Definition: Apostasy, derived from the Greek word "apostasia," meaning "a defection" or "a revolt," refers to the act of abandoning or renouncing one's faith or religious beliefs. In a biblical context, apostasy is the departure from the faith once delivered to the saints, often involving a rejection of core Christian doctrines and a turning away from God.

Biblical References:

1. Old Testament Context: Apostasy is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where the Israelites frequently turned away from Yahweh to worship other gods. This spiritual infidelity is often depicted as a form of adultery. For instance, in Jeremiah 2:19 , God warns Israel, "Your own wickedness will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me," declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

2. New Testament Warnings: The New Testament contains numerous warnings against apostasy, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in faith. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3 , Paul cautions, "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." This passage highlights the eschatological dimension of apostasy, associating it with the end times.

3. Hebrews and the Danger of Falling Away: The Book of Hebrews addresses the serious consequences of apostasy. Hebrews 6:4-6 states, "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age—and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame."

4. The Parable of the Sower: Jesus' Parable of the Sower, found in Matthew 13:18-23 , illustrates how different responses to the gospel can lead to apostasy. The seed sown on rocky ground represents those who receive the word with joy but fall away when trouble or persecution arises because they have no root.

Characteristics of Apostasy:

· Doctrinal Deviation: Apostasy often involves a departure from essential Christian doctrines, such as the deity of Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the nature of salvation. In 1 Timothy 4:1 , Paul warns, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

· Moral Decline: Apostasy is frequently accompanied by moral decay and a rejection of biblical ethics. Jude 1:4 describes certain individuals who "have crept in unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."

· Spiritual Deception: Apostates may be led astray by false teachers and deceptive philosophies. In 2 Peter 2:1 , Peter warns, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves."

Responses to Apostasy:

· Vigilance and Discernment: Believers are called to be vigilant and discerning, testing all teachings against the truth of Scripture. 1 John 4:1 advises, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

· Perseverance in Faith: Christians are encouraged to persevere in their faith, holding fast to the truth and remaining steadfast in their commitment to Christ. Hebrews 10:23 exhorts, "Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."

· Restoration and Repentance: While apostasy is a grave sin, the New Testament also emphasizes the possibility of restoration through repentance. James 5:19-20 states, "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins."

Apostasy remains a significant concern within the Christian faith, serving as a sobering reminder of the need for continual faithfulness and reliance on God's grace.2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Topicalbible.org

John 6:66
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Topicalbible.org

Luke 8:13
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 24:10
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Topicalbible.org

Hebrews 6:4-8
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Topicalbible.org

2 Timothy 4:10
For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
Topicalbible.org

(n.) A total desertion or departure from one's faith, principles, or party; as, Julian's apostasy from Christianity; An abandonment of what one has voluntarily professed;APOSTASY; APOSTATE

a-pos'-ta-si, a-pos'-tat (he apostasia, "a standing away from"): I.e. a falling away, a withdrawal, a defection. Not found in the English Versions of the Bible, but used twice in the New Testament, in the Greek original, to express abandonment of the faith. Paul was falsely accused of teaching the Jews apostasy from Moses (Acts 21:21); he predicted the great apostasy from Christianity, foretold by Jesus (Matthew 24:10-12) which would precede "the day of the Lord" (2 Thessalonians 2:2). Apostasy, not in name but in fact, meets scathing rebuke in the Epistle of Jude, e.g. the apostasy of angels (Jude 1:6). Foretold, with warnings, as sure to abound in the latter days (1 Timothy 4:1-3 2 Thessalonians 2:3 2 Peter 3:17). Causes of: persecution (Matthew 24:9, 10); false teachers (Matthew 24:11); temptation (Luke 8:13); worldliness (2 Timothy 4:4); defective knowledge of Christ (1 John 2:19); moral lapse (Hebrews 6:4-6); forsaking worship and spiritual living (Hebrews 10:25-31); unbelief (Hebrews 3:12). Biblical examples: Saul (1 Samuel 15:11); Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:14, 27); many disciples (John 6:66); Hymeneus and Alexander (1 Timothy 1:19, 20); Demas (2 Timothy 4:10). For further illustration see Deuteronomy 13:13; Ze 1:4-6; Galatians 5:4 2 Peter 2:20, 21.

