Skip to main contentAccessibility feedback

Dear Catholic.com visitor: To continue providing the top Catholic resources you have come to depend on, we need your help. If you find catholic.com a useful tool, please take a moment to support the website with your donation today.

Dear Catholic.com visitor: To continue providing the top Catholic resources you have come to depend on, we need your help. If you find catholic.com a useful tool, please take a moment to support the website with your donation today.

What is the difference between an apologist and a theologian?

Question:

What is the difference between an apologist and a theologian? I've been told that an apologist doesn't have to be a theologian, and I don't understand why not.

Answer:

As a somewhat rough analogy, the difference between an apologist and a theologian is like the difference between a science teacher and a scientist: Just as a science teacher explains science and a scientist develops human understanding of science, an apologist explains and defends what is known about the faith, while a theologian explores the faith and seeks to expand upon what is known about the faith. What that can mean in practical terms is that while a theologian should be prepared to act as an apologist, an apologist need not be a theologian.

Did you like this content? Please help keep us ad-free
Enjoying this content?  Please support our mission!Donatewww.catholic.com/support-us