This new class will focus on the importance of Christian Apologetics and Bible study with an emphasis on how they go hand in hand. Defending our faith and developing a Biblical worldview based on our understanding of God’s Word takes time and practice, and must be part of a lifetime commitment we make to the LORD. It should form our purpose and identity in everyday life as we grow closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, modeling Him to our family, friends and neighbors.

As Christians, it is more important than ever to know what we believe, and why we believe it, and then apply that to who we are on a consistent basis, and this can only be done if we know Jesus and what His Word teaches.

All class sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, a presentation, and a Bible study section. You will find the presentation notes and Bible study questions below. Basic answers to the Bible study will be also be posted below for your review and, or as a leader’s guide.

Watch the class presentation on this topic:

Presentation Notes

APOLOGETICS BLUEPRINT

Class Introduction – Why Apologetics? Why Study the Bible?

INTRODUCTIONS

At your table groups, do the following:

Prayer cards: Take a minute and write your name on the index card provided, and add any special prayer request you might have. Exchange cards at the end of the class this evening.
Introduce yourself, and then answer this question:

Why are you a Christian?

Why Apologetics?

“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

1 Peter 3:13-16 (NIV)

OWN YOUR FAITH!

KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE

AND WHY YOU BELIEVE IT;

THEN SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!!!

What is Apologetics?

(Christian) Apologetics: Our Biblical call to give a defense of the faith.
Apologetics=apologia (ap-ol-og-ee’-ah) in the original Greek means to give a verbal defense, like in a court of law.
It is used eight times in the New Testament: Acts 22:1; 25:16; 1 Corinthians 9:3; 2 Corinthians 10:5 and 10:6; Philippians 1:7; 2 Timothy 4:16; and 1 Peter 3:15.
Christian Apologetics seeks to address misconceptions and defend the Christian faith from an intellectual point of view along with a Biblical Christian Worldview.
Christian Apologetics deals with the pursuit and defense of GOD’S TRUTH.
Christians have used apologetics since the time of Jesus because it helps point people to the truth found in Scripture, the connection of the Old Testament to the New Testament, and to the ultimate truth that came in the person and teachings of Jesus.

“Christianity has so much evidence, it is like
death by a 1000 paper cuts!”
-J. Warner Wallace

Why study the Bible?

To strengthen our Christian Walk
To draw us closer to God
To prepare us for eternity
To get wisdom and understanding as we go through this life
To answer life’s most important questions (origin, purpose, destiny)
To give us confidence in what we believe to be true is really true
To share with others and give answers to those who have questions
To discern, identify and dispute false teachings
To protect us from deception and discouragement by the evil one
To help us become more like Jesus – He’s in every book!

What other reasons can you add to this list?

Prolegomena

Before diving into a serious Bible study, and learning to defend your faith, there are some important things to consider…

The word “prolegomena” comes from the Greek words “pro” (before) and “legomena” (things said), meaning “things spoken before” or “preliminary remarks.”
In theology, prolegomena refers to the preliminary considerations that form the foundation for theological study.
It’s essentially the “preface” to the study of God, addressing foundational beliefs and presuppositions.
What are some things we should consider before doing Bible study?

WE SHOULD HAVE A HIGH VIEW OF…

Who God is, including His Triune nature (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), as distinct from other deities in pagan religions, and His Holy, Perfect and Righteous Character as defined in the pages of Scripture.
The Bible as the inspired Word of God and has been transmitted reliably over time (See “Case for the Bible” Class)
The Gospel: Bible contains the first Gospel – the Protoevangelium – in Genesis 3:15, which is the foundation of the entire Bible, and God’s Promise in this first Gospel unfolds throughout the Old Testament, and culminates in Jesus in the New Testament!

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 (NIV)

Genesis 3:15 Promise
(begins the Scarlet Thread)

From Genesis through Revelation, the Bible is all about Jesus!

