Sure we will. I believe, consistent with my Bible, Strong, and 17 centuries of historic orthodox Christian doctrine, that apostasia means "defection, revolt, apostasy...from the true religion".
Do you?
To what does the APOSTASIA refer
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Apostasia means to fall away or defect from anything. The context of the verse it’s used in will determine what is being fallen away from.
The English word apostasy emerges from the word Greek apostasía (ἀποστασία), meaning "to leave or depart." Apostasía(ἀποστασία), in turn, is made up of apo(ἀπο), meaning “away from,” and hístēmi(ἵστημι), meaning “to stand”; literally "to stand away from." Thus, apostasy is an individual's departure, desertion, or abandonment of religious or political beliefs.
It’s just like the phrase “falling away”. Falling away doesn’t define what someone or something is falling away from.
No debate? Then why the disagreements on this thread?
The Early Church Fathers (ECF) did write about ἀποστασία (apostasia), but their interpretations often varied depending on the theological context they were addressing, especially concerning end-times prophecies and heresies within the Church. Generally, the concept of apostasy for them was connected to a departure from true faith or an end-time rebellion against God.
1. Apostasy as Falling Away from Faith
The Church Fathers viewed apostasia primarily as a spiritual rebellion or departure from the Christian faith. They used the term to warn against heresies and false teachings.
Irenaeus (c. 130–202 AD)
In his work Against Heresies, Irenaeus repeatedly warns of apostasy as a departure from the truth of Christ and the gospel. He writes about the danger of following false teachers who lead believers away from sound doctrine:
"The Church, spread throughout the whole world, even to the ends of the earth, has received from the apostles and their disciples this faith…." (Against Heresies 1.10.1)
He equates apostasy with the rejection of the apostolic faith, linking it to heresies and Gnosticism that were rampant at the time.
Tertullian (c. 160–220 AD)
In his writings, Tertullian speaks of apostasy in connection with moral and doctrinal decay. He warns against those who would abandon the faith or be swayed by false teachings:
In his Prescription Against Heretics, he defends the purity of apostolic teaching, emphasizing that deviation from this tradition constitutes apostasy.
2. Apostasia in Eschatological Context
The ECFs often connected apostasy to end-times prophecies and the rise of the Antichrist.
Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170–235 AD)
Hippolytus, in his work On Christ and Antichrist, wrote about ἀποστασία as part of the end-times events prophesied by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. He linked the falling away to the final rebellion before the Antichrist's appearance:
"For this is that falling away, which has taken place in the world, through various errors and heresies…" (On Christ and Antichrist, 28)
Hippolytus viewed apostasy as not only a personal departure from faith but also as a widespread rebellion that would precede the return of Christ.
Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD)
In his Catechetical Lectures, Cyril talks about the end-time apostasy prophesied in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, linking it directly to the coming of the Antichrist. He saw it as a moral and spiritual rebellion leading to the Antichrist’s rise and eventual judgment:
"The Antichrist will first seize upon the kingdom of this world... and after he has accomplished everything by deceit... there will be a great apostasy." (Catechetical Lectures 15.11)
3. Warnings Against Apostasy in Practice
The Fathers often admonished their readers to guard against personal apostasy, urging them to remain firm in the faith.
Origen (c. 184–253 AD)
Origen saw apostasy as a danger to the soul. He emphasized staying rooted in the faith and avoiding spiritual rebellion:
"Those who fall away from the faith… those are the ones who bring about their own destruction." (On First Principles 3.1)
Origen also focused on the importance of continuous learning and spiritual growth to prevent apostasy from creeping into the Church.
John Chrysostom (c. 349–407 AD)
John Chrysostom, in his homilies, often spoke about the dangers of moral and doctrinal apostasy. He interpreted ἀποστασία as both a moral rebellion and abandonment of faith, warning his congregation to remain steadfast:
"Let us be mindful not to fall into apostasy, not just by word, but by turning our hearts away from Christ." (Homilies on 2 Thessalonians)
Conclusion:
The Early Church Fathers understood ἀποστασία primarily as a departure from faith or rebellion against God’s truth. While many of them focused on warning against heresies and false teachings within the Church, some—like Hippolytus and Cyril—connected it to end-times prophecies and the coming of the Antichrist. In either case, they saw apostasy as a serious danger, urging believers to remain faithful to the gospel and apostolic tradition.
Right?
J.
SMH. APOSTASY is an ENGLISH word derived from the Greek word APOSTASIA because APOSTASIA means “to leave or depart."
The Greek word in the Bible is APOSTASIA not APOSTASY.
You've confirmed that none of them considered apostasy to be the spatial departure of a rapture.
Yes. And apostasia means "defection, revolt, apostasy...from the true religion".
Correct.
Spiritual Rebellion: Most ECFs saw ἀποστασία as a departure from the true faith or a rebellion against Christian teachings. They connected it to doctrinal heresies and moral lapses within the Church.
End-Times Rebellion: Some, like Hippolytus and Cyril, associated ἀποστασία with end-times prophecies, seeing it as part of a larger eschatological framework involving the rise of the Antichrist and a significant rebellion against God.
Shalom.
J.
No it does not. I just posted the definition of apostasia but here it is again.
apostasía (ἀποστασία), meaning "to leave or depart."
Apostasía(ἀποστασία) is made up of apo(ἀπο), meaning “away from,”
and
hístēmi(ἵστημι), meaning “to stand”;
Apostasia literally means to stand away from.
