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== Discussion ==
The word "apologetics" is used eight times in the New Testament <ref> Acts 22:1; 25:16; I Cor. 9:3, II Cor. 7:11, Phil 1:7, II Tim. 4:16 and I Pet 3: 15 </ref> The verse most commonly associated as the basis of this:
: ''" ... but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence"'' (I Peter 3:15)
The Apostles and early Christians preached Christ crucified and resurrected as a veritable fact, and were not in need of any scientific and philosophical structures and dialectical subtleties. And preachers themselves, in the name of Christ, performed miracles through their faith. At first, Christianity was accepted only through faith, and only later did faith itself become an object of reflection. Appearing in a Judeo-pagan world, Christianity, in defending itself from attachattacks, was forced to disclose the delusions of the pagans and Hebrews. It was necessary to prove to the pagans that the Christian God is the true God; and to the Hebrews that Christ is the Messiah promised by the prophets. In answer to the persecutions of the governing powers, the Christians had to refute defamation and prove that they not only were not injurious to the government, but on the contrary, were very useful, in consequence of the high moral basis of the new teaching. This explains the character of early Christian Apologetics, <ref> [Note: Excerpt from ''Orthodox Apologetic Theology'' by Ivan M. Andreyev, [[St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood]], 1995, p. 51-65] </ref>
This word is first found in the [[Epistle]] of the Holy [[Apostle]] [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in which he instructs,
In Orthodox theology, term [[Apologetics]] is used in regards to defending the true faith against atheists, pagans, Jews and others. This defense, however, is done in a manner that is loving and in order to ''bear good fruits'' and should not be polemical or obsessive in manner, which in many cases is considered detrimental to the Apostolic Faith.
The earliest apologists were the Church Fathers. There Their apologies cover a wide range of topics including the Divine origin of the Church, Christ's Nature, Scripture, the Theotokos, miracles, Christian social interaction and the function of doctrine.
Orthodox Apologetics, however, has always tried to give an intellectual synthesis of both general and particular apologetic problems, using as a cornerstone the positive method of building the organically whole Christian worldview. The literature of Apologetics is unusually vast, diverse and almost boundless. But, from a strictly Orthodox point of view, a fully complete, whole and deeply absorbing textbook of Apologetics has not yet been prepared.
== List of apologetic work ==
The method adopted by the Church to resolve the vital differences of opinion concerning the meaning of the Scriptures was the ecumenical or universal councils, usually called and presided over by the Roman emperor. There were seven councils that were representative of the whole Christian Church and form the key "apologetics" for the Orthodox faith.
*Nicaea Nicea (325), to settle the Arian dispute
*Constantinople (381), to assert the personality of the Holy Spirit and the humanity of Christ
*Ephesus (431), to emphasize the unity of Christ's personality
*Constantinople (553), to deal with the Monophysite dispute
*Constantinople (680), to condemn the Monothelites
*Nicaea Nicea (787), to deal with problems raised by the image controversy
The next list of important apologetic works relate to the writings by the early Church Fathers. The following list follows a chronological listing of these.
* The [[Nicene Creed]]
* ''"The Fountain of Knowledge,"'' by St. John of Damascus (7th-century).
=== General topics ===
* Classical apologetics, iei. Proof in e., proof of the existence of God (include Apologists like including apologists such as [[Augustine of Hippo]] and [[Thomas Aquinas]])* the existence of the Holy Trinity.* the relationship between the two natures of Christ / the Divine Nature of Christ / Monophysite.* the humanity of Christ.* the personality of the Holy Spirit.* Proof that the Virgin Mary should be being honoured as "Theotokos" or "Panagia".* the virginity of the Theotokos.* the Theotokos and the saints as intercessors.
* the place of icons in orthodox worship
== Modern Apologies and Apologists ==
* [http://www.nicenetruth.com/home/2008/01/debate-with-ref.html Jay Dyer debates reformed baptist Josh Brisby on the '''Nicene Truth'''], debatte commenced January 2008.
[[Category:Theology]]
[[Categoryel:TheologyΑπολογητές]][[ro:Apologetică]]