"Forsaking Yahweh" was the characteristic and oft-recurring sin of the chosen people, especially in their contact with idolatrous nations. It constituted their supreme national peril. The tendency appeared in their earliest history, as abundantly seen in the warnings and prohibitions of the laws of Moses (Exodus 20:3, 4, 23 Deuteronomy 6:14; Deuteronomy 11:16). The fearful consequences of religious and moral apostasy appear in the curses pronounced against this sin, on Mount Ebal, by the representatives of six of the tribes of Israel, elected by Moses (Deuteronomy 27:13-26; Deuteronomy 28:15-68). So wayward was the heart of Israel, even in the years immediately following the national emancipation, in the wilderness, that Joshua found it necessary to re-pledge the entire nation to a new fidelity to Yahweh and to their original covenant before they were permitted to enter the Promised Land (Joshua 24:1-28). Infidelity to this covenant blighted the nation's prospects and growth during the time of the Judges (Judges 2:11-15; Judges 10:6, 10, 13 1 Samuel 12:10). It was the cause of prolific and ever-increasing evil, civic and moral, from Solomon's day to the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. Many of the kings of the divided kingdom apostatized, leading the people, as in the case of Rehoboam, into the grossest forms of idolatry and immorality (1 Kings 14:22-24 2 Chronicles 12:1). Conspicuous examples of such royal apostasy are Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:28-32); Ahab (1 Kings 16:30-33); Ahaziah (1 Kings 22:51-53); Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:6, 10, 12-15); Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:1-4); Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:1-9); Amen (2 Chronicles 33:22). See IDOLATRY.

Prophecy originated as a Divine and imperative protest against this historic tendency to defection from the religion of Yahweh. In classical Greek, apostasy signified revolt from a military commander. In the roman catholic church it denotes abandonment of religious orders; renunciation of ecclesiastical authority; defection from the faith. The persecutions of the early Christian centuries forced many to deny Christian discipleship and to signify their apostasy by offering incense to a heathen deity or blaspheming the name of Christ. The emperor Julian, who probably never vitally embraced the Christian faith, is known in history as "the Apostate," having renounced Christianity for paganism soon after his accession to the throne. An apostate's defection from the faith may be intellectual, as in the case of Ernst Haeckel, who, because of his materialistic philosophy, publicly and formally renounced Christianity and the church; or it may be moral and spiritual, as with Judas, who for filthy lucre's sake basely betrayed his Lord. See exhaustive articles on "Apostasy" in the Jewish Encyclopedia.

Dwight M. Pratt

646. apostasia -- defection, revolt
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: apostasia Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-os-tas-ee'-ah) Short Definition: defection, apostasy Definition: defection ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/646.htm - 7k

4348. proskomma -- a stumbling, an occasion of stumbling
... offense, stumbling block. From proskopto; a stub, ie (figuratively) occasion of
apostasy -- offence, stumbling(-block, (-stone)). see GREEK proskopto. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4348.htm - 6k

4624. skandalizo -- to put a snare (in the way), hence to cause to ...
... to cause to stumble. From skandalon; to entrap, ie Trip up (figuratively, stumble
(transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure) -- (make to) offend. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4624.htm - 8k

2692. katastrophe -- an overthrowing
... overthrow, subverting. From katastrepho; an overturn ("catastrophe"), ie Demolition;
figuratively, apostasy -- overthrow, subverting. see GREEK katastrepho. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2692.htm - 6k

5289. hupostole -- a letting down, a shrinking back
... draw back. From hupostello; shrinkage (timidity), ie (by implication) apostasy --
draw back. see GREEK hupostello. (upostoles) -- 1 Occurrence. 5288, 5289. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5289.htm - 6k

4878. meshubah -- turning back, apostasy
... meshubah or meshubah. 4879 . turning back, apostasy. Transliteration: meshubah
or meshubah Phonetic Spelling: (mesh-oo-baw') Short Definition: faithless. ...
/hebrew/4878.htm - 6k

5627. sarah -- turning aside, defection, apostasy, withdrawal
... 5626, 5627. sarah. 5628 . turning aside, defection, apostasy, withdrawal.
Transliteration: sarah Phonetic Spelling: (saw-raw') Short Definition: rebellion. ...
/hebrew/5627.htm - 6k

The Apostasy.
... 3. THE APOSTASY. [Illustration: Chapter header.] The apostle Paul, in his
second letter to the Thessalonians, foretold the great ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /3 the apostasy.htm

