646. apostasia

Lexicon

apostasia: Apostasy, rebellion, defection, falling away

Original Word: ἀποστασία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: apostasia
Pronunciation: ah-pos-tah-SEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah)
Definition: Apostasy, rebellion, defection, falling away
Meaning: defection, apostasy, revolt.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

falling away, apostacy

Feminine of the same as apostasion; defection from truth (properly, the state) ("apostasy") -- falling away, forsake.

see GREEK apostasion

HELPS Word-studies

646 apostasía (from 868 /aphístēmi, "leave, depart," which is derived from 575 /apó, "away from" and 2476 /histémi, "stand") – properly, departure (implying desertion); apostasy – literally, "a leaving, from a previous standing."

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from aphistémi
Definition
defection, revolt
NASB Translation
apostasy (1), forsake (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 646: ἀποστασία

ἀποστασία, ἀποστασιας, ἡ (ἀφισταμαι), a falling away, defection, apostasy; in the Bible namely, from the true religion: Acts 21:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; ((Joshua 22:22; 2 Chronicles 29:19; 2 Chronicles 33:19); Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah 36:(29) 32 Complutensian; 1 Macc. 2:15). The earlier Greeks say ἀπόστασις; see Lob. ad Phryn., p. 528; (Winer's Grammar, 24).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from ἀφίστημι (aphistēmi), meaning "to lead away, to depart, to fall away."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of apostasy in the Old Testament is often associated with terms such as מְשׁוּבָה (meshubah, Strong's Hebrew 4878), meaning "backsliding" or "turning away," and סָרַר (sarar, Strong's Hebrew 5637), meaning "to turn aside" or "to rebel." These terms capture the essence of a departure from faithfulness to God, similar to the New Testament understanding of ἀποστασία.

Usage: The term ἀποστασία is used in the New Testament to describe a departure from the faith or a rebellion against established religious beliefs. It is often associated with a significant turning away from God and His teachings.

Context: The Greek term ἀποστασία (apostasia) appears in the New Testament primarily to denote a significant falling away or rebellion against the faith. It is a noun form that conveys the idea of a deliberate abandonment or renunciation of a previously held belief or position, particularly in a religious context.

In the New Testament, ἀποστασία is notably used in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, where the Apostle Paul warns the Thessalonian church about a future rebellion or falling away that must occur before the "man of lawlessness" is revealed: "Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed" (BSB). This passage suggests that apostasy is a significant event that precedes the end times, indicating a widespread departure from the truth of the Gospel.

The concept of apostasy is not limited to a mere intellectual dissent but involves a moral and spiritual defection from the truth. It is often characterized by a willful rejection of God's authority and a turning towards false teachings or worldly values. Throughout church history, apostasy has been a concern for Christian communities, as it represents a threat to the integrity and purity of the faith.

In a broader biblical context, apostasy is seen as a recurring issue among God's people, both in the Old and New Testaments. It serves as a warning to believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to guard against influences that may lead them away from the truth.

Forms and Transliterations

αποστασια αποστασία ἀποστασία αποστασιαν αποστασίαν ἀποστασίαν apostasia apostasía apostasian apostasían

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 21:21 N-AFS
GRK: σοῦ ὅτι ἀποστασίαν διδάσκεις ἀπὸ
NAS: the Gentiles to forsake Moses,
KJV: the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying
INT: you that apostasy you teach from

2 Thessalonians 2:3 N-NFS
GRK: ἔλθῃ ἡ ἀποστασία πρῶτον καὶ
NAS: you, for [it will not come] unless the apostasy comes
KJV: there come a falling away first,
INT: shall have come the apostasy first and

Strong's Greek 646
2 Occurrences

ἀποστασία — 1 Occ.
ἀποστασίαν — 1 Occ.