SCOTT CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

APOLOGETICS

BY

ESTHER JELANGAT SAMBU

REGESTARTION NUMBER: MAT/MKS/011/2024

THE 618: APOLOGETICS

SUBMITTED TO DR. AGNES MAKAU

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 3RD APRIL 2025

APOLOGETICS THROUGH AFRICAN EYES.

INTRODUCTION

Apologetics according to Reuben Kigame, a brother and a writer who is physically blind but

spiritually sighted and of great importance to the apologists of the day. Kigame talks about

Christian apologetics through the African eye. In essence not only writing for Africans but also

to any other apologist in any part of the world, whether African or not African, Christianity

should be viewed from the African perspective dissecting the challenges and seizing the

opportunities there to express our Christianity the African way. Though in the African way the

essentials of the gospel are not compromised as such.

In other words, the standard of the gospel is kept.

Reuben Kigame wants the readers to see the need to consider Christianity as an African religion

especially as it is Afrocentrism, Africanness and Afro-Christianity.

The Christianity according to the Kigame is the study of apologetics that makes us more wiser

and hunger for Biblical truth grows in us day by day. The result is that every apologist is not

ashamed of the Gospel of Christ which is liberating and more fulfilling.

What is apologetics?

According to Kagame’s book apologetics is an explanation for a conviction or position someone

holds strongly.

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Secondly, it’s explanation come from pole mikos meaning to have battle over ideas whether

religious academic or political. It aims at attaining God's truth.

Thirdly, apologetics is not philosophy but instead based on the truth of the Bible. The wisdom

apologetics pursue is the truth about the lordship of Jesus Christ whose word is superior to the

‘hollow philosophy.’

Lastly, apologetics is a call to be able to answer anyone who asks you about your Faith in the

lord Jesus Christ such declaration of one's faith in Christ Jesus is not unbound to few individuals

like Europe, America, Asia as well as Africa itself.

We can biblically define apologetics from scripture like in Acts 225:16.

Here apologetics is the act of defending oneself from accusers who bring charges against you.

Defense is seen in 1 Corinthians 9:3 and Philippians 1:7 as is the case of Paul. In 2 Corinthians

10:5; we demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of

God. Apologetics is also taking captive every thought and after that make it concern to God’s

law, knowledge, will and purpose.

Apologetics is defined by scholars including Kikame and others as a defense of faith against

those who do not believe. The faith and philosophies that defend Christian faith. It’s also called a

defense of conduct and procedure.

Why apologetics?

We do apologetics for it is a command from God. Secondly, we do it because down history

apologetics have been done by apostles, saints and believers throughout the church history.

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Today we should do apologetics to defend the faith which is continually under attack. This

should be done to avert the cults, false teachers, sexual perverters and those who are greedy for

power and money.

There is a question the writer possesses on us the readers, what does Christian apologetics entail?

It then entails answering questions like, among others:

Is the Bible the word of God?

Are heaven and hell real?

Did Jesus really raise from the dead?

Is polygamy wrong? Among other questions. Kigame’s book is preparing us for answers in

defense of the truth of scriptures and validity of faith.

Apologetics according to the writer of ‘Apologetics through the African style of dance and song

and in the African way. It makes sense to do it the African style through song in the African set

up.

The biblical apologists in the Old Testament each had a part to play in defending the truth of the

faith in God. All these apologists from the Garden of Eden all through to the prophets and to

Jesus in the New Testament and the Apostle or disciples themselves.

In the history of Christian apologetics believers like the apostles and other martyrs who died in

defense of the gospel.

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In conclusion the history of Christian apologetics continues even today. That in Africa God is

raising apologists like John Gilchrist, from south Africa Eric Simiyu and Jared Oginga and Dr.

John Njoroge are the latest in the Arena of apologists.

It's believed that the future of Christian apologetics in Africa remains bright as we built on the

foundation of Christ.

A REFLECTION ON THE PROBLEM OF EVIL AND SUFFERING BY Isaiah M. Dau

INTRODUCTION

Suffering is a fact of life for many today. People in African have witnessed a great deal of

suffering.

As a result of amidst suffering the church has grown and people have come to believe in God.

The people ask why does suffering exist? Why does God allow suffering? What is the purpose of

suffering? Why does God allow suffering? These are the questions to be answered. It all

concerns evil and suffering.

From the Africans cosmology

From the African point of view suffering is real. The existential coherent reality in Africa is all

about good or bad blessings and misfortunes comfort and suffering joy and grief and unfair and

better. The hierarchy of deities beginning wish God and ending with plants is respected.

The origin of evil nonedealness the Dinka of Sudan can trace the origin of evil to a man who

disobeyed God and caused him to depart in live in the sky. Human beings try to reach him in no

avail.
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The origin of evil is the spirits and especially the spirits of those who departed soon living Dead.

Africans do not hold to God fir any suffering or misfortunes last one that has invoked anger to

compel God to act.

(Mbiti 1950-30)

Moral and natural evil

Africans believe in morality and failure to it then comes punishment because of evil committed.

Africans believes that right follow the good conduct and bad can follow the bad conduct.

God can not punish good and punishes evil.

A person actions are only accepted when exposed and good. Evil deeds like witchcraft sorcery or

magic are all causes of suffering.

(Magesa 1997_162) explains that evil people use evil forces.

Natural evil in the form of droughts, epidemics and floods or other calamities are believed to be

instigated by someone or something.

Africans offer prayer to appease God and invokes the spirit to bring good fortunes and blessings.

Just like it is in Christianity Africans prayers libations and offering to avert suffering and bring

harmony.

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Africans address God with prayers and songs to petition what they feel is not rightful done to the

by God who is all powerful. The African communities give names to God according to their

diversity.

Theologically suffering is seen from both perceptions of African and theological perspectives

from the same eye of suffering without course and that the supreme being cannot let us alone to

suffer but mitigates our suffering through bringing solace and comfort to us. Both cannot point

out the source of suffering but can provide end to it.