January 18, 2026

Irenics as we mentioned last week is about finding common ground or even reconciliation. 

The first and most important question at least for a Christian is not just about effectiveness but also about morality. We want to ask what does the Bible say about a topic and how we should apply it. Many have pointed to 1Pet 3:15-16 as justification for apologetics and rightly so. Just because apologetics has a more positive reputation in religious and philosophical discussion that does not mean that people will appreciate your efforts to defend Christian faith, or any belief that they don’t agree with for that matter. I won’t say too much about that, I would like to move on to ask; Is there similar scriptural mandate for irenics and polemics? First lets consider Irenics:

I would suggest that the Bible contains both warnings and encouragement about seeking common ground. We are warned for example to “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness” Eph 5:11. What about Paul warning the Corinthians not to be “unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness. Or what fellowship has light with darkness.” We would take these verses to indicate that there are some things we can’t be part of or endorse. We should then exercise care in our efforts at irenics that we don’t find ourselves compromising our faith. 

On the other hand, Paul in Athens sees an alter to “the unknown God” and uses this as a point of commonality. He is careful not to accept the premise that there are many Gods and that he is just going to tell them about another one. Rather he makes the point that the God they worshiped in ignorance is in fact the only one that actually exists. The account then becomes a good example for us to consider as it does serve as a positive example of irenics but done in a way that is righteous and honourable. A similar example can be found in Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 9:22; I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some.” This sounds very much like an endorsement of irenics, so long as it is done with the understanding that some compromises can’t be made which Paul alludes to in the previous verse.

Irenics then can serve as a helpful tool when discussing or disagreeing about ideas. Often common ground allows us to have a starting point for the discussion. Looking for common ground may also settle some disagreements completely as we learn we didn’t disagree at all. On the other hand we must be sure that we are always honest and that we never compromise or give a false impression. 

With these things in mind we can go on to consider the most controversial of these approaches next week Polemics.

~ Kevin Cleary