Mikel Del Rosario
13 min read ⭑
“Talking about Jesus as a figure in ancient history has opened up many spiritual conversations with people who are hesitant to accept the Bible as an authority but are open to the answers of history. I’ve found it to be a disarming approach that gets people interested in talking about who Jesus is. And that’s why I see my work as more than just something for the academy or history buffs.”
For Dr. Mikel Del Rosario, the end goal of apologetics isn’t simply to prove atheism and other religions wrong — it’s to help Christians explain their faith with courage and compassion. That’s exactly what he does as a Bible and theology professor at Moody Bible Institute, the host of The Apologetics Guy Show and the author of Did Jesus Really Say He Was God? Although he’s spent decades in academia, Mikel doesn’t believe you have to be a scholar to navigate tough faith questions, which is why he makes his writing, podcasts and other resources as accessible and easy to understand as possible.
Today, he’s opening up about why he’s so passionate about apologetics and the challenges he’s had to overcome (including dyslexia) to follow God into the career he has today. He also shares how pizza lunches with his father shaped his thoughts on discipleship and leadership, along with his favorite way to encounter God’s loving presence.
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
Food is always about more than food; it’s also about home and people and love. So how does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind your web bio?
I grew up in the Philippines, and family has always been very important to me. When I was in high school, I discovered a sit-down Sbarro pizza restaurant at a large indoor mall in the capital city. The moment I walked in, the smell of garlic and tomato sauce wafting from the kitchen, along with the Italian music and theming, struck me as special. It turned out to be the best pizza I’d had at the time. I was surprised that they even had an eggplant dish I loved. Up until then, I thought I would hate anything with eggplant in it!
But it’s not just the food or the restaurant itself that stands out in my mind. I’ll never forget the time my dad suggested we go through a discipleship booklet together once a week for a period of time over meals at Sbarro. More than getting treated to my favorite restaurant each week, I felt seen, heard and loved unconditionally. I could ask any question. I could share anything. It was like a special getaway; special in its own ordinary way — just a father and son talking about faith over pizza.
Looking back, I can better appreciate the courage and compassion it took for my dad to float that idea, listen to my questions and empathize with my concerns as a teenager. Although my father is now with the Lord, I still go back to those special moments in the Philippines whenever I consider the kind of leader, mentor and father I aim to be.
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QUESTION #2: REVEAL
What “nonspiritual” activity have you found to be quite spiritual, after all? What quirky proclivity, out-of-the-way interest or unexpected pursuit refreshes your soul?
I’m a city boy at heart, and so I love downtown Chicago. But I also love being by large, natural bodies of water. Whether I’m running around my neighborhood by Lake Michigan or traveling and taking a walk on a deserted beach, there’s something about being by the water that refreshes my soul. The steady rhythm of waves as I walk along the shoreline. The way the lakeside breeze seems to breathe with me as I run.
One day, I was walking along a wild, deserted beach on the Oregon coast. Looking at the horizon over the water often makes me reflect. As I felt the sun on my skin and the wind in my hair, I was struck by a profound sense of awe and wonder at the vast ocean. Then I focused on the verdant forest, the majestic mountains and even the sun. I was surprised to look up and see an American bald eagle! For a moment, I just stood there on the sand, paying attention to my breath, my surroundings and the wonder of the world God made.
As I marveled at the picturesque scenery, Psalm 19 came to mind. It often does when I’m by the water in wide-open spaces. “The heavens declare the glory of the Lord.” And I felt God’s presence in a special way. Sometimes even now, when I’m running along Lake Michigan and the wind whips off the water, that same verse comes to mind and gives me a new appreciation for the Creator.
There’s something about the profundity of those moments, sensing God’s presence while appreciating the beauty of God’s creation — whether hiking along the Oregon coast or running by Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago. So often, it turns to God in worship, just like the conclusion of Psalm 19: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you.” That’s what these moments give me. A reset, a recalibration, a reminder that God is near in the everyday places and spaces of life.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness; every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re all broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite, and how do you confront its power?
I struggled with the numbers all throughout school — from elementary school through my graduate studies. Somewhere along the way, I figured out that I have a mild form of dyslexia. Whether I found myself transposing page numbers, Scripture references or historical dates, it was frustrating and scary to realize this challenge wasn’t going away. And I secretly worried it would crash my studies and academic life. Even during my doctoral program, I remember accidentally writing the wrong date on an exam question about Herod the Great. I was grateful the professor showed me grace, but I was frustrated that even simple numbers felt slippery in my mind.
So I began studying memory and experimenting with strategies to help me solidify facts and figures I needed to know in order to pass my Ph.D. comprehensive exams — particularly key dates in intertestamental history. I discovered a couple of tactics, including a method of translating numbers into words or mental images. It sounds silly, but it worked. To me, my fellow doctoral students looked like geniuses — seemingly absorbing information by osmosis. My secret study hack seemed childish in comparison, but I can’t deny that it helped me solidify the things I was working to commit to memory. It’s humbling to admit the way that some pieces of knowledge I’ve acquired were solidified, but I know these things nonetheless. They are stored in my soul.
