Apostasy is not being lukewarm or backslidden, it has nothing to do with the spiritual condition of a church or the lack of devotion of an individual. It is not false doctrine or heresy and has nothing to do with the church whatsoever.
The ONLY places we can go to understand 'apostasy' is 2Thes. 2 and Acts 21 because that's the only two places the word is used in the NT.
Christian's have the preconceived idea that apostasy is a defection from sound doctrinal truth. Why would a defection from truth 'within the church,' create the conditions that would reveal the man of sin and cause people to accept him?
Every other religion view apostasy as abandoning their former political or religious affiliation and accepting another, or nothing at all. It's a revolt and rebellion and a total abandonment of your previous affiliation.
Notice how other religions define apostasy and how those definitions are similar. It's only the Christian definition that's different.
This is the web definition of apostasy.
Apostasy - (noun)
1. The act of abandoning a party or cause.
2. The state of having rejected your religious beliefs, political party, cause or sports team in favor of opposing beliefs, causes or teams.
3. A defection, renunciation, disaffiliation, abandonment or revolt from a previous association.
4. (Islamic definition) Rejection in word or deed of one's former religion.
5. (Christian definition) To fall away from the truth.
It's a political or religious revolt and will take place in Islam.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 from the word 'except' in verse 3c, to the end of verse 12, he church/Christians are not implied in any way. In fact, the words "but we" in verse 13 prove that this is about the followers of the man of sin.
The word 'but' is a conjunction that shows distinction and opposition to a previous statement. It opposes persons to persons or things previously mentioned or thought of. The distinction in this passage is between the followers of Christ as opposed to the man of sin and his followers. The church is not implied whatsoever. Now we beseech you, brethren, by word of increasing interest found twice in the NT. (Acts 21:21; 2Thes. 2:3 It comes from the Greek apostasia a late form of apostasis, originally to desert a post or station in life. It is used of Plutarch of political revolt and is found in the OT in the sense of revolt against the Lord. (Josh. 22:22) Antiochus Epiphanes enforced an apostasia from Judaism to Hellenism (1 Macc 2:15)
In the AV it is translated "falling away" in relation to the man of sin or antichrist. In this sense the thought is of religious revolt. Cremer states that apostasia is used in the absolute sense of "passing over to unbelief," thus a dissolution of the "union of God subsisting through Christ." Amdt adds rebellion or abandonment in the religious sense. On the nature of apostasy there are lengthy articles in both the JewEnc and the CE developing an extensive doctrine of apostasy.
In the NT. 2 Thes 2:3 is part of a prophetic passage of apocalyptic character. The falling away invites conjecture about whom and from what. The event seems future and thus related to antichrist. The implication is that the apostates will welcome the man of sin.
Now look at what Vine's say's...
"a defection, revolt, apostasy," is used in the NT of religious apostasy; in Act 21:21, it is translated "to forsake," lit., "thou teachest apostasy from Moses." In 2Th 2:3 "the falling away" signifies apostasy from the faith. In papyri documents it is used politically of rebels.
(I disagree that it's an apostasy from the faith)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Apostasy (Greek ???, apo, "away, apart", ??????, stasis, "standing") is the formal renunciation of one's religion.
The ONLY places we can go to understand 'apostasy' is 2Thes. 2 and Acts 21 because that's the only two places the word is used in the NT.
Christian's have the preconceived idea that apostasy is a defection from sound doctrinal truth. Why would a defection from truth 'within the church,' create the conditions that would reveal the man of sin and cause people to accept him?
Every other religion view apostasy as abandoning their former political or religious affiliation and accepting another, or nothing at all. It's a revolt and rebellion and a total abandonment of your previous affiliation.
Notice how other religions define apostasy and how those definitions are similar. It's only the Christian definition that's different.
This is the web definition of apostasy.
Apostasy - (noun)
1. The act of abandoning a party or cause.
2. The state of having rejected your religious beliefs, political party, cause or sports team in favor of opposing beliefs, causes or teams.
3. A defection, renunciation, disaffiliation, abandonment or revolt from a previous association.
4. (Islamic definition) Rejection in word or deed of one's former religion.
5. (Christian definition) To fall away from the truth.
It's a political or religious revolt and will take place in Islam.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 from the word 'except' in verse 3c, to the end of verse 12, he church/Christians are not implied in any way. In fact, the words "but we" in verse 13 prove that this is about the followers of the man of sin.
The word 'but' is a conjunction that shows distinction and opposition to a previous statement. It opposes persons to persons or things previously mentioned or thought of. The distinction in this passage is between the followers of Christ as opposed to the man of sin and his followers. The church is not implied whatsoever. Now we beseech you, brethren, by word of increasing interest found twice in the NT. (Acts 21:21; 2Thes. 2:3 It comes from the Greek apostasia a late form of apostasis, originally to desert a post or station in life. It is used of Plutarch of political revolt and is found in the OT in the sense of revolt against the Lord. (Josh. 22:22) Antiochus Epiphanes enforced an apostasia from Judaism to Hellenism (1 Macc 2:15)
In the AV it is translated "falling away" in relation to the man of sin or antichrist. In this sense the thought is of religious revolt. Cremer states that apostasia is used in the absolute sense of "passing over to unbelief," thus a dissolution of the "union of God subsisting through Christ." Amdt adds rebellion or abandonment in the religious sense. On the nature of apostasy there are lengthy articles in both the JewEnc and the CE developing an extensive doctrine of apostasy.
In the NT. 2 Thes 2:3 is part of a prophetic passage of apocalyptic character. The falling away invites conjecture about whom and from what. The event seems future and thus related to antichrist. The implication is that the apostates will welcome the man of sin.
Now look at what Vine's say's...
"a defection, revolt, apostasy," is used in the NT of religious apostasy; in Act 21:21, it is translated "to forsake," lit., "thou teachest apostasy from Moses." In 2Th 2:3 "the falling away" signifies apostasy from the faith. In papyri documents it is used politically of rebels.
(I disagree that it's an apostasy from the faith)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Apostasy (Greek ???, apo, "away, apart", ??????, stasis, "standing") is the formal renunciation of one's religion.
