Apostasy

Some of you reading may not be very familiar with the term, “apostasy.” You might hear me use the term. You may have heard the word, but may not know what it means because it isn’t in the King James Version or any English version of the Bible. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t a scriptural idea. The scriptural terminology is “falling away,” which is seen in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, a prediction of what will occur before the Lord Jesus Christ sets up His kingdom on this earth. It is also predicted by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:10-12 in His teaching that has been called “the Olivet Discourse.” “Falling away” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 translates the Greek word, apostasia. The English “apostasy” is a transliteration of the Greek term, translated “falling away.” The foremost lexicon of New Testament Greek says apostasia means: “defiance of established system or authority, rebellion, abandonment, breach of faith.” “Apostles” in a general way are “sent ones.” Apostasia is a related term, which means to go away. In John 6, Jesus asked His disciples if they would also go away, after thousands defected from Him after He had fed them the loaves and fish. The Bible is full of examples of apostates, those who have turned away from the Lord permanently after a superficial, non-saving commitment to the Lord. Judas Iscariot is the classic example, but there are others, like Demas in 2 Timothy 4:10, where Paul says concerning him: “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.”