Tim Keller on why apologetics is essential:
Apologetics is an answer to the “why” question after you’ve already answered the “what” question. The what question, of course, is, “What is the gospel?” But when you call people to believe in the gospel and they ask, “Why should I believe that?”—then you need apologetics.
I’ve heard plenty of Christians try to answer the why question by going back to the what. “You have to believe because Jesus is the Son of God.” But that’s answering the why with more what. Increasingly we live in a time when you can’t avoid the why question. Just giving the what (for example, a vivid gospel presentation) worked in the days when the cultural institutions created an environment in which Christianity just felt true or at least honorable. But in a post-Christendom society, in the marketplace of ideas, you have to explain why this is true, or people will just dismiss it.
Thinking to Believe 
August 23, 2012 at 2:22 am
Excellent. I hope more in the faith begin to realize the need to have intellectual answers for an increasingly intellectual world. Why should be an expected question because it is an obvious one.
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August 23, 2012 at 2:58 am
Do you think the reason that the apostles never preached or taught on the ‘why’ was because they were seeped in a culture that believed that God existed and since God worked with them and confirmed his word with signs and wonders when the apostles preached then
there would be no need for apologetics.
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August 24, 2012 at 6:34 pm
CarolJean, in Apostles ministries, there were time were they worked in the area of apologetics. One example is Paul in Acts 17:22-34.
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August 27, 2012 at 11:06 am
CarolJean, I agree with Michael. We do see the “why” being addressed in Scripture. But you are also correct that there was not the kind of skepticism about the existence of God in that day that we have today. Everyone believed in supernatural beings. The only question was whose gods were the real gods. Working miracles could go a long way to demonstrate the answer to that question.
Jason
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September 7, 2012 at 11:44 am
Tim Keller, I was introduced to you “The Reason for God” by my pastor and I am forever grateful. You have a way of explaining “apologetics” (why and what about our Lord) with years and years of schooling behind your name and I believe God gave you a remarkable gift of promoting His name in a way where people “think” about your topics and/or sermons. You are fun to listen to and I want to further my education, so that I am able to debate our Lord and Savior with grace, God confidence, and lots of enthusiasm/joy! My debating skills have failed me miserably because I am too defensive. I listen to you during the week and I have learned so much from you–one being your non-judgmental attitude and your infectious love for Jesus Christ.
Sherry
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