On rare occasions in my teaching, I may still accidentally write the wrong date or misspell a word on the board. I don’t sweat it. I just erase it and correct my error. It’s a reminder of how far God has taken me despite my weaknesses. It humbles me and reminds me of my dependence on God.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your current obsession? And why should it be ours?
One of my passions is helping Christians explain our faith with courage and compassion. That’s why I host my podcast, “The Apologetics Guy Show,” and teach Apologetics, Philosophy, New Testament Survey and other classes at the Moody Bible Institute.
I’ve found that most Christians freeze when someone asks, “Did Jesus really say he was God?” Recently, a key focus of my work has been helping Christians answer this question, especially when engaging with skeptics, friends who are part of other religions or people like an Uber driver who questioned the historicity of the Gospels but also told me, “I’m not religious, but I like history.” This turned into an amazing 45-minute conversation about Jesus’ divine claim and resurrection. It was one of those moments when I felt God reminding me why this work matters. People like him are spiritually curious, and more people than we might initially think are actually open to respectful, thoughtful conversations about Jesus.
I wrote my debut book, “Did Jesus Really Say He Was God? Making Sense of His Historical Claims,” to help Christians answer some of the toughest historical challenges to Jesus’ self-identity. But I wanted to approach this differently than most books on Jesus. Rather than focusing on what Jesus’s disciples believed, I investigate what we can learn from what Jesus’ enemies thought about his claims to authority. Why? Because historians recognize that Jesus’ enemies did not find his claims vague. To them, Jesus was speaking like God does and acting like God does. I want more Christians to have the confidence to explain how Jesus said he was God through a combination of his words and actions.
Talking about Jesus as a figure in ancient history has opened up many spiritual conversations with people who are hesitant to accept the Bible as an authority but are open to the answers of history. I’ve found it to be a disarming approach that gets people interested in talking about who Jesus is. And that’s why I see my work as more than just something for the academy or history buffs. It gives my brothers and sisters in the church a way into meaningful conversations about Jesus with courage and compassion.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Whether we’re cashiers or CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need God’s love flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?
Even after teaching at a variety of colleges as an adjunct professor over 15 years, my first semester at the Moody Bible Institute was filled with all the normal challenges facing a new professor. One of these challenges was writing new lesson plans for every session of every class. I wasn’t able to spend as much time as I wanted brainstorming creative ways to teach the material.
But after almost four years of teaching Bible Introduction, the most impactful learning activity that virtually every student says solidified their learning and gave them more confidence in the reliability of the New Testament text is based on an idea I had in the middle of the night. As I wondered how I was going to help students have more confidence in the reliability of the New Testament text, God reminded me of an activity one of my seminary professors told me he did at a variety of churches. Based on what I remembered from his brief description, I created an hour-long, espionage-themed live action role-playing game that taught students how ancient scribes copied the text and how scholars can reconstruct the original words of the Bible even though existing manuscripts have many differences. To this day, virtually every one of my Bible Introduction students points to this activity as not only the most memorable but also the most impactful in terms of giving them the courage to engage in conversations about the Bible with those who question the reliability of the New Testament text.
When I see students light up with that “ah-ha” moment in class, I sense God blessing and invigorating my teaching. I know it’s God because these moments go beyond anything I could have orchestrated on my own — the timing, the questions, the connections all feel guided and unexpected. I’m humbled by the position he’s given me to play a role in training the next generation of believers to do ministry.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied habits that open our hearts to the presence of God. So let us in. Which spiritual practice is working best for you in this season?
Few people know it, but those who know me best wouldn’t be surprised to know that I often sing worship songs to the Lord throughout the day. It just seems to be a practice that comes naturally for me.
The first time I ever stood before a church congregation, I was a 3-year-old singing in a kids’ choir. I’ve also served as a worship leader for 20 years. But whether I’m at home, in a corporate worship setting or on the way to campus to teach a class, I often have a song in my heart and lyrics on my lips.
Can I reveal a little secret? I sometimes sing into the mic for sound check and vocal warm-up before hosting my podcast or appearing as a guest on another show. It’s not always a worship song, but when it is, I find that singing to the Lord keeps him forefront in my mind before the show. This, in turn, reminds me to pray before I speak and as I go about serving him through my teaching ministry.
That’s because the times when I’ve felt God’s presence most palpably have often been in worship. And when I feel his presence, I’m encouraged to persevere, repent, reform and recommit my life to him. To keep the faith and to know I’m never alone. Even simple moments of singing or humming a tune while walking to class can become deeply sacred, helping me remember that God’s nearness isn’t limited to a formal worship service. He’s with me every step of the way.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Looking backward, considering the full sweep of your unique faith journey and all you encountered along the way, what top three resources stand out to you? What changed reality and changed your heart?
The first resource on my list is the very first apologetics book I read: “Reasonable Faith” by William Lane Craig. I read it during my junior year in college. It opened my mind to the world of philosophy through a robust defense of Christian truth claims. It was a key part of my journey into the field of apologetics. I even got to study under William Lane Craig as I earned my M.A. in Apologetics. Today, I still go back to the concepts I learned from this text, especially his presentation of the Kalam cosmological argument, as I teach my Philosophy classes at the Moody Bible Institute.
