My Apology

Apologetics is the field of Christian theology devoted to defending the faith. Strange word -- Apologetics. We think of an apology as an "I'm sorry; I was wrong." That's clearly not what's in view here. According to the dictionary, the first definition includes regret, but the second is "a defense, excuse, or justification." Rooted in the Greek apologia, the word referred to the defence's arguments in a prosecution. The word appears in our Bibles 7 times (if I counted correctly), but the term "Apologetics" as a defense of the faith comes primarily from 1 Peter 3:15.

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

There it is. "Make a defense to anyone who asks you." Apologetics. Except ... that's not really what it says. I mean, it's sort of there, but not quite. Notice, for instance, that in that quote above there is neither a capitalization at the beginning nor a period at the end. This verse is the middle of a sentence. The topic is "if you should suffer for righteousness' sake (1 Peter 3:14) and the aim is that you would have "a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame" (1 Peter 3:16). Note, also, that it does not say to be "prepared to make a defense" of the faith. That's not there. It is in Jude where we are commanded to "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). So, yes, make that defense, but that's not in 1 Peter. What is Peter telling us to make a defense for? What is "the hope that is in you"? Well, he tells us early on.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

Peter wrote to a church expecting trials (1 Peter 1:6-7; 4:12-13; etc.), and he wanted to convey to them -- the "elect exiles" (1 Peter 1:1), the "sojourners and exiles" (1 Peter 2:11) -- that they were first and foremost born again to a living hope. He says the world will be surprised you don't join them in their "flood of debauchery" and they will malign you (1 Peter 4:4), so you need to be ready, in the midst of trials and hard times, to give a defense of that hope into which you were born again. That hope.

We are commanded to be "prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" and to do it "with gentleness and respect." That hope is built on nothing less than Jesus's blood and righteousness (to borrow from the hymn). It is predicated on His resurrection and it is accomplished by God. It is "imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." We are defended by God Himself. These are reasons for the hope within you. And you may be asked to give those reasons. You may be asked to defend those reasons. But the defense is of the hope they see in you when it would appear to be hopeless for you. Your life should reflect that hope, and you should work at being able to give a reason for it. That may include some defense of the faith, but it requires something different in your attitudes and actions if they're going to ask. It is your hope and not just your belief system that you are defending.