4, 13 and 14, bottom of page 4, Acts 4, 13 and 14, what do we observe early in the early on, early on in the ministry of Peter? It says, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled and they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed, standing with them, they could say nothing against it. So think about Peter's apologia in this situation. What was his defense? It says here, Peter and John, they were uneducated men, untrained men. But these people, the Pharisees, the religious leaders, they could not say anything against their preaching. Why? Because they had seen a man who had been healed. They had seen a man who had been healed. Can't say anything. Peter and John, uneducated, untrained. No big argument, no big scientific defense, nothing. But they had with them a man who had been healed. And that was their defense. So the point again is that we must combine our defense, our explanation, our preaching, our teaching with the demonstration of the Word of God. So think about it. What was Peter's apologia? Is apology always about making an argument, a well-thought-out response, or in some situations, just the healing, just the miracle itself becomes our defense? You're getting it? Sometimes we don't have to say anything. This person has been healed. This prayer has been answered. This situation has been changed. That itself becomes a defense, apology. That's what happened in this case. Now, you find the same thing at the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Now, the Apostle Paul is different from Peter. Peter and John were untrained men. Yeah, they were just fishermen. But Paul came from the other side. He graduated from Harvard. He had a PhD. He hired a PhD, a very educated man. He studied under Gimeliel. So he was, OK, he's got all these degrees. He has all these very scholarly men. And of course, he could reason. He could present his argument fine. But we see even in his ministry that he depended on the power of God, right? So he didn't go just with the wisdom like we saw in the ministry of Jesus. He didn't go just with wisdom. He reasoned, but he also demonstrated. And so you'll find, and I've listed many scriptures here from the Book of Acts, where you'll find that, and we will look at a few of them, where you'll find that Paul in his ministry, he reasoned with people. That means he gave a good explanation. He had his arguments that he presented, but he also demonstrated the power of God. Okay, so look at some, the use of the word. Now we read Acts 21, rather than fathers, hear my defense or hear my apology before you. He does his defense before Festus and so on to the point where they say you are mad. But let's look at this example. Let's go to Acts 13. Acts 13 and let's read verses 6 to 12. Acts 13 verses 6 to 12. Let's see what happens here. So this is on their first missionary journey. They just started, Paul and Barnabas have just started going out from Antioch and they're going on their first missionary journey and they come to the island of Parphos and there is the governor of the islands. Verse 7 says his name was Sirius Paulus. He was a very intelligent man and he wanted to listen to what Barnabas and Saul had to say. So just think about this in Acts 13 verse 7. This man, the governor is an intelligent man. So there are times we have to bring the gospel to thinking people, right? So they're thinking they're intelligent people. They may be very highly educated. They're in a high position like this man, Sirius Paulus. He's the governor of this island, obviously very highly educated, very, very wealthy, very, you know, accomplished in the world, but he's interested in spiritual things. So we should not think that highly educated people, wealthy people are not interested in spiritual things. No, there are people who are highly educated, maybe very wealthy, high positions, but they're also interested in spiritual things like this man. Sadly, this man, Sirius Paulus, before Paul and Barnabas came, he was being controlled by a sorcerer, by somebody who was practicing witchcraft. So he was interested in spiritual things, but the wrong kind of person was influencing him. A person who was practicing witchcraft was influencing this very, you know, you could say very intelligent, very powerful, very influential, very wealthy man. And we would see those kinds of things happening in our world today as well, right? There are people who, for wrong reasons, they have gone, they started dabbling in their cults, they started dabbling in witchcraft, this, that, and they are, they are very influential, educated, but because of the interest in spiritual things, they're actually being controlled by the wrong influence. And into such situation, Paul and Barnabas, they come. How do they handle this? Verse 7, we'll read from verse 7. So it says here, who was, he's talking about this man, a sorcerer who was with Sirius Paulus, this man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God, we're saved. But Elemas, the sorcerer, for Saul's name is translated, which took them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. So this sorcerer, he's opposing Paul and Barnabas and he's trying to keep this man from opening up to the faith. So there is a clash here, not easy, you know. This man is interested. He said, please come and talk to me or whatever you have to say. He's interested in spiritual things. He's interested in what Paul and Barnabas has to say, but there is a opposing force now. A man was practicing witchcraft, is opposing them. What happens? Verse 9, then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, Oh, full of all deceits and all fraud, your son of the devil, don't go and call people like that, your enemy of all righteousness, will you not seize perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now indeed the hand of the Lord is upon you and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. And immediately a dark mist fell on him and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the procounsel believed when he saw what had been done being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. So Paul, of course, anointed by the Holy Spirit. Now he didn't go and do this to everybody. Right? What we can say is at that moment in that situation, this is how God wanted to work. The Holy Spirit moved on Saul, later became Paul and moved in this manner so that Paul and that manager just said, you will be blind for a season and something happens, blind. Something supernatural happened and God did a supernatural work through Paul. So what happened to this governor? It says in verse 12. He believed because of two things. He saw what God did. And he also heard the teaching of the Lord. So both happened. Right? So here's a beautiful example where there was both the teaching of the Lord and there was a demonstration of the power of God. Both happened and this very intelligent man who was being influenced by a sorcerer. He believed in Jesus Christ. It's a beautiful example. Right? So let's pause here. We will look at maybe a couple of more examples and then all these scriptures say from the book of Acts. You know, I would encourage you to read them later on, which tell us that Paul in his ministry, he combined both. He combined both. Right? We will look maybe one more passage after the break. Let me just see if there are any questions from those online. Any questions from those online? You've been following along so far. Any questions? Okay. All right. So we'll take a break. We'll be back in 10 minutes and we will continue. Thank you.