The second resource is “Tactics” by Greg Koukl. This very approachable, practical training gave me the courage I needed to get into spiritual conversations with almost anyone.
Finally, let me suggest “Inspired By … The Bible Experience Audio Bible” — my favorite dramatized audio Bible. Discovering this during my seminary days ignited a desire to devour God’s Word in audio form. I’d recommend it to people and say, “Let’s binge the Bible!” I was actually excited to wake up each morning and listen to a chapter or two. I ended up listening to the entire New Testament from around Thanksgiving until the end of the year. As a primarily auditory learner, I found that the details of narratives especially came to life for me. I was even able to remember who said certain things in the Gospels and Acts by associating speaking parts with the voice actors. It was fun!
Certain things can be godsends, helping us survive, even thrive, in our fast-paced world. Does technology ever help you this way? Has an app ever boosted your spiritual growth? If so, how?
I use the Audible app on my iPhone 16e (Yes, the minimalist iPhone) to take back some of my morning prep or commuting time, even if it’s just a short walk to campus. For example, when I teach an overview of a short epistle, I’ll listen to the entire book before I head to class.
I like the “Inspired By … The Bible Experience” because it’s dramatized. It helps me feel what it might have been like for the author to write. Or if I’m teaching a narrative from the Gospels or Acts, it makes me almost feel like I am in the story. This allows me to saturate my soul with God’s Word and have the text fresh in my mind as I teach. Not only that, but it helps me engage the text on an emotional level alongside the academic aspect of teaching Bible classes. How eerie must it have been when Jesus exorcised a legion of demons? What did it feel like for Paul to be shipwrecked? As an auditory learner, I like to remind myself that the vast majority of early Christians heard the Scripture read as their primary engagement with the text.
I also enjoy having the Logos Bible Software app on my iPhone because it allows me to conveniently reengage with the Greek behind a text I may be covering in New Testament Survey class or compare English translations of the same verse as I prepare to discuss translation philosophies in Bible Introduction class, or quickly check a Bible commentary on a verse when I need some clarity on a problem passage. This helps me grow in my understanding of God’s Word even when I am not close to my physical books (although I vastly prefer to read my leather “ESV Heirloom Bible, Legacy Edition” for my daily times in the Word). Technology can be overwhelming at times, but I still find much to appreciate about the benefits it can bring.
QUESTION #8: dream
God’s continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
Something that’s been stirring in me lately is the desire to update an accessible apologetics curriculum I first created years ago. What began as my teaching notes for a series of church classes eventually spread to nearly 2,000 churches — even though it was never formally published. It helped Christians explain their faith with confidence.
But the landscape has changed. When I first created these lessons, most questions Christians faced centered on classical apologetics — arguments for God’s existence, evidence for the resurrection and the reliability of Scripture. These topics are still essential. Yet today, many people begin elsewhere. Before they ask whether Christianity is true, they want to know whether it is good and whether it speaks to the cultural issues and tensions they face. After a decade working in cultural engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary and hosting their podcast, “The Table,” I saw this shift up close.
That’s why I feel compelled to revise and expand the material. I want to equip Christians not only with strong historical and philosophical evidence but also with a deeper awareness of how to engage the questions and concerns that shape cultural conversations today. Teachers, pastors and parents tell me they need resources that build confidence in the truth of the gospel while also showing its relevance to all of life.
So I’m interested in exploring opportunities to publish the updated curriculum and potentially create an online course for high school students and adult learners. The fear is that I won’t actually have the time to do this in the near future due to my busy teaching, speaking and podcasting schedule! Still, my hope is to one day make this a reality and offer something substantive and practical — something accessible that doesn’t skimp on the substance but helps believers navigate spiritual conversations with both courage and compassion. I’m just giving this desire to the Lord and praying that it would come about in his time, in his will and in his way.
The need for apologetics isn’t going away anytime soon. For example, the number of people who identify as atheist since 2007 has risen from 16% to 29%, while those who identify as Christian have decreased from 78% to 63%, according to Pew Research.
As our Western culture becomes increasingly secular, learning the logical reasoning for Christianity can help believers strengthen their individual faith and equip them for meaningful conversations with other people who have questions about God.
As Mikel said earlier in his interview, “That’s why I see my work as more than just something for the academy or history buffs.” Because in a culture full of noise and confusion, apologetics can help us speak truth with clarity, conviction and love.
Dr. Mikel Del Rosario helps Christians explain their faith with courage and compassion. A professor of Bible and Theology at Moody Bible Institute, he is the author of Did Jesus Really Say He Was God? (IVP Academic). He also co-authored over 30 articles on apologetics and cultural engagement with Dr. Darrell L. Bock in Bibliotheca Sacra. He previously served as the project manager for cultural engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary, hosted The Table podcast and now hosts The Apologetics Guy Show on the Christianity Today Network.