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Apostasy: Defined, Causes, and Consequences

January 14, 2007

Defining Apostasy

Webster’s English Dictionary 1828: APOS'TASY, n. An abandonment of what one has professed; a total desertion, or departure from one's faith or religion.

New Testament Greek: The English word APOSTASY is a transliterated word, which comes from a compound Greek word apostasia.

The preposition Apo – from, or away from, apart, a motion from a place, a separation, any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed.

The Greek noun Stasis – standing, station, or position.

When you put both words together it means simply: to stand away from

First mention of apostasia

Acts 21:21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake [Gk. apostasia] Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

to turn away from NIV
to abandon NAB
to give up BBE
to turn their backs on NLT
to break away from NJB

To stand away from a previous union

Matthew 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: [Gk. apostasion]

Apostasy from the faith

1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh [present active indicative] expressly [specifically, clearly], that in the latter times some (in the church) shall depart from [Gk. aphistemi: apo – away from; histemi– to stand] the faith, giving heed to [present active – pay very close attention to; attach oneself to something; turn your thoughts toward] seducing spirits [deceiving spirits], and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron [no sensitivity toward sin; hardened].

fall away from NAS;
will abandon NIV;
turn away from NLT;
desert NJB

The gospel, the faith, and the kingdom

Acts 14:21-22 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

The message of the faith

Acts 24:24-25 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."

The churches established in the faith

Acts 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

God’s elect possess the faith

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

A warning against departing from the church

Hebrews 10:25-27 Not forsaking [present active - to quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart from] the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [“…some shall depart from the faith” 1Tim.4:1]; but exhorting one another [present active]: and so much the more (not forsaking), as ye see [or examine in your mind, and weigh carefully] the day approaching (the day of judgment). 26 For if we sin willfully (by forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, v.25) after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins (no more mercy –no high priest), 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

The faith is not popular

Luke 18:8 “…when the Son of man cometh, shall he find the faith on the earth?”

A great apostasy

2 Thessalonians 2:1,3 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him… 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away [Gk. apostasia] comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.

Antichrist shall lead many astray

2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 “… whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion [or a deceiving influence], that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Christ warns the elect

Matthew 24:23-25 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible (and it is for some), they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before.

Now there are many antichrist’s

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that [the] antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Apostates are antichrist

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Apostasy from the faith through false teaching

1 Timothy 1:5-6 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 From which some having swerved [strayed, NKJ; wandered away, NIV] have turned aside unto vain jangling [or meaningless talk].

1 Timothy 1:19-20 Holding [esteeming] faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away [or “having rejected,” NKJ] concerning THE FAITH have made [or suffered] shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

False teaching concerning the things to come

2 Timothy 2:17-18 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

Not enduring sound doctrine

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come (and it has come) when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables

Offended by hard sayings

John 6:60,66 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Departing from the faith due to lust and greed

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from [strayed from, wandered away from, led astray from, turned away from] the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Three things which choke the faith

Mark 4:18-19 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, (the mysteries of the kingdom, v.11) 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word [of the faith, Rom.10:8], and it becometh unfruitful (barren).

Falling away in the suffering of trials and testings

Matthew 13:20-21 "But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word (“the word of the kingdom,” v.19) and immediately receives it with joy; 21 "yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles [“falls away,” NAS].

Consequences

Hebrews 10:30-31 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The judgment seat of Christ

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Not fit for the kingdom of God

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back [present tense], is fit for [or prepared for] the kingdom of God (to reign with Christ Rev.20:6).

The kingdom age is a time of separation

Matthew 13:47-50 " Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 "which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 "and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."