Abstract
The work of an apologist in some ways parallels the work of a scientist. Both seek to "prove" (as in "establish by testing") the truth of their explanation for something and, thus, to defend their idea against challenges. Both look for solutions to problems, specifically inconsistencies and unanswered questions arising from their proposed explanations. A Christian apologist's job is to prove and defend the veracity of the Gospel, chiefly by establishing the reliability of Scripture and by solving apparent problems in biblical interpretation or theology. This brief background sheds light on the rise-and the fall-of an apologetics hypothesis popularly known as "the gap theory."