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Thinking About Christian Apologetics: What It Is and Why We Do It
Most introductions to apologetics begin with the "how to" of defending the faith, diving right into the major apologetic arguments and the body of evidence. For those who want a more foundational look at this contested theological discipline, this book examines Christian apologetics in its nature, history, approaches, objections and practice. What is apologetics? How has apologetics developed? What are the basic apologetic approaches? Why should we practice apologetics? Countless Christians today are seeking a responsibe way to defend and commend their faith. If you are one them, Thinking About Christian Apologetics is the place to start.
214 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2011
31 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
James K. Beilby
16 books12 followersJames K. Beilby (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of systematic and philosophical theology at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 4, 2025
September 3, 2025
I thought this was a good book for getting a broad overview of what Christian apologetics is. It doesn't dive into the details too much, but it's enough that you can talk intelligently about apologetics and know what to search for if you want to learn more.
I thought this was a good book for getting a broad overview of what Christian apologetics is. It doesn't dive into the details too much, but it's enough that you can talk intelligently about apologetics and know what to search for if you want to learn more.
November 11, 2023
The book delivered as expected. It really is a good intro to apologetics covering a number of different and useful areas. It has prompted me to do more research and I have since met with a fellow pastor whose doctoral study is apologetics. Very profitable time for sure. I am looking forward to hashing the differences between presuppositional and classical apologetics with him.
Covered in this book is a brief explanation of what apologetics is followed by a history of apologetics. He covers a number of different types of apologetics including Classical and Presuppositional.
There are some practical chapters that I found very useful including how to handle objections to apologetics and how to engage in an apologetical argument.
The book was short with just with just over 180 pages. It was an easy read, and the format makes for an easy outline and teachability in a classroom setting.
There is an extensive Bibliography including various works on apologetics and the usual subject and name index.
The book may form the foundation for a great project I am working on.
Covered in this book is a brief explanation of what apologetics is followed by a history of apologetics. He covers a number of different types of apologetics including Classical and Presuppositional.
There are some practical chapters that I found very useful including how to handle objections to apologetics and how to engage in an apologetical argument.
The book was short with just with just over 180 pages. It was an easy read, and the format makes for an easy outline and teachability in a classroom setting.
There is an extensive Bibliography including various works on apologetics and the usual subject and name index.
The book may form the foundation for a great project I am working on.
October 23, 2018
This is a required textbook for a graduate seminary class I am enrolled in. It is an excellent treatment of apologetics, but not in the traditional sense. The author refers to what he’s done as “meta-apologetics.” That is, this book is more about the theory and justification for why we do apologetics. It is not concerned at all with offering arguments for the faith. Instead, it’s more of an argument for the practice of apologetics.
February 3, 2016
Good overview of Christian apologetics. Spends more time on defending the practice of apologetics than practical matters.
August 9, 2021
"Apologetics is, in the simplest possible terms, the attempt to defend a particular belief or system of beliefs against objections. Contrary to popular misunderstanding, apologetics has nothing to do with apologizing or saying I’m sorry. The term derives from the Greek word apologia (a-pol-o-GEE-a) and was originally used in a legal context...Socrates’ defense before the Athenian court is the classic example of an apology" (Beilby, 2011, p. 11).
There is a study of apologetics in most religious belief systems (e.g., Buddhist apologetics, Islamic apologetics, Christian apologetics), and as the title suggests, this book is about Christian apologetics.
Unlike other Christian books apologetics, which writes about arguments for God's existence (e.g., teleological, cosmological, kalam cosmological, moral arguments), this book takes a step back to think about why Christians should take apologetics seriously in the first place, the various camps that exist within this study (e.g., classical, evidentialist, presuppositionalists, etc.), and how to do apologetics.
It is easy, says the author, to do apologetics to win arguments while completely forgetting to be humble and Christlike. This triggered memories of me being too prideful and sometimes being insensitive about what I was saying and how I was saying it. It honestly placed so much weigh on my heart that, for a moment, I even thought of stop pursuing this field of study altogether. I could see myself failing to live up to the standard in the future again and that bothered me since more knowledge can make oneself even more prideful. But I think humility takes practice and this gives me hope; no one is a complete, humble philosopher from the beginning.
The reason why I want to continue my study in this field is two fold. One, if Christianity is true, there is nothing more joyous than for all of us to know God and to discover our new identity in him through Jesus Christ. Two, as Zacharias said, "being respectful and sincere does not give us license to be wrong." According to Beilby (and our lived experiences), we are living in a culture that dislikes people who think they are right and the other person wrong. This culture advocates the mantra of "all beliefs are correct." While we have to respect everyone and their views, not all ideas are good or right. In fact, we can get closer to the truth by a careful investigation of the fundamental differences between the worldviews that often times cannot be right at the same time. Zacharias continues to say that "truth demands investigation and commitment. To be handcuffed by a lie is the worst of all imprisonments" (Zacharias, 2001).
Anyways, reading this book was a refreshing and a humbling experience. I'll definitely look for this book again in the future.
There is a study of apologetics in most religious belief systems (e.g., Buddhist apologetics, Islamic apologetics, Christian apologetics), and as the title suggests, this book is about Christian apologetics.
Unlike other Christian books apologetics, which writes about arguments for God's existence (e.g., teleological, cosmological, kalam cosmological, moral arguments), this book takes a step back to think about why Christians should take apologetics seriously in the first place, the various camps that exist within this study (e.g., classical, evidentialist, presuppositionalists, etc.), and how to do apologetics.
It is easy, says the author, to do apologetics to win arguments while completely forgetting to be humble and Christlike. This triggered memories of me being too prideful and sometimes being insensitive about what I was saying and how I was saying it. It honestly placed so much weigh on my heart that, for a moment, I even thought of stop pursuing this field of study altogether. I could see myself failing to live up to the standard in the future again and that bothered me since more knowledge can make oneself even more prideful. But I think humility takes practice and this gives me hope; no one is a complete, humble philosopher from the beginning.
The reason why I want to continue my study in this field is two fold. One, if Christianity is true, there is nothing more joyous than for all of us to know God and to discover our new identity in him through Jesus Christ. Two, as Zacharias said, "being respectful and sincere does not give us license to be wrong." According to Beilby (and our lived experiences), we are living in a culture that dislikes people who think they are right and the other person wrong. This culture advocates the mantra of "all beliefs are correct." While we have to respect everyone and their views, not all ideas are good or right. In fact, we can get closer to the truth by a careful investigation of the fundamental differences between the worldviews that often times cannot be right at the same time. Zacharias continues to say that "truth demands investigation and commitment. To be handcuffed by a lie is the worst of all imprisonments" (Zacharias, 2001).
Anyways, reading this book was a refreshing and a humbling experience. I'll definitely look for this book again in the future.
October 29, 2019
Book 182 of 2019: This introduction to apologetics looks at foundational questions involved in defending the faith. What is apologetics? What are the common approaches to apologetics? How have apologetics been handled throughout Christian history? What objections have been brought to the field of apologetics? How do I do apologetics well?
These are the basic questions that this book of meta-apologetics answers. I had to read this for a #gradschool class. It’s not really going to explain to you how to do apologetics or give you apologetic arguments. However, for explaining the background and concerns of the field of apologetics and for justifying the use of apologetics, this book is a solid entry.
For the armchair theologian: If you’ve heard argumentation again apologetics and don’t know where you stand, this is a great book for building confidence in your motivation for doing apologetics. This will also help you to see what is and is not apologetics, something that I was a little confused about before I read this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
#books #seminary #bookstagram #theology #apologetics
These are the basic questions that this book of meta-apologetics answers. I had to read this for a #gradschool class. It’s not really going to explain to you how to do apologetics or give you apologetic arguments. However, for explaining the background and concerns of the field of apologetics and for justifying the use of apologetics, this book is a solid entry.
For the armchair theologian: If you’ve heard argumentation again apologetics and don’t know where you stand, this is a great book for building confidence in your motivation for doing apologetics. This will also help you to see what is and is not apologetics, something that I was a little confused about before I read this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
#books #seminary #bookstagram #theology #apologetics
March 26, 2020
“To do apologetics well, we must love people enough to place ourselves in situations where we can truly hear people’s questions and help them find answers; it requires that we trust that God can use our learning, experiences and story in a way that is persuasive to others; and it requires a commitment to the life-transforming truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
I genuinely enjoyed Beilby’s discussion on and defense of apologetics. As a student I found his words affirming and challenging at points. Moving forward I pray for confidence, courage and compassion.
As lifetime students, I highly encourage others to take up this work and explore its contents.
I genuinely enjoyed Beilby’s discussion on and defense of apologetics. As a student I found his words affirming and challenging at points. Moving forward I pray for confidence, courage and compassion.
As lifetime students, I highly encourage others to take up this work and explore its contents.
Read
September 12, 2017A very good and interesting book. Describes the history of various Christain apologetic methods. He elaborates suggestions for the apologist. The last section lists his recommended books for further or specialized reading.
August 23, 2018
School textbook
Although I had to read this for my Apologetics class at Liberty University, I highly recommend this book to all Christians! It was easy to read and wonderfully encouraging and educational to the Christian walk.
Although I had to read this for my Apologetics class at Liberty University, I highly recommend this book to all Christians! It was easy to read and wonderfully encouraging and educational to the Christian walk.
February 3, 2018
Solid book exactly what you would expect.
Read
August 12, 2019Read this for a class. Great introduction into apologetics that has set me up for the course.
April 15, 2020
Comprehensive
This book was required for a class. This was a very thorough coverage of the topic of Christian Apologetics. I highly recommend it!
This book was required for a class. This was a very thorough coverage of the topic of Christian Apologetics. I highly recommend it!
June 14, 2020
Solid overview of apologetic basics.
November 7, 2021
A good primer, though I think he needs to read Luther again.
November 21, 2021
Focusing on the methodology of Christian apologetics, this book gives great perspectives on how and why to dive into Scripture.
March 22, 2014
Beilby offers a unique book that is not apologetic, but rather, it is about apologetics as a methodology. In that regard, he states the work is one of meta-apologetics. The book is pretty straightforward and helpful, from recounting the history of apologetics, albeit cursory, to discussing the various kinds of apologetic methods. The additional bibliography at the end will prove especially beneficial to refer to, and hence, the book itself will be nice to have on the library shelf as a useful resource.
September 7, 2015
Read for class
Read for a Graduate Apologetics class. It's structure is well organized and easy to follow if you familiarize yourself with the structure in the table of contents. His explanations build on each other, from general to specific, making it easier to follow. He provides good explanations and counter-points to arguments which make this a useful, general text to refer back to for some academic apologetic papers. It is also a good general reference book to re-familiarize one's self with foundational apologetic topics.
Read for a Graduate Apologetics class. It's structure is well organized and easy to follow if you familiarize yourself with the structure in the table of contents. His explanations build on each other, from general to specific, making it easier to follow. He provides good explanations and counter-points to arguments which make this a useful, general text to refer back to for some academic apologetic papers. It is also a good general reference book to re-familiarize one's self with foundational apologetic topics.
September 7, 2015
A good introduction to Christian Apologetics as a discipline. I took issue with a couple of things Beilby said, namely the idea that theology has no place in apologetics, and neither does an evangelistic-type call to faith on the part of the nonbeliever. Still, this book as lots of good things to say.
August 6, 2013
Twas very good.
Read
May 28, 2017A good book about meta-apologetics.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews