627. apologia

Lexicon

apologia: Defense, Answer, Apology

Original Word: ἀπολογία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: apologia
Pronunciation: ah-po-lo-GEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ol-og-ee'-ah)
Definition: Defense, Answer, Apology
Meaning: a verbal defense (particularly in a law court).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

answer for oneself, clearing of self, defense.

From the same as apologeomai; a plea ("apology") -- answer (for self), clearing of self, defence.

see GREEK apologeomai

HELPS Word-studies

627 apología (from 575 /apó, "from" and 3056 /lógos, "intelligent reasoning") – properly, a well-reasoned reply; a thought-out response to adequately address the issue(s) that is raised.

627 /apología ("reasoned defense") is the term for making a legal defense in an ancient court. Today 627 /apología ("biblical apologetics") is used for supplying evidences for the Christian faith.

[An "apology" in classical times had nothing to do with saying, "I'm sorry," but rather was a reasoned argument (defense) that presented evidence (supplied compelling proof).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from apologeomai
Definition
a speech in defense
NASB Translation
defense (7), vindication (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 627: ἀπολογία

ἀπολογία, ἀπολογίας, ἡ (see ἀπολογέομαι), verbal defense, speech in defense: Acts 25:16; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Philippians 1:7, 17 (16); 2 Timothy 4:16; with a dative of the person who is to hear the defense, to whom one labors to excuse or to make good his cause: 1 Corinthians 9:3; 1 Peter 3:15; in the same sense, ἡ ἀπολογία ἡ πρός τινα, Acts 22:1 (Xenophon, mem. 4, 8, 5).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from ἀπολογέομαι (apologeomai), which means "to defend oneself" or "to speak in defense."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἀπολογία, the concept of a verbal defense or justification can be related to Hebrew terms such as רִיב (riyb, Strong's H7378), which means "to contend" or "to plead," and תּוֹכֵחָה (tokhechah, Strong's H8433), meaning "rebuke" or "reproof." These terms capture the essence of making a case or defending a position, similar to the Greek concept of ἀπολογία.

Usage: The term ἀπολογία is used in the New Testament to refer to a formal defense or justification of one's actions, beliefs, or teachings. It is often associated with the act of defending the Christian faith or one's conduct in the face of accusations or misunderstandings.

Context: The term ἀπολογία appears in several key passages in the New Testament, where it is used to describe the act of defending the Christian faith or one's personal conduct. In Acts 22:1, Paul uses the term when addressing the crowd in Jerusalem, providing a defense of his actions and conversion: "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you." Similarly, in Philippians 1:7, Paul speaks of his role in defending and confirming the gospel: "It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me."

The concept of ἀπολογία is central to the Christian calling to be prepared to give a reasoned explanation for one's faith, as seen in 1 Peter 3:15: "But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect." This passage highlights the importance of being ready to articulate one's beliefs clearly and respectfully, emphasizing the need for both knowledge and humility in the act of apologetics.

The use of ἀπολογία in the New Testament underscores the early Christians' need to articulate and defend their faith in a world that was often hostile or indifferent to their message. It reflects the broader biblical theme of standing firm in one's convictions and being able to communicate the truth of the gospel effectively.

Forms and Transliterations

απολογια απολογία ἀπολογία ἀπολογίᾳ απολογιαν απολογίαν ἀπολογίαν απολογιας απολογίας ἀπολογίας απόλοιπα απόλοιπον απολοίπου απολοίπων apologia apología apologíāi apologian apologían apologias apologías

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 22:1 N-GFS
GRK: ὑμᾶς νυνὶ ἀπολογίας
NAS: hear my defense which I now
KJV: my defence [which I make] now
INT: you now defense

Acts 25:16 N-GFS
GRK: τόπον τε ἀπολογίας λάβοι περὶ
NAS: an opportunity to make his defense against
KJV: licence to answer for himself concerning
INT: opportunity and of defense he may get concerning

1 Corinthians 9:3 N-NFS
GRK: Ἡ ἐμὴ ἀπολογία τοῖς ἐμὲ
NAS: My defense to those who examine
KJV: Mine answer to them that do examine me
INT: my defense to those me

2 Corinthians 7:11 N-AFS
GRK: σπουδήν ἀλλὰ ἀπολογίαν ἀλλὰ ἀγανάκτησιν
NAS: in you: what vindication of yourselves, what
KJV: yea, [what] clearing of yourselves, yea,
INT: earnestness but [what] defense but anger

Philippians 1:7 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ ἀπολογίᾳ καὶ βεβαιώσει
NAS: in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation
KJV: and in the defence and
INT: in the defense and confirmation

Philippians 1:16 N-AFS
GRK: ὅτι εἰς ἀπολογίαν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου
NAS: that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;
INT: that for defense of the gospel

2 Timothy 4:16 N-DFS
GRK: πρώτῃ μου ἀπολογίᾳ οὐδείς μοι
NAS: At my first defense no one supported
KJV: my first answer no man stood
INT: first of me defense no one me

1 Peter 3:15 N-AFS
GRK: ἀεὶ πρὸς ἀπολογίαν παντὶ τῷ
NAS: [being] ready to make a defense to everyone
KJV: to [give] an answer to every man
INT: [be] always for a defense to everyone

Strong's Greek 627
8 Occurrences

ἀπολογία — 3 Occ.
ἀπολογίαν — 3 Occ.
ἀπολογίας — 2 Occ.