MOSES OGUTA OMINO

BT/ 006/ 20135

BOOK SUMMARY

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS THROUGH AFRICAN EYES

CHAPTER 3: PAGES 36 - 83

APOLOGETICS: THE 4513

PRESENTED TO
DR. RUTERE
DR. MUTURA BARIU

6TH NOVERMBER, 2018

PAN AFRICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

In his book, “Christian Apologetics Through African Eyes”, pages 36 – 83, Reuben Kigame

introduces us to Apologetics in the Bible. He recounts from the book of Genesis how God is

presented as an intelligent, all-knowing and powerful God who spoke the creation into its existence

through an orderly sequence. Thus, man was created a rational being in God’s likeness to reason

with God and fellow men. Kigame notes that men of God have differently responded to the

opposition to their faith by engaging their reasoning capacity, and this is the basis of apologetics.

The practice of apologetics abounds in the Bible right from the garden of Eden as God questions

and interrogates the fallen man inviting him to reason with Him.

Later on, after the fall from Eden, Kigame highlights Noah as a staunch apologist.

Wickedness abounded on the earth during his time, but he was righteous and defended God’s word

when it was norm to suppress it. Kigame posits that Noah faced a higher kind of immorality,

depravity and obstinacy than is found in our times, which vexed God to regret having created man.

It is noteworthy that as an apologist, Noah had first to find favor with God. His defense for the

faith was proven by his disposition to stay morally upright. He thus led a blameless life and walked

with God in obedience and friendship as did Adam.

Further on, Kigame explores Abraham’s walk as an apologist of the Old Testament. From

Noah’s time, myths, religious taboos and rituals were the norm and opposed loyalty to Yahweh

whom Noah had walked with in righteousness. Abraham exercised faith in the God Most High.

God established a salvific plan for the whole creation out of idolatry, paganism by making a

revelatory patriarchal line by him. Thus, Abraham withstood great odds to defend the faith in God.

Among the men of old who stood out in the defense of the faith, Kigame also touches on

Moses who was quite reluctant at first to respond to his call. He would later plead for Israel’s

release from Pharaoh’s grip. It is to be noted that Moses had to convince Pharaoh, whom the
Egyptians considered a God, that he was an emissary of the God most High. He had to defend God

above the sorcerers, magicians and counterfeit miracles that abounded in the king’s court. The

author cites Moses reasoning with God later on during the exodus when He would destroy the

Israelites for their obstinacy. Modern day apologists should take note of Moses’ extensive learning

which prepared him to engage his intellectual faculties well. He delivered and defended the law

and further predicted the coming of Jesus, maintaining the veracity of his ministry as a propagator

and defender of the faith in God through miracles and true prophecy.

David’s walk as a unique apologist reveals boldness in facing a gigantic opposition to his

faith in God. Of apologetic significance, he tackled the Goliath who taunted Israel and Yahweh.

Goliath looked down on the God of Israel to David’s indignation and wrath. This encounter is an

apt reminder to all believers that all battles are concocted spiritually before they manifest

physically. Kigame supports this position by citing Paul who declared that we wage war not against

flesh and blood but against principalities and powers that anchor all anti-God philosophy and

resistance.

The other figures that stood out as Old Testament apologists were the prophets. Elijah was

key among them as he challenged all Israel to stop wavering between Yahweh and Baal worship.

He also confronted the idolatrous king Ahab and queen Jezebel for misleading God’s nation into

the worship of Baal. Elijah’s apologetic style employed sarcasm on Baal and God authenticated

his defense by miraculous signs for the veracity of his message. The author notes Elijah as

establishing good ground rule of fairness for apologetic dialogue by allowing the other party to

take the floor first. Though Elijah was bold in chastising the king, he was also fearful enough to

run away for his life. Kigame cites this as a normal human act and that an apologist will encounter

moments of triumph and some of insecurity.

 The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah also used sarcasm and direct mockery at the folly and

irony of idol worshippers when both of them marvel at how a piece of wood is cut and fashioned

into a god while some bit of it makes firewood yet the people still bow down to it in worship.

Jeremiah is cited as further targeting false prophecy and heresy of those who purport to speak for

God yet don’t seek Him.

The author also highlights on Ezekiel who, like his predecessors, raged against the false

shepherds of Israel and also against distorted theological teachings, especially that the children

would bear the wrath of their parents’ sinfulness. Kigame exhorts apologists to strongly fight the

modern-day idolatry and polytheism much like Old Testament prophets did.

A unique kind of apologetics is revealed by Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego in

captivity. They could not compromise their faith by eating unclean food and wine. Daniel

maintained his orderly hours of prayers to his God to the point of being fed to the lion but God

delivered him to authenticate his defense of the faith and the veracity of his message to the shame

of the magicians and sorcerers of the king’s court. Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego suffered the

wrath of the king as they were flung into the fiery furnace for failing to bow to the golden image.

They would only bow down to God, and their true God miraculously delivered them from the fire

to give credence to their faith. Kigame maintains that a huge cloud of apologists abound in the Old

Testament and space would not permit to recount of each.

Jesus appears in the scripture as a staunch apologist in the New Testament. He explained

God’s kingdom and the Messiah’s role as a teacher, speaking as the logos. As a High Priest, he

would offer his blood to redeem man and is gone now into the Holy of Holies. His apology was

attested by the miracles that validated his teaching. He had a practical, interrogative, logical and

allegorical style of teaching and refuting. Kigame posits that Jesus’ apologetics manifested in his
use of personal dialogue and focused fellowship as seen in encounters with the Samaritan woman

and in conversation with Nicodemus. Genuine interest in individuals is an important approach in

Christian apologetics. Jesus also gave evidential truths to his critics in John the Baptist’s testimony

of him, the irrefutable miracles he performed, the testimonies of the scriptures about him, the

testimony of the Father to the Son at the baptism and during the transfiguration. Moses, whom his

critics venerated, testified about him too. The biggest evidence for his apology was his resurrection

and the empty grave. The author further notes Jesus’ apologetic style of questioning and also

appeal to critical thinking. In this, he summed the law into the love of the neighbor and love of

God with all heart, soul, mind and strength. This calls for the use of the mental faculties when

serving him and others. Above all, he used parables and symbols to convey his message. Kigame

maintains that apologists should learn parables to employ in their defenses.

From Jesus, Kigame highlights the apologetics of Peter who was Jesus’ apostle. He cites

Peter’s deep insight who even tutored Paul on the faith. Peter defended the faith against harsh

opposition from the Sadducees, Pharisees, Rabbis and the Lawyers, these groups consisting of

learned individuals. He believed the evidence of miracles and also of the power of eye-witness for

the defense of the belief. Peter advocated for a blameless life among the believers as a testimony

to the veracity of their faith. Furthermore, he strongly refuted false teachers, and prophets and

warned of their destructive heresies and teachings and the scoffers who challenged the

eschatological prophecies and promises that Jesus taught.

The apostle Paul emerges as a staunch New Testament apologist. Paul was mentored by

the Rabbi Gamaliel, a reasonable, gentle, respected and God-fearing man and was thus equipped

for the work of the kingdom. He never met Jesus in life but strongly defended the risen Christ who

appeared to him. Paul strongly challenged the ritualistic religion of Judaism citing its uselessness.
He also attacked paganism, atheism and all the related philosophies that gave room to sexual

pervasions which attract God’s wrath.

The author further highlights Paul’s challenge to the Hellenistic philosophy which he

considered hollow. As an itinerant missionary, he strongly countered heretical teachings that was

a combination of Gnosticism and ceremonialism in Colossae. Kigame reveals Paul’s defense in

Thessalonica as he reasoned with the Jews and God-fearing Greeks in the synagogues on

consecutive Sabbaths from the scriptures, explaining and proving thereby that Jesus was the

promised messiah. He ultimately met very stiff paganism and dominant Epicurean and Stoic

philosophers in their own domain.

Kigame notes that Luke, who was Paul’s companion in the missionary journeys, made a

strong apology for the faith. As a logical and consistent man, he made two carefully investigated

and powerful accounts of the church in the Acts of the apostles and the Gospel of Luke. These

reveal serious research and logic as he documented the major church events as a veracity of the

message of God’s kingdom.

To sum the overview of the apologetics in the Bible, Kigame highlights on the apologetics

of John the apostle. He wrote extensively in the Gospel, Epistles and the book of Revelation. His

apologia through the Epistles was addressed to both the Jews and the Non-Jews and defended the

faith against the encroaching heresies. John’s apology was evidential and he also employed Greek

philosophical concepts by perceiving Jesus as the logos. The world would lack the room for books

written about every deed of Jesus for their sheer number.

It is apparent therefore that the ministry of apologetics has been laid out from the very

outset in the beginning of creation and its thread follows throughout the ages as God calls upon

men to reason and defend their belief in Him.