1. What is “apologetics”?
Apologetics simply means giving reasons for believing in Christianity. It doesn’t mean making an apology, as if something is wrong with having faith, but rather offering an apology in the sense of explaining reasons for a commitment to Christ. Apologetics clarifies why it makes good sense to be a Christian.

2. What can apologetics do for me?
Affirm your faith. You may already know Christ as your Lord and Savior, and nothing can add to the eternal value of that. What apologetics can do for you, here and now, is to make you comfortable with why you believe. When you’re confronted (as most people are every day) by worldly thinking that often sounds good but actually has no grasp on reality, you’ll be more sure of what makes your beliefs right.

3. How will apologetics help me be a better witness for Christ?
Confidence is the key. It’s one (good) thing to stand firm on the conviction “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it in my life.” It’s another to explain to a non-believer exactly why you think God spoke in the Bible and through His Son, Jesus. Learning Christian apologetics can deepen your conviction—and make you a more passionate witness— because you understand the well-founded data that supports belief in God and commitment to Christ.

4. “Apologetics” sounds old fashioned—is it relevant?
Probably now more than ever. Dr. Ted Cabal, general editor of The Apologetics Study Bible and professor at The Southern Baptist Seminary, calls ours “the golden era of Christian apologetics.” Despite many loud voices to the contrary, more discoveries in science, archaeology, and historical scholarship in the last 100 years support the truth of Christianity than in any other era of history. We also live in a period that is—to put it bluntly— fairly blasphemous. People believe half-truths as well as outright lies that put them at odds with biblical faith. And they’re encouraged in wrong-headed thinking by pervasive and powerful forces—in media, politics, and entertainment—beyond what has ever faced people in earlier times. Outspoken Christians who are solidly grounded in apologetics is a crying need in the world today.

5. Are all apologists theologians, or do people from other areas of expertise also become apologists?
Apologists come from a wide range of disciplines, including science, philosophy, social sciences, anthropology, archaeology, and of course, theology. Some well-known non-theologian apologists from history include Blaise Pascal (philosopher and mathematician) and C. S. Lewis (literary scholar). The Apologetics Study Bible features articles about their work, along with a number of other historical apologists. Contemporary apologists who are not theologians “by trade” include Phillip Johnson (legal scholar and ASB contributor), Michael Behe (microbiologist), Robert Cornuke (criminologist), and Ted Cabal (philosopher and ASB general editor).

6. What does it take to be an apologist?
Mainly one thing: A desire to know the bedrock rationale for believing in the God of the Bible. Add to that some knowledge of historical facts and philosophical realities like those presented in The Apologetics Study Bible, and you’ve joined the apologists’ club.

7. How does The Apologetics Study Bible help me become an apologist?
With in-depth background on significant issues. The articles give you an apologetics overview of virtually every important subject area. Not only that, in most cases you’ll find the articles right alongside Scripture passages which address the question at hand. And once you dive into apologetics, you’ll find yourself beginning to think differently about why you believe. You’ll start putting more and more ideas together on your own, thanks to the way of thinking you’ll discover in The Apologetics Study Bible.

8. What kinds of questions does The Apologetics Study Bible help me to answer?
Literally dozens and dozens of them. There are more than 100 articles on various apologetics questions in The Apologetics Study Bible. To whet your appetite, here are a few:
• Does science support the Bible?
• Is there evidence for life after death?
• How should a Christian understand the age-of-the-earth controversy?
• Is psychology biblical?
• Has the Bible been accurately copied through the centuries?
• Are Jesus’ claims unique among the religions of the world?
• Why would a good God send people to an everlasting hell?

9. How is it helpful that the HCSB is the translation used in The Apologetics Study Bible?
The Holman Christian Standard Bible is an all-new English translation of the original biblical languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic), first published in full in 2003. Scholars behind the translation hold a high view of biblical inerrancy and take each word of Scripture very seriously. After rendering the most literal translation possible, they styled it to reflect modern English usage so as to amplify a reader’s understanding. The reasons for faith come clearer than ever because the HCSB opens a window into the ancient texts unlike any other contemporary translation.

10. When will The Apologetics Study Bible be available?
It will be in stores and online starting October 1, 2007.

11. Where will I be able to buy The Apologetics Study Bible?
Most anywhere books and Bibles are sold and, of course, online.

12. Isn’t a study Bible packed with so much information and background material extremely expensive?
Not necessarily. We’ve prepared a variety of editions so any budget can afford one, but we’ve also made sure you can buy it in the most elegant, durable format possible—whether you want to give a Bible as a memorable gift or use it for a lifetime of personal enrichment. Hardcover editions will be available for as little as $39.99 while genuine leather editions are priced up to $89.99 (bonded leathers fall in the mid-range, $59.99 - $69.99).