Bible Verses About Early Christian Apologetics

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Direct command to contend for the faith

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Direct command to make a defense

Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

direct passage for explaining and proving from Scripture

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

passage for honorable conduct among outsiders

My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Confession motif supports public witness under pressure

Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

passage for good conscience under accusation

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

directly about proving from Scriptures

And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Shows adversaries and salvation in suffering

But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

Uses defense language directly, though not about apologetics methods

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

shows searching Scripture to test claims

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

General New Testament link between suffering and Christian identity

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.