Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 98:391 (Jul 1941)
Article: The Apologetic Element in Scripture
Author: John Henry Bennetch

BSac 98:391 (Jul 41) p. 320

The Apologetic Element in Scripture

John Henry Bennetch

The history of Christian Doctrine often concentrates on heresy. G. P. Fisher in summarizing the scope of Church History has shown the propriety of this observation. “The chief landmarks in the course of Doctrinal History are easily discerned. The earliest writings of a theological cast were naturally apologetic. Christian truth was defended against assaults without and within the Christian fold. Then followed within the Church widespread controversy on central points of doctrine especially the Trinity and the Incarnation-the issue of which was the Catholic theology. In the West there were controversies on Sin and Grace, which settled, on these themes, but with less precision, the bounds of orthodoxy. A period of intellectual stagnation ensued, not entirely unbroken, but lasting for several centuries. Then occurred the Rise of Scholasticism, and the opening of a new theological era, which extended to the Reformation. At that point begins the modern period in which criticism and essays at reconstruction are defining characteristics.”1 Judging from history, theology itself came in as a means to withstand error. Words of Scripture but confirm the danger which has lurked in the onslaught of false teaching. “If the world hate you,” said Christ to His faithful band, “ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.... They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” (John 15:18–19; 16:2). Compare Luke 21:12ff (vs. 14 ends with the word answer, a word in the original from which comes the theological term, apology, i.e. defence. Apology is only a transliteration); Matthew 23:29ff.

Although the history of Christianity intimates how

BSac 98:391 (Jul 41) p. 321

serious and constant has been the impact from heretical zeal, students are just beginning to read the Bible with special regard for its widespread apologetic. No doubt the defensive cast to the New Testament has attracted more notice than that to the Old. The need for scrutinizing apostolic confirmation of the Gospel is gaining recognition steadily. Hitherto the starting point for general histories of Christian Apologetics has been the second century. Not until 1907, it seem...