2Th 2:3 will not come unless the a comes first, and
(Gr., apostasy, a falling back, a retreat, abandonment). The Bible contains many warnings against apostasy (2Th 2:3; Jude) as well as examples of apostasy: Israel (Jos 22:22; 2Ch 29:19; Jer 2:19), Saul (1Sa 15:11 ), Hymenaeus and Alexander (1Ti 1:19-20) and Demas (2Ti 4:10). The writer of the letter to the Hebrews declares that the apostasy is irrevocable (Heb 6:4-6; Heb 10:26), and Paul applies it eschatologically to the coming of an age of great rebellion against God (2Th 2: 3).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
(Defection, get out).
Apostate is one who abandons the true Christian faith. There are very serious warnings in the Bible against apostates.
– Saint Paul “handed over Satan”, expelled Hymenaeus and Alexander, 1Ti 1:9-20.
– In Heb 6:4-6 it says that it is impossible for those who fell into apostasy to be renewed again to penance, because they have crucified Jesus in themselves.
– In 2Pe 2:21 it says that “it would have been better for them not to have known the way of justice. “: – Jesus prophesied that at the end of time there would be many false apostles, many apostates who would deceive many, Mat 24:5, Mat 24:11, Mat 24:24.
Christian Bible Dictionary
Dr. J. Dominguez
http://bible.com/dictionary/
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
Word that in Greek is composed of apó (fall, get away from) and stasis (rebellion) and that was used to indicate a political or military revolt. It means the act of rejecting the faith or the doctrines professed or believed, turning away to adopt others. The Septuagint translators adopted the term to express the turning away or rebellion against the God of Israel, as in Jos 22:22 : “…if it was by rebellion or trespass against Jehovah† . Although using other words in Hebrew, the prophets denounced the a. From Israel. They “forsook the Lord…turned back” (Isa 1:4; Jer 2:17). † œThey tempted and angered the Most High God, and did not keep the testimonies of him; but they became … like a deceitful bow† (Ps 78:56-58). The concept of a. It appears, then, in the OT, although with different words, as when it is said: “any man… who has turned away from following me, and has set his idols in his heart… I the Lord will answer him…” (Eze 14:7).
The term comes to be used in Israel after the period of Hellenization, when a part of the Jewish society became in favor of adopting Greek customs. In intertestamental literature the word a was applied. to facts of that kind, especially when †¢Antiochus Epiphanes’ attempt to †œimpose the a.† by exchanging Israelite faith and customs for Hellenic ones. From that time, abandoning the faith of Israel was “falling away”.
NT times the Jews accused Paul of teaching “all the Jews that are among the Gentiles to apostatize from Moses” (Acts 21:21). Christians followed the Jewish use of the term. Paul himself reminds the Thessalonians that the †¢antichrist †will not come without the a.† coming first, that is, a period of total rebellion against God headed by said †¢antichrist, †œwho opposes and rises up against all that is called God or is worshiped† (2Th 2:3-4). The epistle to the Hebrews refers in a special way to the danger that in certain circumstances Christians may have to apostatize from the faith. (Heb 2:1-3; Heb 3:12-19; Heb 6:1-9; Heb 10:26-39). †¢Heresy.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, ESCA DOC
see, ANTICHRIST It means “turn back, relapse” (Gr.). Paul was accused of teaching the Jews among the Gentiles to apostatize from Moses (Acts 21:21). Paul taught freedom from the law by the death of Christ, and this, for a strict rabbinical Jew, would constitute apostasy, forgetting the promise of the New Covenant given by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 31:31-34, etc.). This same word is used in Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 2:3), where it is taught that the day of the Lord cannot come until “the apostasy” or abandonment of Christianity has come in connection with the manifestation of the man of sin. (See ANTICHRIST). With regard to individual apostasy, it is dealt with in such passages as Hebrews (Heb. 3:12; 10:26, 28), and in the Epistle of Jude. There are also warnings that this type of apostasy will become more widespread as the present dispensation draws to a close (1 Tim. 4:1-3). An apostasy necessarily implies a position from which one can fall, a profession made that is deliberately abandoned. It is not a question of a Christian falling into some sin, but of a definite abandonment of Christianity by an unconverted professor, who has not experienced the regeneration of conversion. The Scriptures offer no hope for such a state.
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
It literally means separation or abandonment of what has been previously professed or proclaimed. Especially the term is used referring to the abandonment of the faith that has been had. It is the meaning common to Jews, Mohammedans or Christians.
In a special way, in Christian language, we speak of apostasy if the abandonment of the faith is made public and explicit, deserving the rejection and sanction of the Christian community.
As such it is a sin against the virtue of religion and against the duty to cultivate and preserve the true faith.
