Evangelism and Apologetics

Evangelism comes from the Koine Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (transliterated as euangelion), which means to proclaim the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Evangelism may take place in a variety of contexts: personally (one-on-one), small group, church assembly, or publicly. In the words of Archbishop William Temple, “To evangelize is so to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, that men shall come to put their trust in God through Him, to accept Him as their Savior, and serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His church."

Apologetics, from the Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense," is the discipline of defending the Christian faith and doctrine through rational arguments. In I Peter 3:15, we are told to “always be prepared to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.” Apologetics is an essential part of evangelism because it seeks to show that Christianity is not “irrational” or “unscientific.” It seeks to answer difficult questions that secular people often have (e.g. Why would a loving God allow suffering, etc.), which may lead to an explanation of the Gospel.

Recommended Reading

Green, Michael Evangelism Through the Local Church: A Comprehensive Guide to All Aspects of Evangelism (Regent College Publishing, 2012)

McDowell, Sean, Apologetics for a New Generation: A Biblical and Culturally Relevant Approach to Talking About God (Harvest House Publishers, 2009)

Resources for Further Study

Teasdale, Mark R. Evangelism for Non-Evangelists (IVP Academic, 2016)

Cham, Sam and Carson, D.A. Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable (Zondervan Academic, 2018)

Spurgeon, Charles The Soul-Winner: or How to Lead Sinners to the Saviour (GLH Publishing, 2016)

Packer, J.I. and Dever, Mark Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (IVP Books 2012)