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Monthly Question Page
Q. Could you please explain what an apostate is?
A. To apostatize, or become an apostate, is simply to “fall away” or to deliberately give up what a person has once professed. The Bible speaks of it in this way: “The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:22). Note, both of the animals mentioned were unclean under the Old Testament law. It is not a true believer backsliding and falling into some sin, from which the grace of God can restore them, but a definite giving up of the profession of Christianity. Scripture holds no hope for such. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:4-6).
Though the word “apostasy” does not occur in the King James Version, the Greek word occurs several times, from which the English word is derived.
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