The Origins of Christian Apologetics
Although we can see the beginnings of Christian apologetics in the New Testament in the ministries of Peter and Paul, apologetics really got going in the second century. It is here that we see Christian thinkers writing “Apologies,” defences of the Christian faith in a systematic fashion.
The focus was often on clearing up misunderstandings to show why the church should not be persecuted, as well as responding to some of the heresies that had arisen.
I talk about the rise of Christian apologetics in the second century in my History of Christianity podcast. You can listen to the episode here:
