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Apologetics is the rational and factual defense of the Christian faith.
护教学（Apologetics）是对基督教信仰所作的理性且基于事实的辩护。
It has two purposes:
它有两个目的：
Confirm to Christians the credibility of their faith.
向基督徒确认他们信仰的可信性。
Expose to unbelievers their suppression of truth in order to prepare them to hear the gospel.
向不信者揭露他们对真理的压制，从而预备他们去聆听福音。
Where do we start?
我们从哪里开始呢？
The title Biblical Apologetics means I have chosen to limit this book to arguments the Bible itself uses.
“圣经护教学”（Biblical Apologetics）这一书名，意味着我选择将本书限定在圣经本身所使用的论证之内。
I have also chosen to limit it to a particular audience: Christian laymen who may appreciate basic tools for dealing with their non-Christian acquaintances, without complex philosophical elaborations.
我也选择将读者对象限定为一个特定群体：基督徒平信徒，他们可能需要一些基本工具，用以应对身边的非基督徒朋友，而不涉及复杂的哲学展开。
This book is not intended as an evangelistic device for unbelievers.
本书并非旨在作为向不信者传福音的工具。
Romans chapters one and two form the basis of this book with amplifications from other texts.
《罗马书》第一章和第二章构成本书的基础，并辅以其他经文的补充说明。
This approach fits better with the needs of the church members I know and with my own calling as a missionary and Bible teacher in Latin America.
这种方法更符合我所认识的教会成员的需要，也更符合我作为一名拉丁美洲宣教士和圣经教师的呼召。
Am I suggesting it is wrong to use philosophical arguments not found in the Bible?
我是否在暗示使用圣经中没有出现的哲学论证是错误的呢？
By no means.
绝非如此。
Use whatever works!
凡是有效的方式，都可以使用！
A lot has happened since the canon of Scripture was closed.
自从圣经正典（canon，指正典）完成以来，世界发生了许多事情。
Pseudo-Christian movements, scientific developments and philosophical thought-forms have inundated humanity.
假基督教运动、科学发展以及哲学思想形态，已经席卷了整个人类社会。
These need addressing but other books have been written about them.
这些问题确实需要回应，但已有其他书籍对此进行了论述。
Do apologetics lead people to Christ?
护教学是否把人带到基督面前呢？
Imagine approaching an onramp leading to a highway.
试想你正走近一条通向高速公路的入口匝道。
You notice a small tree fallen across the ramp, hindering you from proceeding.
你发现一棵小树倒在匝道上，阻挡了你继续前行。
You remove the tree and then continue onto the highway.
你把这棵树移开，然后继续驶入高速公路。
Removing the obstacle is like the role of apologetics.
清除障碍就像护教学所扮演的角色。
The tree represents intellectual arguments against the existence of God, the authority of Christ or the validity of the Bible.
这棵树代表反对上帝存在、反对基督权柄或否定圣经有效性的理性论证。
The highway symbolizes the gospel, which as Paul put it is repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ
高速公路象征福音，正如保罗所说，这福音就是向上帝悔改，并信靠我们的主耶稣基督。
You want the debris out of the way as quickly as possible to gain a hearing for the message.
你希望尽快把这些障碍清除，好让信息得以被人听见。
Dwelling too long on intellectual arguments would be like discussing the history of trees before removing it.
在理性论证上停留过久，就好像在移走树木之前，先去讨论树木的历史一样。
You would probably never get to the highway, which is precisely why the unbeliever put the tree there in the first place.
你很可能永远也上不了高速公路，而这正是不信者一开始就把树放在那里 的原因。
So the answer to the above question is no, apologetics does not lead people to Christ.
因此，对上述问题的回答是否定的：护教学并不会把人直接带到基督面前。
It removes the barriers to make it possible for an unbeliever to hear the gospel and consider it plausible.
它所做的，是移除障碍，使不信者有可能听见福音，并认为福音是可信的。
The gospel itself is the power of God for salvation and nothing else is (Romans 1:16).
唯有福音本身是上帝拯救的大能，除此以外别无他物（罗马书1:16）。
My own limitations
我自身的局限
Doctrine of salvation is my specialty, within a Latin American context as a missionary.
作为一名在拉丁美洲服事的宣教士，救恩论（Doctrine of salvation）是我的专长。
Yet apologetics, to some degree, is forced upon any minister by the nature of his calling.
然而，护教学在某种程度上，是任何传道人因其呼召的本质而无法回避的责任。
I have found a helpful tool.
我发现了一个有帮助的工具。
Let me share it with you.
让我与您分享。
About the author
关于作者
Dr. Roger Smalling and his wife Dianne are missionaries to Latin America with the Presbyterian Church In America, a theologically conservative branch of the Reformed movement.
罗杰·斯莫林博士（Dr. Roger Smalling）和他的妻子黛安娜（Dianne）是隶属于美国长老会（Presbyterian Church In America）的拉丁美洲宣教士，该教会是改革宗运动中一个神学上持守保守立场的分支。
Roger is also a professor with Miami International Seminary, which shares his vision for a Latin American reformation.
罗杰同时也是迈阿密国际神学院（Miami International Seminary）的教授，该学院与他一同怀有推动拉丁美洲改革的异象。
The Smallings travel extensively throughout Latin America, holding seminars in churches of various denominations.
斯莫林夫妇广泛走访拉丁美洲各地，在不同宗派的教会中举办研讨会。
Free study guides, essays and books by the Smallings are available in Spanish and English at www.smallings.com
斯莫林夫妇所著的免费学习指南、论文和书籍，可在 www.smallings.com 上以西班牙文和英文获取。