ἀπολογ-ία G0627
A verbal defense or reasoned justification; a speech made in answer to accusations — not an expression of regret.
From ἀπό (from, away) + λόγος (word, reason), apologia denotes a reasoned verbal defense offered in response to charges or criticism. This is emphatically not the modern English sense of 'apology' as expressing regret. Paul uses it for his formal defense speeches (Acts 22:1; Phil 1:7, 16), and the word appears in the exhortation to be ready to give a 'defense' for the hope within (1 Pet 3:15). In 2 Corinthians 7:11, the Corinthians' apologia demonstrates their earnest desire to clear themselves. Spanish 'defensa' and French 'défense' preserve the legal-forensic flavor faithfully.
Senses
1. defense, verbal defense, apology — A reasoned verbal defense or justification made in response to accusation, criticism, or inquiry. Paul uses it in formal legal settings — his defense before the Jerusalem crowd (Acts 22:1) and his right to a defense before accusers (Acts 25:16). It also appears in theological contexts: the defense and confirmation of the gospel (Phil 1:7), and the readiness to give a 'defense' for one's hope (1 Pet 3:15). Spanish 'defensa' and French 'défense' faithfully convey the forensic, legal-argumentation dimension, distinct from any notion of expressing regret. 8×
AR["دِفاعي", "دِفاعًا", "دِفاعٍ", "دِفاعُ", "دِفاعِ", "دِفَاعِي", "لِلدِّفَاعِ"]·ben["আত্মপক্ষ-সমর্থন", "আত্মপক্ষ-সমর্থন,", "উত্তর-দিতে", "কৈফিয়তের", "জবাবদিহিতে,", "সমর্থনে"]·DE["ἀπολογία", "ἀπολογίαν", "ἀπολογίας", "ἀπολογίᾳ"]·EN["defense", "of-defense"]·FR["défense", "ἀπολογίαν", "ἀπολογίᾳ"]·heb["הֲגָנַת", "הֲגָנָה", "הִתְנַצְּלוּת", "הִתְצַדְּקוּת", "הַגָּנָה"]·HI["उत्तर", "प्रतिरकश", "प्रतिरक्षा", "प्रतिवअद,", "प्रतिवाद", "प्रतिवादका", "सफ़ाई"]·ID["pembelaan", "pembelaan."]·IT["apologia", "apologian", "difesa"]·jav["mbélani-dhiri", "pambela.", "pambelaan,", "pambélaning-dhiri", "pembelaan", "wangsulan"]·KO["변론-에서", "변론은", "변명을", "변호", "변호-의", "변호를"]·PT["de-defesa", "defesa"]·RU["защита", "защите", "защиту", "защиты", "ответу"]·ES["de-defensa", "defensa"]·SW["jibu", "utetezi", "utetezi,"]·TR["ama-", "savunma", "savunmamda", "savunmamı", "savunmasina", "savunmasinda", "savunmaya"]·urd["جواب-دہی-کو", "دفاع", "دفاع-میں", "دفاع-کے", "صفائی", "عذر"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀπολογ-ία, ἡ, speech in defence, opposed to κατηγορία, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀ. ποιεῖσθαι to make a defence, NT+5th c.BC+; explanation by πληροφορία, Refs 5th c.AD+