APOSTASY
The term apostasy (Gr. apostasia) means a "falling away," "defection," "rebellion" or "abandonment." Its biblical sense indicates a willful departure from professed faith in God and His truth revealed in Scripture (Joshua 22:22; Jeremiah 8:5; Hosea 11:7; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1). Such apostasy will be especially prevalent in "later times" (1 Timothy 4:1-3) or in "the last days" (2 Timothy 3:1-9), and it climaxes in "the apostasy." In prophetic order, "the apostasy" and the revelation of "the man of lawlessness" precede the day of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:2-3). Apostasy may result from "paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1).
examples of apostasy:
specific instances
♦ Israel's idolatry in the wilderness
♦ Israel's unbelief on the border of the promised land
♦ Israel's disobedience in the land during the judges
♦ Israel's idolatry under Ahab and Jezebel
♦ Judah's idolatry
♦ Israel's history of rebellion
♦ professed disciples of Jesus
♦ Hymenaeus and Alexander
♦ Hymenaeus and Philetus
♦ Demas
♦ false teachers and their followers
♦ general references
• 2 Chronicles 25:14, 27; 29:19; Isaiah 1:5-6; Jeremiah 5:6; Hosea 14:4; Matthew 24:10-12, 15; 27:3-5; Luke 8:13; Acts 1:16-18; 7:39-43, 51-52; 2 Timothy 1:15; Hebrews 3:12; 6:4-8; 10:26-29; Jude 4-6; Revelation 2:20; 3:15-18
causes of apostasy:
♦ attraction to idolatry:
♦ complacency:
♦ intermarriage with heathen idolaters:
♦ affliction and persecution:
♦ deception through false Christs and false prophets:
♦ disloyalty and lack of love:
• Matthew 24:10, 12
♦ false teachers who lead followers astray:
• Acts 20:29-30; Romans 16:17-18; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 3:17; 1 John 2:26; Revelation 2:14-15
♦ lack of spiritual discernment:
• Acts 28:26-27 (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5)
♦ departing from the true gospel:
♦ rejection of doctrinal truth:
♦ love for this present world:
♦ the deceitfulness of sin:
♦ unbelief:
• Hebrews 3:15-4:11; Jude 5
believer's response to apostasy:
♦ resist temptation to idolatry:
♦ be loyal to the Lord and His service:
♦ beware of false Christs and false prophets:
♦ turn away from apostates:
♦ claim God's promise of victory:
♦ maintain moral purity:
♦ use Scripture in Christian living and service:
♦ encourage other believers:
♦ persevere in faith and patience as heirs of God's promises:
♦ stimulate other believers to love and good deeds:
♦ continue to fellowship with other believers:
• Hebrews 10:25 (cf. 1 John 2:19)
♦ grow in Christian virtues:
♦ stay spiritually prepared through holy living:
• 2 Peter 3:10-18; Jude 20-25
♦ depend on the Spirit of truth:
• 1 John 2:20-21, 27
♦ contend for the biblical faith:
• Jude 3
♦ repentant Israel delivered from apostasy
♦ divine judgment of apostasy
• Numbers 25:3-4; Deuteronomy 13:1-18; 2 Kings 21:11-15; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Isaiah 1:24-25, 28; Jeremiah 2:19; 5:6; 17:5-6; Ezekiel 18:24, 26; 33:12-13, 18; Zephaniah 1:4-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12; Hebrews 6:6, 8; 10:26-31, 38-39; 2 Peter 2:9, 17; 3:7; Jude 11-15 (cf. Revelation 17)
This topic is from the Lockman Foundation.