“Evangelism and apologetics are closely related. Both have a common general goal: encouraging commitment to Jesus Christ. On this understanding, apologetics clears the ground for evangelism; it makes evangelism more effective by preemptively addressing impediments to hearing the gospel.
This is certainly true, but I submit that apologetics is also useful in the midst of the presentation of the gospel and after the presentation of the gospel. In other words, there is no moment in which a Christian takes off her evangelist hat and puts on her apologist hat. The relationship is more seamless than that. The difference between the two is one of focus.
Evangelism is focused on presenting the gospel; apologetics is focused on defending and commending it.
There is, moreover, an important difference in the audience of evangelism and apologetics.
Evangelism is done only with non-Christians but apologetics should be done with Christians and non-Christians alike…“
Quote from the book - Thinking About Christian Apologetics: What It Is and Why We Do It by James K. Beilby
