APOSTASY ə pŏs’ tə sĭ (מְשׁוּבָה, H5412, apostasy; παραπίπτω, G4178, to fall away). The abandonment of one’s religion. The word apostasy is rarely found in the Eng. Bible (Jer 2:19; 5:6; Heb 6:6), and the Gr. word ἀποστασία, G686, occurs only in Acts 21:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:3. But the reality expressed by the word is found frequently. Israel’s history was one of continual apostasy as the people deliberately turned away from the God who had redeemed them out of Egypt, and followed false gods and sinful ways. Consequently, God judged them and sent them into exile, although He never finally gave them up as a people, and left the way of repentance open to the nation.

In the NT apostasy occurs when men turn aside from following Jesus (John 6:66f.) and deny Him after having previously confessed Him as Lord. It manifests itself in falling away from faith under persecution (Matt 24:9-13), denying the deity of Jesus (1 John 2:22), or living a life of open sin that denies the faith (2 Pet 2:20). It is characteristic of the last days (2 Thess 2:3; 1 Tim 4:1; 2 Tim 3:1, 5; 4:3f.).

Many scholars restrict apostasy to the temporary falling away of true believers and the declension of nominal believers from an outward profession, but others hold that alongside the statements on the eternal security of the believer (see Perseverance) must be placed others which warn true believers against apostasy and the possibility of failing to find entrance to the kingdom of God (Heb 6; 10:26 ff.).

Bibliography E. M. B. Green, The Meaning of Salvation (1965); I. H. Marshall, Kept by the Power of God (1969); S. Brown, Apostasy and Perseverance in the Theology of Luke (1969).