Apostasy

Apostasy means deliberately turning away from God and rejecting beliefs that a person once accepted. It usually refers to a sincere believer who later chooses to renounce the faith. It does not normally refer to someone who is simply uninformed or mistaken.

Apostasy is different from heresy, which means rejecting part of the faith. It is also different from moving from one religious group to another within the same faith. A person may also deny the faith for a time and later return to it, as Peter did.

Originally, “apostasy” meant literal rebellion. So, the Jewish people were described as “rebels” against King Artaxerxes (1 Esdras 2:23). Also, Jason was described as a “rebel against the laws” (2 Maccabees 5:6–8).

The Old Testament lists many examples of spiritual rebellion, including:

departure from the law (Joshua 22:22),

forsaking temple worship (2 Chronicles 29:19), and

willful disobedience toward God (Jeremiah 2:19).

Isaiah and Jeremiah provide many examples of Israel’s rebellions (Isaiah 1:2–4; Jeremiah 2:19). Israelite kings were often guilty of apostasy, including:

Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:22–24),

Ahab (1 Kings 16:30–33),

Ahaziah (1 Kings 22:51–53),

Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:6, 10),

Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:1–4),

Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:1–19), and

Amon (2 Chronicles 33:21–23).

In New Testament times, many disciples separated themselves from Christ (John 6:66). Judas Iscariot is the most well-known example. The Greek word where we get “apostasy” from is only in two passages. The apostle Paul was accused of apostasy for teaching others “to forsake Moses” (Acts 21:21).

Apostasy will be significant in the end times (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Christians were warned not to be carried away and tricked by the apostasy to come in the end times before the Lord’s return. This apostasy is because of the rise of a rebellious figure who will be used by Satan to do his work (2 Thessalonians 2:3–12; compare 1 Timothy 4:1–3).

Many New Testament passages warn against apostasy, which means turning away from faith in Christ. Jesus said that suffering and persecution would cause many people to turn away from the faith. He also warned that false prophets would lead many people away from the truth (Matthew 24:9–11).

Other causes of apostasy include temptation and unbelief (Luke 8:13; Hebrews 3:12). Paul named Hymenaeus and Alexander as examples of people who had rejected the faith (1 Timothy 1:20).

Hebrews gives especially serious warnings. It describes people who had believed and then turned away as being in a hopeless condition, with no further opportunity to repent (Hebrews 6:1–6). It also warns about the fearful results of continuing to sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth (Hebrews 10:26–31).

Peter says that believers who knowingly turn away from Christ are “worse than it was at first” (2 Peter 2:20–22). John also addresses people who left the Christian community and showed that they did not truly belong to it (1 John 2:18–19).