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A Little Primer on Humble Apologetics
Always be prepared to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. (1 Peter 3:15-16) We've all felt the tension. An opportunity to speak for Christ comes up, and either we jump in with both barrels blasting or we cower in the corner and say nothing. Is there a better way? Can we learn to speak boldly, yet humbly, about our faith in Christ? Veteran apologist Jim Sire offers salient counsel derived from over fifty years of experience in a vast array of settings. Through a variety of snapshots, both successful and unsuccessful, he helps us understand the nature, value and limits of apologetics, and suggests how to tailor our comments to respect our audience whether large or small, formal or informal. He then outlines five key arguments for the Christian faith and offers responses to five common objections. Finally, for those especially drawn to apologetics, he offers counsel on how to discern a call to apologetic ministry.
112 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2006
16 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
James W. Sire
37 books72 followersJames W. Sire was a Christian author, speaker, and former editor for InterVarsity Press.
Sire was an officer in the Army, a college professor of English literature, philosophy and theology, the chief editor of InterVarsity Press, a lecturer at over two hundred universities around the world and the author of twenty books on literature, philosophy and the Christian faith. His book The Universe Next Door, published in 1976 has sold over 350,000 copies. He held a B.A. in chemistry and English from the University of Nebraska, an M.A. in English from Washington State and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Missouri.
Sire was an officer in the Army, a college professor of English literature, philosophy and theology, the chief editor of InterVarsity Press, a lecturer at over two hundred universities around the world and the author of twenty books on literature, philosophy and the Christian faith. His book The Universe Next Door, published in 1976 has sold over 350,000 copies. He held a B.A. in chemistry and English from the University of Nebraska, an M.A. in English from Washington State and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Missouri.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 3, 2018
“The moment the church was born, apologetics was born with it” (9). So begins, James Sire’s A Little Primer on Humble Apologetics. The implication is that apologetics is necessary for the Church. The Christian faith will always need to be defended. Until Christ returns, apologetics will remain to both defend and bolster up the faith. We have work to do and Sire wants to help us get started.
Sire defines apologetics by focusing more broadly then most intellectualist definitions. He writes, “Christian apologetics lays before the watching world such a winsome embodiment of the Christian faith that for any and all who are willing to observe there will be an intellectually and emotionally credible witness to its fundamental truth.” 26
I appreciate the definitional focus on seeing apologetics as being winsome and emotional. These are two elements of persuasion that are often left out of the apologetic discussion. Our apologetic, our defense of Christ and Christianity, must not just be spoken, but must also be lived. Our lives need to be in sync with our words if we are to present a winsome embodiment of the Christian faith for the watching world.
Sire’s Little Primer consists of six brief chapters. First, he defines apologetics and offers nine brief explanations of how apologetics is played out in Scripture. Second, he focuses on the value of apologetics. How apologetics establishes the faith of believers, defends the faith to skeptics and seekers, provides a heightened understanding of our culture, and serves as a stimulus to a life of full commitment. The third chapter focuses on the limits of apologetics. Here he adds a brief, but important reminder of the role of the Holy Spirit and prayer in apologetics.
The first three chapters are the strongest. The remaining three chapters, I found to be, far weaker then the first three. That brings me to my main points of criticism:
My biggest complaint with Sire’s Little Primer is that it unwittingly, I believe, ends up keeping the task of apologetics in the realm of academia. Sire is an academic apologist. His writing and ministry has clearly been focused on the academy. I’d however argue that every follower of Christ is an apologists. Just as every follower of Christ is a theologian. The question is not, “Am I an apologist/theologian?” but “how good of an apologist/theologian will I be?”
In his chapter on the “Context of Apologetics” (ch. 4) and the “Call to Apologetics” (ch. 6) the focus is on apologetics for the academy. While in no way do I intend to belittle apologetics for the universities, we need more apologists doing this hard work, there is a danger if we leave apologetics to the “professionals” like Sire.
At it’s root, apologetics is the task of every follower of Christ. If you have the hope of Christ within you then you must be prepared and ready to give a reason/explanation/defense for that hope. That is the task of every believer.
A minor complaint is that ch. 5, “The Arguments of Apologetics” was so short it was almost worthless. Certain arguments for and against Christianity were listed with little if any interaction. The focus was on presenting other books where one could go deeper. Maybe, it would have been more helpful to have simply presented an annotated bibliography.
Let me end with a few remarks on what Sire’s Little Primer adds to the apologetic discussion? Here’s four concluding thoughts:
First, the call for humility in apologetics is a necessary reminder. Our focus as apologists is not to win arguments nor to defeat others. Our focus is to present the good news of the Gospel and to present our own lives as living in harmony with the truth of God’s Word. We need more humble apologists. We need more humble apologetics books.
Second, Sire briefly mentioned how apologetics involves multiple relationships. Every apologetic encounter is carried out in the context of relationships. This should humble us. Apologetics is a ministry of service (all ministry truly is service to God and one another). Our apologetics must fall under the first and second commandments. We are to love God with our apologetics. And we are to love one another.
Third, I appreciate Sire’s “requirements for a success as an apologist.” He lists five: 1. a fascination with and delight in the intellectual life, 2. a passion for what can be learned from the Bible, 3. a life characterized by consistent holiness, 4. a love for people and 5. a growing ability to communicate with them on a profoundly personal level (94). If our apologetics are ever to be successful then they must glorify God.
Fourth, apologetics must be carried out in the context of the local church. While he doesn’t quite say this, and I fear some of the academic focus may take away from it, nonetheless does argue that apologetics is more powerful when worked out in community. He writes, “A fully committed group of believers intentionally bent on living as part of the kingdom of God on earth is in human form perhaps the very strongest of apologetics” (35). This is the local church and together, our unity is a powerful apologetic for the Christian faith (John 17:21).
Sire defines apologetics by focusing more broadly then most intellectualist definitions. He writes, “Christian apologetics lays before the watching world such a winsome embodiment of the Christian faith that for any and all who are willing to observe there will be an intellectually and emotionally credible witness to its fundamental truth.” 26
I appreciate the definitional focus on seeing apologetics as being winsome and emotional. These are two elements of persuasion that are often left out of the apologetic discussion. Our apologetic, our defense of Christ and Christianity, must not just be spoken, but must also be lived. Our lives need to be in sync with our words if we are to present a winsome embodiment of the Christian faith for the watching world.
Sire’s Little Primer consists of six brief chapters. First, he defines apologetics and offers nine brief explanations of how apologetics is played out in Scripture. Second, he focuses on the value of apologetics. How apologetics establishes the faith of believers, defends the faith to skeptics and seekers, provides a heightened understanding of our culture, and serves as a stimulus to a life of full commitment. The third chapter focuses on the limits of apologetics. Here he adds a brief, but important reminder of the role of the Holy Spirit and prayer in apologetics.
The first three chapters are the strongest. The remaining three chapters, I found to be, far weaker then the first three. That brings me to my main points of criticism:
My biggest complaint with Sire’s Little Primer is that it unwittingly, I believe, ends up keeping the task of apologetics in the realm of academia. Sire is an academic apologist. His writing and ministry has clearly been focused on the academy. I’d however argue that every follower of Christ is an apologists. Just as every follower of Christ is a theologian. The question is not, “Am I an apologist/theologian?” but “how good of an apologist/theologian will I be?”
In his chapter on the “Context of Apologetics” (ch. 4) and the “Call to Apologetics” (ch. 6) the focus is on apologetics for the academy. While in no way do I intend to belittle apologetics for the universities, we need more apologists doing this hard work, there is a danger if we leave apologetics to the “professionals” like Sire.
At it’s root, apologetics is the task of every follower of Christ. If you have the hope of Christ within you then you must be prepared and ready to give a reason/explanation/defense for that hope. That is the task of every believer.
A minor complaint is that ch. 5, “The Arguments of Apologetics” was so short it was almost worthless. Certain arguments for and against Christianity were listed with little if any interaction. The focus was on presenting other books where one could go deeper. Maybe, it would have been more helpful to have simply presented an annotated bibliography.
Let me end with a few remarks on what Sire’s Little Primer adds to the apologetic discussion? Here’s four concluding thoughts:
First, the call for humility in apologetics is a necessary reminder. Our focus as apologists is not to win arguments nor to defeat others. Our focus is to present the good news of the Gospel and to present our own lives as living in harmony with the truth of God’s Word. We need more humble apologists. We need more humble apologetics books.
Second, Sire briefly mentioned how apologetics involves multiple relationships. Every apologetic encounter is carried out in the context of relationships. This should humble us. Apologetics is a ministry of service (all ministry truly is service to God and one another). Our apologetics must fall under the first and second commandments. We are to love God with our apologetics. And we are to love one another.
Third, I appreciate Sire’s “requirements for a success as an apologist.” He lists five: 1. a fascination with and delight in the intellectual life, 2. a passion for what can be learned from the Bible, 3. a life characterized by consistent holiness, 4. a love for people and 5. a growing ability to communicate with them on a profoundly personal level (94). If our apologetics are ever to be successful then they must glorify God.
Fourth, apologetics must be carried out in the context of the local church. While he doesn’t quite say this, and I fear some of the academic focus may take away from it, nonetheless does argue that apologetics is more powerful when worked out in community. He writes, “A fully committed group of believers intentionally bent on living as part of the kingdom of God on earth is in human form perhaps the very strongest of apologetics” (35). This is the local church and together, our unity is a powerful apologetic for the Christian faith (John 17:21).
December 18, 2017
The purpose of this book is to biblically define apologetics and how to go about it. I expected it to prime me up on some classic defenses for the faith, but it did not do so. The book mentions classic arguments and questions, but these introductions only scratched the surface. Thankfully, Sire provided a multitude of book recommendations pertaining to various topics! I will be sure to refer to his recommendations in the future. But I would make sure you know the purpose of this book before you begin, because I was a little disappointed based on misdirected expectations.
January 14, 2018
Great intro to for those who feel drawn to apologetics
James Sire has been a wonderful companion to many Christians who are called to use their intellect. I have been a fan of his ever since his book Scripture Twisting.
James Sire has been a wonderful companion to many Christians who are called to use their intellect. I have been a fan of his ever since his book Scripture Twisting.
October 24, 2017
If you’re looking for an intro to Christian apologetics, then this book will be a great read.
March 1, 2025
Helpful intro to the world of apologetics
March 25, 2014
What this book aims to do, it does well. It would work good as a supplement to another introductory text on apologetics. This book is concerned with meta-apologetic issues and doesn't get into apologetic arguments, although it does sketch some "arguments" (I wouldn't call of them arguments) and where you can read more in-depth treatments. I have some minor quibbles. Nothing serious.
February 18, 2007
Helpful for understanding the role of an apologist, or the role of apologetics for lay people.
January 4, 2008
Great little intro to apologetics
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews