Introduction to Apologetics

By Sal Ciresi
Herald Columnist
(From the issue of 1/16/03)

It is not uncommon for Catholics to entertain inquiries concerning the Catholic Faith. Questions about God’s revealed religion can come from family members, fellow workers or local neighbors. The interrogator can be sincere or hostile. In either case, we should not avoid these opportunities, but should thank the Sovereign Lord for this privilege of spreading the Gospel. This kind of scrutiny of Catholic faith and morals will often lead into the practice of "apologetics."

Apologetics can be defined as the branch of dogmatic theology that establishes the reasonableness and credibility of the Catholic Faith. This discipline is related yet distinct from evangelization and catechesis. "Evangelization" is usually concerned with individuals who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In a broader sense, evangelization may apply to baptized and confirmed Catholics who need their faith awakened and revitalized. "Catechesis," which presupposes the gift of faith, builds this virtue with intellectual development and spiritual formation. There is a fine line between evangelization, catechesis and apologetics.

In light of both evangelization and catechesis, the discipline of apologetics engages in a systematic study, explanation, and defense of Catholic truth utilizing theology, philosophy and history. The apologist is guided by many sources: Scripture, Tradition, the Magisterium, papal documents, councils, the liturgy, creeds and the Church Fathers. These sources assist in demonstrating that Catholicism is both reasonable and credible. The effective apologist must have a solid understanding of Catholic doctrine. There are no shortcuts to this effort; it requires time and patience, joined to prayer and study.

Biblically speaking, the term "apologetics" is traceable to the Greek word apologia, which is rendered as a "reply" or a "verbal defense." Examples are found in Acts 22:1; 1 Cor 9:3; Phil 1:7; 2 Tm 4:16; and 1 Pt 3:15. A glance at the New Testament reveals that apologetics has a three-fold aim. Firstly, apologetics serves to strengthen the faith of believers. Hebrews 3:12-13 reads, "Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day." Secondly, apologetics strives to lead inquirers to embrace the Catholic Faith. Colossians 1:28 states, "Him [Christ] we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ." Thirdly, apologetics attempts to refute objections to Catholicism. Second Corinthians 10:5 proclaims, "We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."

An important point must be mentioned concerning these noteworthy aims. Apologetics does not claim to prove the foundations of Catholicism with a kind of "mathematical certainty": the kind of certainty we can possess is the "exclusion of reasonable doubt." This certainty facilitates the inquirer to assent to Catholic truth via the theological virtue of faith. This faith works with human reason and never contradicts it. Ultimately, God’s grace converts hearts, provided the individual cooperates with His grace (cf. Jn 6:44; 1 Cor 3:6; Jas 2:24). In view of this fact, Catholics should testify to the Faith by both word and deed (cf. Mt 5:16; Eph 5:15; 1 Pt 2:12). Apologetical "proofs" are conclusive but never coercive; gentle persuasion should be the norm. These proofs, no matter how charitably or clearly formulated, will never convince excessively hostile types.

Over the next several months, God willing, different aspects to the work of apologetics will be examined in this column. The apologetics episodes in the New Testament, preparation for the apologetic apostolate, resources for the apologist, and specific doctrinal points will be addressed to equip each of us to charitably explain and defend the sacred deposit of Catholic truth (cf. Col 2:8; 2 Tm 4:2; Jud 3).

Ciresi serves on the faculty of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College and directs the St. Jerome Biblical Guild.

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