Pedro Chico González, Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy, Editorial Bruño, Lima, Peru 2006
Source: Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy
(v. agnosticism, Antichrist, atheism, faith)
(ESQUERDA BIFET, Juan, Dictionary of Evangelization, BAC, Madrid, 1998)
Source: Dictionary of Evangelization
In religion, the apostate is the one who separates himself from God. St. Luke speaks to us of those who, at the moment of trial, turn back, turn away from God (Lk 8:13); God also casts them away from himself, because they are agents of evil (Lk 13,27).
MNE
FERNANDEZ RAMOS, Felipe (Dir.), Dictionary of Jesus of Nazareth, Editorial Monte Carmelo, Burbos, 2001
Source: Dictionary of Jesus of Nazareth
From the Greek apostamai, it indicates of itself a desertion of one’s own mission or a renunciation of one’s own state; it is a put out. Starting with Thomas Aquinas (5. Th. II-II, 12, 1), theology distinguishes three types of apostasy; 1.
apostasy from the faith, when one renounces the Christian faith after receiving baptism; 2. apostasy from religion, which takes place after having made a solemn profession; 3.
apostasy from ordination, when holy orders are abandoned.
In common theological parlance, however, apostasy refers simply to renunciation of the Christian faith.
The various epochs of the Church’s history have recorded the presence of apostasy. In 1 Jn 2:18-19 it is already possible to see a first reference from apostolic times to apostasy.
Especially in times of persecution it is easy to see a frequent use of apostasy by especially weak people who feared the pains and sorrows that were inflicted on Christians. It happened then that some publicly denied the faith, but not privately. According to the sin they had committed (burning incense to the divinities = “turified,; immolate sacrifices to the idols = “sacrificed,”), a more or less severe penalty was imposed on them, which, over the centuries, sometimes gave rise to to schismatic forms. Apostates who returned to the faith were called lapsi. Until the penultimate Code of canon law of 1917 (can. 1325) there are penalties against apostates.
R. Fisichella
Bibl.: Thomas Aquinas, 5. Th, II-II, q, 12.
a. ]. A. Beugnet, Apostasie, in DTC 112, ]60i-]6]2.
PACOMIO, Luciano, Encyclopedic Theological Dictionary, Divine Word, Navarra, 1995
Source: Encyclopedic Theological Dictionary
(Gr. A·po·sta·sí·a).
The corresponding Greek term is derived from the verb a·phi·ste·mi, which literally means “to depart from.” The noun form has the meaning of †œdesertion, abandonment or rebellion† . (Ac 21:21, footnote) In classical Greek it was used to refer to political defection, and it is in this sense that the verb is used in the passage at Acts 5:37 about Judas the Galilean, which † œattracted† (a·pe·ste·se, a form of a·fi·ste·mi) followers. The Septuagint Version, written in Greek, uses the word in Genesis 14:4 with reference to such a rebellion. However, in the Christian Greek Scriptures it is used above all in relation to religious defection, that is, the renunciation or abandonment of the true cause, the worship and service of God; in short, a renunciation of what was previously professed and a total abandonment of those principles or faith. The religious leaders in Jerusalem accused Paul of this type of apostasy from the Mosaic law.
It may be properly said that the adversary of God was the first apostate, as the name Satan indicates. He caused the first human couple to apostatize. (Ge 3:1-15; Joh 8:44) After the Flood, men strayed from the words of Noah’s God. (Ge 11: 1-9) Later, it became necessary for Job to defend himself against the accusation of apostasy leveled at him by his three so-called comforters. (Job 8:13; 15:34; 20:5) In his defense he showed that God does not grant an audience to apostates (Job 13:16), and that the status of an apostate whom God †˜ short † ™ is hopeless. (Job 27:8; compare also Elihu’s statement at Job 34:30; 36:13.) The Hebrew noun cha·neph, which means “apart from God,” that is, apostate, is used in these cases. The related verb, cha neph, means “to be cut off from right relationship with God,” or “to defile, lead to apostasy.” (Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros, by L. Koehler and W. Baumgartner, Leiden, 1958, p. 317.)
Apostasy in Israel. The first two commandments of the Law condemned all apostasy. (Ex 20:3-6) Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they were warned of the grave danger of falling into apostasy if they intermarried with the inhabitants of the land. (De 7: 3, 4) Even if a close relative or spouse were the one inciting others to apostatize, he was to be put to death for having “spoke of revolt against Jehovah your God.” (De 13:1-15) The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were quick to exonerate themselves from the charge of apostasy brought against them for having built an altar. (Jos 22:21-29.)
Many of the kings of Israel and Judah followed an apostate course. For example: Saul (1Sa 15:11; 28:6, 7), Jeroboam (1Ki 12:28-32), Ahab (1Ki 16:30-33), Ahaziah (1Ki 22:51-53), Jehoram (2Ch 21:6-15), Ahaz (2Ch 28:1-4) and Ammon. (2Ch 33:22, 23) In time, the Israelites became a nation of apostates, for the people listened to the apostate priests and prophets (Jer 23:11, 15), as well as others…