2 Thess. 2:1-12, The “Falling Away”

Here is a term only used twice, but worthy of study.

apostasia: rebellion, abandonment; in religious sense, apostasy

·       Acts 21:21: Paul accused of telling Jews to "turn away" from Moses, not to circumcise their children or live acc. to Jewish customs

·       2 Thess. 2:3: the day of the Lord won't come until the "falling away"

On 2 Thess 2:3:

Vine: used in the NT of religious apostasy

NIV Study Bible: A falling away from the faith; here Paul speaks of active rebellion, the supreme opposition of evil to the things of God.

ATRobertson: used sometimes of political revolt.  Used in 1 Macc. 2:15 about Antiochus Epiphanes who was enforcing the apostasy from Judaism to Hellenism.  In Josh 22:22 for rebellion against the Lord. It seems clear that the word here means a religious revolt and the use of the definite article seems to mean that Paul had spoken to the Thessalonians about it.

Mt. Henry: By this apostasy we are not to understand a defection in the state, or from civil government, but in spiritual or religious matters, from sound doctrine, instituted worship and church government, and a holy life.

Wm. Hendriksen: makes 1 Macc.1:11,15,43; 2:15 to be an illustration (P169).  "The passage with reference to the coming apostasy by no means teaches that those who are God's genuine children will 'fall away from grace.'  There is no such falling away...But it does mean that the faith of the fathers -- a faith to which the children adhere for a while in a merely formal way -- will finally be abandoned altogether by many of the children.  In that sense the apostasy will be very real, indeed....The use of the term apostasy here...without an accompanying adjective points to the fact that, by and large, the visible Church will forsake the true faith."

Calvin: Paul accordingly, fortifies beforehand the minds...of all the pious, that when the Church should come to be in a scattered condition, they might not be alarmed, as though it were a thing that was new and unlooked for...Paul therefore employs the term apostasy to mean--a treacherous departure from God...far & wide among a large multitude of persons...Now none can be termed apostates, but such as have previously made a profession of Christ and the gospel.  Paul, therefore, predicts a certain general revolt of the visible Church.

Kittle: signifies the state of apostasy.  LXX use: Josh 22:22; Jer 2:19; 2 Ch.29:19; 33:19.  In 2 Th. 2:3 used in the absolute sense as an event of the last days alongside or prior to the appearance of the man of sin. Here a Jewish tradition is adopted which speaks of complete apostasy from God and His Torah shortly before the appearance of the Messian.  This is applied to the apostasy of Christians from their faith to error and unrighteousness (v11f) in the last days (Mt.24:11f).