Seriously, what part of that do you not understand. RELIGION is not found in that definition anywhere.
That’s what I’m trying to explain to @covenantee. Apostasia only means to fall away from someone or something, it doesn’t define what is being fallen away from.
See Johann's excellent post 25 for the historic Christian Church's understanding.
I don’t need to know what historic Christian churches understood. If they didn’t understand apostasia as a falling away from something then they’re wrong.
Here's Tommy Ice's comment regarding APOSTASIA meaning departure in old English:
The first seven English translations of apostasia all rendered the noun as either
“departure” or “departing.”
They are as follows:
Wycliffe Bible (1384);
Tyndale Bible (1526);
Coverdale Bible (1535);
Cranmer Bible (1539);
Breeches Bible (1576);
Beza Bible (1583);
Geneva Bible (1608).
This supports the notion that the word truly means
“departure.” In fact, Jerome’s Latin translation known as the Vulgate from around the
time of A.D. 400 renders apostasia with the “word discessio, meaning ‘departure.’”
All of these translate APOSTASIA as departure. And these translations are hundreds of years before 1859.
You should believe the truth no matter what anyone else says. If you believe apostasia means falling away from a religion then have it.Whom to believe?
1. You
2. The historic Christian Church
Need a hint?
CONTEXTUAL AND THEOLOGICAL INSIGHTS TO 2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-12
This passage is very difficult to interpret as the numerous theories throughout church history illustrate.
Biblical Background
As chapter 1 dealt with the Second Coming of Christ and judgment of unbelievers, chapter 2:1-12 deals with the coming and judgment of the Anti-Christ. This is the most detailed description of this person in the NT. Paul does not use the Johannine term "antichrist" (1 John 2:18,22; 4:3; 2 John 7) but called him "the man of lawlessness" in 2 Thess. 2:3 and "the lawless one" in 2 Thess. 2:8.
The general background of this passage lies in the OT belief in a final confrontation between the people of God and the people of the evil one (cf. Psalm 2; 48:4-8; Ezekiel 38-39; Daniel 7; Zechariah 14). This conflict became personalized into individual leaders of both camps: God's Messiah and the Anti-Messiah (cf. Gen. 3:15; Daniel 7; 9:23-27).
The related passages in the NT are Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 17; 21; 1 Thessalonians 4-5; 1 John 2 and the book of Revelation.
Three time elements are involved in 2 Thess. 2:1-12.
current events
future events but preceding the Second Coming
future events concerning the Day of the Lord
It is a general principle of hermeneutics that a passage must be interpreted in light of the immediate context (i.e., historical and literary). With this in mind, the continuing information about the delay of the Second Coming until some events occur is crucial. There was a group in the Thessalonica church who believed so strongly in a soon, very soon, Parousia that they had quit work. Paul seems to address them in this discussion concerning a future Anti-Christ.
The certainty of the return of Jesus is not at issue, but the "when" is! Apparently the church had received a "message" that the time was "now" (cf. 2 Thess. 2:2-3).
It must be remembered that the whole subject of the return of Christ is presented in the Bible in a dialectical tension. On one hand, the imminent return of the Lord is balanced with several events which must happen first. One of these truths does not eliminate or contradict the other. Some examples of the predicted preliminary events would be:
the apostasy (cf. Matt. 24:1-13; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1ff. and 2 Thess. 2:3ff)
the great tribulation (cf. Matt. 24:21-22, 29-31)
gospel preached to all nations (cf. Matt. 24:24)
revealing of Anti-Christ (cf. Matthew 24; 2 Thessalonians 2; and Revelation 13)
salvation of the full number of Gentiles and Jews (cf. Rom. 11:11-36)
SPECIAL TOPIC: SOON RETURN
SPECIAL TOPIC: DELAYED SECOND COMING
Many see this chapter as apocalyptic in genre. This surely is possible, but we must not use this as a way to avoid careful exegesis.
SPECIAL TOPIC: APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE
SPECIAL TOPIC: EASTERN LITERATURE
NASB "the apostasy comes first"
NKJV "the falling away comes first"
NRSV "the rebellion comes first"
TEV "the final Rebellion takes place"
NJB "the Great Revolt has taken place"
Peshitta "unless it is preceded by a rebellion"
REB "the final rebellion against God"
This compound term apo + histēmi, literally means "to stand away from." It can be used in a negative sense (rebellion) or a positive sense (away from sin, cf. 2 Tim. 2:19). This word was used in Greek literature (Plutarch and Acts 5:37) of political or military rebellion, but in the Septuagint (cf. Josh. 22:22) and Apocrypha, it often refers to spiritual rebellion. Who is rebelling is uncertain, but they are rejecting God and His Messiah, even trying to replace Him.
The identity of those who apostacize is uncertain. Here are some options from the NT period.
Jewish false Messiahs (i.e., related to the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, cf. Matt. 24:5) and Jewish false prophets (cf. Matt. 24:11)
Jewish or Roman governmental persecution (cf Matt. 24:9)
Greek oriented false teachers (i.e., Gnostics, cf. 1 John 2:18-19; also 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-13)
These options caused many loosely attached "believers" to reject the faith. This rejection of "many" (cf. Matt. 24:10) may be characterized as an apostasy with the believing community.
SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY
SPECIAL TOPIC: QUESTIONS ABOUT JESUS' RETURN
SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM
This here from a man I love-Utley.
Shalom
J.
I believe what the historic Christian Church unanimously believed.
What do you believe?
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