Apocalyptic Apologetics and the Witness of the Church

The discipline of apologetics has always been somewhat controversial in Christian theology. In the early church, Greek-speaking apologists were often opposed for their attempts to express gospel terms Greek thought. more recent times, critiques Soren Kierkegaard and Karl Barth, that it is an attempt appeal foundations have nothing do with gospel, cast a shadow over years. This paper seeks take those seriously, yet argues vital ongoing witness Church. It offers new vision based on theological Apocalyptic genre. Rather than prove existence God or truth faith by rational means, Apologetics can be reconceived as essentially narrative descriptive discipline. genre thinks result announcement good news radical incursion into human life history Incarnation Resurrection. thus becomes describe world history, politics, relationships art (in fact, everything created) lit up light glory face Jesus Christ. wide-ranging imaginative venture redescribe gospel. approach re-establishes crucial part Church’s while avoiding critique smuggles assumptions from outside itself.