TheologyApologetic: A Defense of the Christian Faith

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (John 1:1, ESV) [1] Ἐν (In) ἀρχῇ (beginning) ἦν (be) ὁ (the) λόγος (Word), καὶ (and) ὁ (the) λόγος (Word) ἦν (be) πρὸς (with) τὸν (the) θεόν (God), καὶ (and) θεὸς (God) ἦν (be) ὁ (the) λόγος (Word).   This fourth book of the New Testament falls within the genre of the four gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke make up what are referred to as the Synoptic Gospels. The word, "synoptic", is divided into two parts, syn , from the Greek meaning with or together with and functions as a prefix; while the second part optic , from the Greek optikos , means to be visible or to be seen . John’s gospel commences with the ministry of Christ to the time of His ascension, as does Mark’s gospel. One thing that differentiates the synoptic gospels from that of John is that the first three are about establishing “the kingdom of God” or “heaven”, 121x in the synoptics and only 5x in the gospel of John. The ...

  By Noel Coypel - http://www.1st-art-gallery.com/Noel-Coypel/The-Resurrection-Of-Christ,-1700.html, Public Domain, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28274624   External Evidence: The Historical Account  So, for the record, let me just state again my purpose in addressing the narrative of the gospel accounts, particularly the gospel of Mark, in establishing the historicity of Jesus in parts one and two. The most voluminous work we have for the existence of Jesus and all that He said and did has for its locus the four gospels. As such it was necessary for me to lay the groundwork there, in an effort to show the veracity and the validity of those accounts. In establishing their veracity, I demonstrated their accuracy in how claims made correspond with what is actually true or factual. In establishing their validity, I have demonstrated that the manuscript evidence is well-grounded and sound. It is so sound in fact that what evidence I have provided to this poin...

  Part Three: The Existential Problem of Evil      Everything that I have stated to this point in parts one and two is true, whether you believe it or not is a different matter. But there is another aspect to this whole issue that gets more to the heart of the problem. Though conversations of this nature may commence at the intellectual level, they seldom remain there. The crux of the issue tends to be more of a personal one, the experience of some loss or some deep-seated suffering, mental, emotional or physical. It ultimately falls under the Emotional Problem of Evil (EPE), sometimes referred to as Existential Problem of Evil (ExPoE). But the answer to the problem may be viewed as somewhat paradoxical given the answer to the grief experienced. While accusations for the existence of evil are typically directed at God, He is never the cause of evil, “ God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” (James 1:13b, ESV) [1] He reaches out to com...

  Part 2: The Philosophical Problem of Evil It may prove beneficial to the reader to know exactly what the term “theodicy” actually means.  It is comprised of two Greek words, theos meaning “God” and dice meaning “justice”. A theodicy therefore is an attempt to show that, not only does God exist, but also that He is just, regardless of the existence of evil in the world.      While it is true that God created all things in existence, it is not true that He created evil. Evil is not a thing or substance but a lack in some good thing, as such God cannot be the author of evil. Augustine argued that evil is privation, the same argument was echoed by Aquinas. Every creation of God is good; evil exists when that good thing is corrupted. That trees exist is a great good. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and expel oxygen; we expel carbon dioxide while taking in oxygen. Disease, decay, or rottenness in a tree is a lack in that good thing. Such decay exists as an evil i...