Roadmap

01 Foundations

What apologetics is, what Scripture commands, who has done this work before, and what the apologist's life is meant to look like.

Learning objectives

By the end of this module the student should be able to:

Define apologetics and apologia without notes; explain why "apology" in the modern English sense is the wrong frame
State 1 Peter 3.15 from memory and explain Peter's three components: be ready, with reason, with gentleness and reverence
Walk a friend through what Paul does in Acts 17, who he engages, what he quotes, where he starts, where he lands
Name at least four major historical apologists across patristic, medieval, and modern eras with one substantive thing about each
Distinguish the major apologetic methods (classical, evidential, presuppositional, Reformed epistemology, cumulative case) at survey level
Recognize when a conversation is calling for apologetic work versus pastoral care versus straightforward evangelism

Lessons

Work them in order. Each lesson contains its own required reading, key takeaways, reflection questions, and practice exercise.

Lesson 1.1, What is Apologetics, the word apologia, the courtroom shape, the modern-English "apology" trap, defense vs. attack, the universal-believer charge
Lesson 1.2, The Biblical Charge, close reading of 1 Peter 3.15, Paul's apologia speeches in Acts 22, Acts 24, Acts 25, Acts 26, and the Areopagus model from Acts 17
Lesson 1.3, A Brief History of Apologetics, the line from Justin Martyr through Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Pascal, Lewis to the present
Lesson 1.4, The Apologist's Life, gentleness and reverence, argument-addiction as the discipline's specific pathology, prayer, humility, submission to the local church
Lesson 1.5, The Methods of Apologetics, the five major methods, their strengths, weaknesses, and when to deploy each

Key passages

Memorize the first one. Know the others well enough to find them without help. These recur across every module.

1 Peter 3.15, the charge to every believer to be ready with a reasoned defense, in gentleness and reverence
Acts 17:16-34, Paul at the Areopagus; the New Testament's longest apologetic case study (see Acts 17)
Jude 3, "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints"
Titus 1:9, the elder must give instruction in sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict
2 Cor 10:5, destroying arguments and taking thoughts captive
Col 4:6, "speech always gracious, seasoned with salt"

Next module

When you can state without notes what apologetics is, what apologia means, what 1 Peter 3.15 commands, who four major historical apologists were, and the spread of apologetic methods, you are ready.

→ Continue to 02 Faith and Worldview.

Common questions this page answers

Q: What is Module 1 of the apologetics course about?

Module 1 is the foundations: what apologetics is, what Scripture commands, who has done this work before, and what the apologist's life is meant to look like. Five lessons cover the word apologia, the biblical charge in 1 Peter 3:15, the history from Justin Martyr to today, the apologist's character, and the five major apologetic methods.

Q: What should I learn first if I'm new to apologetics?

Start with Lesson 1.1, What is Apologetics to understand the word apologia (a reasoned defense, not an apology in the modern sense), then move to Lesson 1.2, The Biblical Charge to learn 1 Peter 3:15 and Paul's Areopagus speech in Acts 17. The foundational verse and the biblical models come before everything else.

Q: Do I need to memorize Bible verses to do apologetics?

1 Peter 3:15 should be memorized cold. Know Acts 17:16-34 (Paul's Areopagus speech), Jude 3, Titus 1:9, 2 Corinthians 10:5, and Colossians 4:6 well enough to find them quickly. These recur across every course module.

Q: How long does it take to finish Module 1?

Move at your own pace; the module is built for ownership, not speed. You are ready for Module 2 when you can state without notes what apologetics is, what apologia means, what 1 Peter 3:15 commands, who four major historical apologists were, and the spread of apologetic methods.