Love and Judgment in Scripture: Biblical Perspectives Unveiled

Why is apologetics so important?

People often undervalue apologetics, but we must remember that the first believers, the apostles, were apologists. Why did Paul confront the Galatians and the Cretans? Why did Peter confront and have such harsh language for false teachers in 2 Peter 2? These leaders, inspired apostles, were all apologists. Christians of today are so hesistant to confront heretics, claiming that the Bible commands us not to judge and we should show love to others. The latter is true, but we need to be very careful about how we are defining love. The bible defines love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not EASILY ANGERED, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love DOES NOT DELIGHT IN EVIL but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." NIV

Often, people stop reading at verse 4, but the following verses are very crucial 'love DOES NOT DELIGHT IN EVIL, but rejoices with the truth' and also 'it is not EASILY ANGERED'. These verses imply that there may be a need for confrontation. Also note that the verse does not say that anger is the antithesis of love; he even imples that there may occasionally be times where anger is necessary. Evidently, this is not how many people today would define love.

Secondly the bible does not say that we should not judge others. It is written, in Matthew 7:1-3 "“1 Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?"

Christ never commands us not to judge others, he is simply saying that we should recognise our own sinfulness and deal with it, before we judge others.

But we're not the apostles...

Today, many people will read through the passages where the apostles pass down judgement on others and rebuke them, only to conlude that: "we're not apostles, so we shouldn't be arguing with people". However, a major problem with this argument is that the Apsotles wrote their letters to give instructions to the early church, and future generations (which includes us!). Many will appeal to Titus 3:1-2 "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle ἐπιεικής (epieikēs) toward everyone." [1] However, we really must be careful about how we apply this verse. If Paul is saying to be subject to rulers and authorites, then why (according to Church tradition) was he persecuted under Nero? [2] Is this hyporcrisy? A careful reading of the text will answer these questions. The verses leading up to this highlight the dire need to speak out against false teachers. He declares that Timothy has the authority to rebuke false teachings.

"15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke WITH ALL AUTHORITY. Do not let anyone despise you." Titus 1:15 NIV

He also gives the same authority to the elders of the church "Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and REFUTE THOSE WHO OPPOSE it."

So what does Paul mean when he instructs us to be gentle and peacable in Titus 3:2 ? 2 Corinthians 10:1 helps us understand how the apostle is using the word gentlness ἐπιεικής (epieikēs). "By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away!" Here, Paul is instructing the Corinthians to act in the gentleness of Christ. John Macarthur exegetes this passage, debunking this idea that gentleness implies weakness and submissiveness:

"How is it that we can even look at Jesus in that way? After all, He blasted the Temple system twice, once at the beginning of His ministry and once at the end. He condemned the hypocrites, the leaders of Israel; He unleashed judgment on their heads. There’s no cowardly Christ; that is inconceivable. He stood fearlessly before a crowd that wanted to stone Him and disappeared. And then He took whips to clean out the Temple when His Father’s house had been defiled. Yet the Bible says He was meek; He’s the model of meekness, total selflessness. How is this possible: to be both meek and such a force against evil? And the answer is this: that Jesus never wielded His power to defend Himself. He never wielded His power to defend Himself." [3]

Conclusion

Therefore, we must be gentle and loving, but this does NOT MEAN that we should be weak and neglect apologetics. The apostles and the saints are "a cloud of witnesses" and Jesus Christ is the ultimate example we should follow, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith" . These verses cannot be used to downplay apologetics; they demonstrate that all christians should learn how to defend their the theology and the core tenets of their faith.

Sources

[1] Bible Hub. (2026). 2 Corinthians 10:1 - Paul’s Apostolic Authority. [online] Available at: https://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/10-1.htm [Accessed 29 Mar. 2026].

[2] Ccel.org. (2026). Jacobus de Voragine: Golden Legend, vol. 4 - Christian Classics Ethereal Library. [online] Available at: https://ccel.org/ccel/voragine/goldleg4/goldleg4.vii.html [Accessed 30 Mar. 2026].

[3] Grace to You. (2022). The Strength of Gentleness. [online] Available at: https://www.gty.org/sermons/49-16/the-strength-of-gentleness [Accessed 30 Mar. 2026].

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