The Bible is [mainly] an historical narrative that contains real history verified by real historical events, people and places evidenced in archeology and ancient historical documentation; it also contains some poetic, wisdom, prophetic and apocalyptic literature that are distinguishable within the content/context of the writing.
The Bible authors will also use known literary devices (distinguishable within the content/context) such as…

Allegories: A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. Example: In Animal Farm, by George Orwell, the characters symbolize political figures and concepts; Pilgrims Progress is an allegory of a spiritual journey. The Bible’s use is mainly found in…
Parables: Simple stories used to illustrate moral or spiritual lessons. Example: Jesus’ use of parables in the Gospels, such as, The Parable of the Good Samaritan or the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Both allegory and parable are literary devices used to convey meaning beyond the literal.

Metaphors: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Examples: “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23), “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15), and “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5). These metaphors help convey complex spiritual truths in relatable ways. An extended metaphor is a comparison that spans several lines or paragraphs, focusing on one specific idea rather than a full story.
Anthropomorphic Language: Having human characteristics – the Biblical authors often use human characteristics to define God (Example: God remembered; God’s hand; God’s eyes; God’s regret etc.) These descriptions are not meant to imply God is literally human, but rather to help humans understand and relate to God by using familiar terms. It helps us grasp concepts through language that relates to our own experiences. It can communicate both physical and emotional attributes.

Most importantly, the Bible must be understood using good hermeneutics…

A Basic Overview of the Hermeneutical method

HERMENEUTICS

1. Author and Audience: Who wrote it, to whom and when? Discuss the historical setting of the narrator and his audience.

2. Purpose: Why was it written? Get some background: Explore what was going on in the narrative and culture at the time of the events. Include the type of genre.

3. Context: What does it say? Get the big picture by reading and then summarizing the whole story line. This might include the entire book, a chapter(s) or just a specific passage in one sitting. Consider the who, what, why, when, where and how type of questions.

Note: Cross-referencing passages from other books of the Bible can be helpful, especially when questions arise – most study Bibles give you those references.

4. Interpretation: What does it mean? This is based on the context and should relate to the overall purpose and intent of the author. Focus on what God, through the author, wanted them to know. Examine how the passage points towards Jesus.

5. Application: How do I use what I learned? Based on the context and interpretation, we can now discuss how to apply what we have read to our lives and the culture we live in today, including our witness to others.

The Shelf: Have a place in your notebook or journal to write down questions that arise. This will help avoid rabbit trails or distractions, and you can return to them later on.

Bible Study

Each week, we are encouraging you to take some dedicated time and spend it in God’s Word. Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

REFLECT AND PRACTICE

1. Review and discuss this evening’s presentation (apologetics, reasons to study the Bible and prolegomena). Do you have any questions or comments?

Bible Study Practice:

2. Review and discuss the first two steps of the hermeneutical method for the book of 1 Samuel:

Author and Audience: Who wrote it, to whom and when? Discuss the historical setting of the narrator and his audience; include date of events and writing.
Purpose: Why was it written? Get some background: Explore what was going on in the culture at the time of the events. Include the type of genre.

BASIC ANSWERS TO USE AS A REVIEW AND, OR A LEADER’S GUIDE

AUTHOR

From ESV study Bible:

“First Chronicles 29:29-30 implies that Samuel (or perhaps his disciples) left written records, but because his death is mentioned in 1 Samuel 25, he could not have personally written the rest of the book of Samuel.
The book is attributed to Samuel, referred to as the “Kingmaker” mainly because he was the one to officially establish (from God) the monarchy of ancient Israel by anointing first Saul, and then David. Samuel was the only one to serve the Nation of Israel as judge, prophet and priest.”

From gotquestions.org and Life Application study Bible:

“The book of 1 Samuel contains no explicit mention of the author, nor do we have convincing testimony from other parts of the Bible. Nevertheless, the Jewish Talmudic tradition attributes a substantial portion of the book to the prophet Samuel, with the section recounting his death written by either Gador Nathan. This attribution is logical, as Samuel was literate (he is seen writing in 1 Samuel 10:25), and he was a leader among a group of prophets (1 Samuel 19:18–24).
The book of Chronicles further cites the records of “Samuel the seer, Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer” as contributors to events in David’s life (1 Chronicles 29:29). So, Samuel kept records on David’s life, and that is a strong clue that he at least contributed to the book of Samuel, with the final product likely being edited by one or more men from the “school of prophets.”

AUDIENCE

Written to the people of Israel who lived during the end of the United Kingdom and into the beginning of the divided Kingdom (Northern 10 Tribes of Israel, and the Southern Tribe of Judah and Benjamin).
The writings would be carried through the Southern Kingdom of Judah because that is where the Temple would be located, and where the job of the Scribes and Priests would be carried out in the reading and preservation of Scripture.

DATE

(From the Life Application Bible): The setting of the book begins in the days of the judges, ca. 1105 BC through ca. 1010 BC (2 Samuel goes on through the life of King David, ca. 970 BC.)
(From gotquestions.org): The events of 1 Samuel span approximately 100 years, from c. 1100 B.C. to c. 1000 B.C. The events of 2 Samuel cover another 40 years. The date of writing, then, would be sometime after 960 B.C.
Based on internal evidence (see ESV study Bible) the final editing of the compilation of both 1 and 2 Samuel would have most likely have happened before the end of the 10^th century BC before the division of the Kingdom, ca. 930 BC.

PURPOSE

(From gotquestions.org): “In our contemporary Bible, there are two books of Samuel, divided based on a difference in content and theme. The book of 1 Samuel centers on the life of the prophet Samuel, the establishment of monarchy in Israel, Saul’s anointing, his eventual fall, and the coronation of David—a key figure in Israel’s history. The narrative seamlessly continues in 2 Samuel, concentrating on King David’s reign. In the Tanakh, the two books are undivided, existing as the single Sefer Shmuel.
More specifically, 1 Samuel records the history of Israel in the land of Canaan as they move from the rule of judges to being a unified nation under kings. Samuel emerges as the last judge, and he anoints the first two kings, Saul and David.”
(Essential Bible Companion): “To tell the story of the establishment of the covenant of kingship with David. After more than four centuries of failure during the period of the Judges, the people are frustrated with the lack of central leadership. They conclude that their troubles are political and therefore require a political solution so they request a king. They are blind to the fact that their political problems have a spiritual cause.
This book in particular, establishes the credentials of Samuel to anoint both Saul and later David as Israel’s first kings. Another focal point is the establishment of a covenant with David that extends a permanent place on the throne to him and his descendants. The Covenant is the centerpiece of both books.”

Homework

Read 1 Samuel chapters 1, 2 and 3:

For each chapter write out titles and a short summary of your reading to share. (3-5 sentences for each chapter or section)

Going Deeper:

Answer the following questions to share with your table groups:

Context: What does it say?

Who are the main characters in this narrative? Discuss their relationship to each other and their place in the narrative. (Chapters 1-3)
What was the interaction between Hannah and Eli, and how did God use Eli in this situation? (Chapter 1)
What did Hannah do with Samuel and why? (Chapter 1)
What does Hannah’s prayer say about her high respect and honor for who God is? Give some examples. (Chapter 2) Cross-reference by reading Luke 1:46-56. How does Hannah’s prayer compare to that of Mary’s?
What did Eli do right and where did he go wrong, and why? (Chapter 2)
Who came to Eli and what prophecy did he give? (Chapter 2:27-36) Cross-reference by reading 1 Kings 2:26-27 for its fulfillment.
Why did God call Samuel, and what was Eli’s response? (Chapter 3)

Interpretation: What does it mean?

What is God trying to teach the audience from this narrative?
Do we see anything in this narrative that points towards Jesus (a picture, foreshadow, model, prophecy etc.). For one example: Reread chapter 2:35 and then cross-reference with Hebrews 4:14-16 and Hebrews 6:19-20.

Application: How can we use what we learned?

How important is it for us to be open to God’s calling, and how does Samuel model that? What else can we learn from this narrative?

Discuss any “shelf” questions you might have about chapters 1-3.

Join us next week as we continue our Apologetics Blueprint Class!

———————————————————————

You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15