Whether Apostasy Pertains to Unbelief?
... OF APOSTASY (TWO ARTICLES) Whether apostasy pertains to unbelief? Objection
1: It would seem that apostasy does not pertain to unbelief. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether apostasy pertains to unbelief.htm

The Apostasy which Prepares the Way for the Antichrist.
... Chapter Six The Signs of the Redeemer's Return 2. The Apostasy which prepares
the way for the Antichrist. The question has often ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/2 the apostasy which prepares.htm

National Apostasy
... From Strength to Weakness Chapter 8 National Apostasy. ... During the greater part of
this time of apostasy in Israel, Asa was ruling in the kingdom of Judah. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 8 national apostasy.htm

Of Apostasy (Two Articles)
... OF APOSTASY (TWO ARTICLES). We must now consider apostasy: about which there are
two points of inquiry: (1) Whether apostasy pertains to unbelief? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of apostasy two articles .htm

The Apostasy in Two Days.
... Chapter I. The Apostasy In Two Days. ... The apostasy or dark noonday being
under two forms is marked in Bible history as two days. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter i the apostasy in.htm

Of the Metropolis of Christian Apostasy, the Mystic Babylon.
... NOTE. Of the Metropolis of Christian Apostasy, the mystic Babylon. The
metropolis of the apostasy, Babylon the mystery, or the mystic ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the metropolis of christian.htm

Apostasy in Galatia
... Lesson 36 Apostasy in Galatia. [This chapter is based on the Epistle to
the Galatians.] While tarrying at Corinth, Paul had cause ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 36 apostasy in galatia.htm

False Teachings of the Apostasy.
... Chapter III. False Teachings Of The Apostasy. ... One command would be sufficient, but
we have none. Infant baptism originated in the confusions of the apostasy. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter iii false teachings of.htm

Scriptural Predictions of an Apostasy.
... Chapter II. Scriptural Predictions Of An Apostasy. Who ... 31. Paul saw the
awful apostasy from the simple faith of Christ arising. ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter ii scriptural predictions of.htm

Apostasy (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A total desertion or departure from one's faith,
principles, or party; as, Julian's apostasy from Christianity ...APOSTASY; APOSTATE. ...
/a/apostasy.htm - 14k

Apostate (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Pertaining to, or characterized by, apostasy; faithless to moral allegiance;
renegade. 4. (vi) To apostatize. Int. ...APOSTASY; APOSTATE. ...
/a/apostate.htm - 14k

Backslide
... 39). The apostasy may be both doctrinal and moral. Noah Webster's Dictionary.
(vi) To slide back; to fall away; esp. ... action. See APOSTASY. ...
/b/backslide.htm - 88k

Premillennial
... He assures them that some things must precede that day, namely, "the falling away,"
or apostasy, and the appearing of a powerful adversary, whom he calls "the ...
/p/premillennial.htm - 23k

Millennium
... He assures them that some things must precede that day, namely, "the falling away,"
or apostasy, and the appearing of a powerful adversary, whom he calls "the ...
/m/millennium.htm - 24k

Fall (522 Occurrences)
... Specifically: The first apostasy; the act of our first parents in eating the
forbidden fruit; also, the apostasy of the rebellious angels. 40. ...
/f/fall.htm - 62k

Amaziah (41 Occurrences)
... Greek-Roman age. 4. Apostasy and Its Punishment: The campaign was thus entirely
successful, but had evil results. Flushed with victory ...
/a/amaziah.htm - 30k

Sin (782 Occurrences)
... All men are declared to be destitute of any principle of spiritual life; man's apostasy
from God is total and complete (Job 15:14-16; Genesis 6:5, 6). ...
/s/sin.htm - 82k

Jude (4 Occurrences)
... He furnishes a number of examples of apostates and of apostasy which disclose even
more strikingly the spirit and the doom of them that pervert the truth, that ...
/j/jude.htm - 40k

Man (26072 Occurrences)
... 2:2). That "day of the Lord," the apostle declares, will not come till, as he had
previously taught them (2:5), there has first been a great apostasy and the ...
/m/man.htm - 56k

What is apostasy and how can I recognize it? | GotQuestions.org

If our salvation is eternally secure, why does the Bible warn so strongly against apostasy? | GotQuestions.org

Will there be a great apostasy / falling away during the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Apostasy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus