What are some Bible verses about apostasy?
Apostasy refers to the abandonment or renunciation of one’s religious faith. It comes from the Greek word apostasia which means revolt or rebellion. In the Bible, there are many verses that talk about apostasy and warn believers against falling away from the faith. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible passages about apostasy:
Hebrews 6:4-6
This passage in Hebrews warns about the danger of falling away after having once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit. It says it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have fallen away.
Hebrews 10:26-27
The book of Hebrews again warns that if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment.
2 Peter 2:20-22
Peter warns that if people escape the corruptions of the world by knowing Jesus Christ, but are again entangled in them and overcome, their final state has become worse for them than the first. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
Paul warns Timothy that the time will come when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth.
1 Timothy 4:1
Paul states that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.
2 Thessalonians 2:3
This verse warns that the day of the Lord will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed.
Matthew 24:9-13
Jesus foretells that many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
1 John 2:18-19
John writes that it is the last hour and antichrists have come. They went out from the believers but did not really belong to them, showing they were not true believers.
Mark 4:5-6, 16-17
In the parable of the sower, Jesus describes those who hear the word and immediately receive it with joy, but then fall away when trouble or persecution arises because of the word. Their faith is shallow.
Luke 8:13
Luke also records the parable of the sower, saying those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it but have no root. They believe for a while but then fall away in a time of testing.
Galatians 5:4
Paul writes that those who are trying to be justified by the law have fallen away from grace. They have been severed from Christ.
2 Peter 3:17
Peter encourages his readers to beware, lest they be carried away with the error of lawless people and lose their own stability. He warns against falling from their secure position.
Revelation 2:4-5
Jesus rebukes the church at Ephesus for abandoning the love they had at first. He warns them to remember where they had fallen from and repent.
1 Timothy 1:18-20
Paul excommunicates Hymenaeus and Alexander for blasphemy and handing them over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme, indicating they had fallen away into unbelief and rejection of conscience.
Romans 11:20-22
Paul warns the Gentiles not to be arrogant toward the natural branches but to continue in God’s kindness, otherwise they too could be cut off. He warns against unbelief leading to falling away.
Jude 20-21
Jude encourages believers to build themselves up in the faith and keep themselves in the love of God as they wait for eternal life, so that they will be kept from falling away.
So in summary, there are clear warnings in the New Testament against apostasy, falling away, or apostatizing from the faith that one first received and embraced. Several metaphors are used like drifting away, deserting, departing from the truth, being led astray. But for those who endure and overcome, they will receive eternal life. The consistent exhortation is to remain strong, build up one’s faith, grow in grace and knowledge, rely on the Spirit, and not abandon one’s first love and good confession of faith. Apostasy begins when we drift away in small incremental steps so we must watch ourselves carefully and come back to our foundation in Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:12 warns: “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” But 1 Peter 1:5 encourages “…who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
The many warning passages against apostasy challenge professing believers to examine themselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) and make sure that they are truly saved and spiritually rooted in Christ, bearing fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8). The possibility of apostasy is a reminder to make one’s calling and election sure by continuing steadfastly and faithfully with the Lord (2 Peter 1:10).
Matthew 7:21-23
Jesus said many will say “Lord, Lord” on the judgment day but He will declare to them “I never knew you, depart from me you workers of lawlessness.” This indicates eternal life comes from an intimate relationship with Jesus, not just an outward confession. Apostates may have made an superficial outward profession of faith and even did works, but they did not possess genuine saving faith and union with Christ.
1 John 3:4-10
John wrote that no one born of God makes a practice of sinning, because God’s seed abides in them. In this way the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil. Those who apostatize over time reveal that their life pattern is one of sin and unrighteousness, showing they are not in union with Christ.
Hebrews 3:12-14
This passage warns believers to take care against unbelief leading them to fall away from the living God. But it encourages true believers to hold our original confidence firm to the end. The evidence of genuine faith is endurance to the end.
James 5:19-20
James says if anyone among believers wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, that person has saved his soul from death and covered a multitude of sins. This indicates it is possible for a true believer to drift away for a time into sin or error, but if they repent they will be saved. There is hope for backsliders who have gone astray but return.
Revelation 3:2-3
Jesus warns the church at Sardis that though they have the reputation for being alive, they are actually dead. There are just a few who have not defiled their garments. They are told to wake up, strengthen what remains, and repent. This indicates some had apostatized and were no longer truly faithful Christians.
Galatians 6:1
Paul instructs believers that if anyone is caught in any transgression, they should restore that person in a spirit of gentleness. This indicates believers can stumble into various sins and errors, but should be gently corrected and restored by the church body.
James 1:12
This verse encourages believers that those who persevere under trial will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. The reward is for those who endure temptation and sufferings faithfully. Apostates will fall away when trials or persecutions come.
2 Peter 2:1
Peter warns that just as there were false prophets, there will be false teachers who introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. The destructive heresies could lead believers astray.
1 Timothy 6:20-21
Paul charges Timothy to avoid irreverent babble and contradictions of false knowledge that some have followed and swerved from the faith. Again, false teachings can mislead people and draw them away.
Colossians 2:4-8
Paul expresses concern that persuasive arguments and fine sounding words could deceive the Colossians and take them captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy that depends on human tradition and elemental spiritual forces rather than Christ.
2 John 1:6-11
John writes that many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus coming in the flesh. He warns believers not to take them into their homes, give them a greeting, or participate in their wicked work, so they do not lose what they have worked for but receive their full reward. False teachers can easily impact true believers.
In addition to warning against apostasy, the Bible gives many exhortations to help safeguard believers against falling away:
Hebrews 2:1-3
Pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Don’t neglect this great salvation.
Hebrews 3:13
Exhort one another daily so that none are hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Remain faithful firmly to the end.
2 Peter 1:5-11
Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. If these qualities are yours in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ. Those who lack these things are blind, having forgotten they were cleansed from former sins. Confirm your calling and election.
2 Peter 3:14
Be diligent to be found by Christ without spot or blemish, at peace.
James 1:2-8
Count trials as joy. Let your faith be steadfast. Ask for wisdom. Don’t doubt or you will be like a wave tossed by the sea. An unstable man does not receive anything from the Lord.
1 Peter 5:8-11
Be sober-minded and watchful. Resist the devil firmly in your faith. Take courage because others have suffered before you. After you have suffered a little while, the God of grace will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Revelation 2:10
Be faithful unto death and you will receive the crown of life.
Jude 1:17-23
Remember the predictions and commandments from the apostles. Build yourselves up in the most holy faith and keep yourselves in the love of God. Have mercy on those who doubt. Save others by snatching them from the fire.
In summary, the Bible gives strong and repeated warnings against apostasy. Those who make professions of faith in Jesus but then fall away over time reveal that their faith was never genuine saving faith rooted in Jesus. True saving faith perseveres to the end. But the Bible also gives hope that those who have backslidden can repent and return, and provides many exhortations to help guard us against falling away. By taking heed to the warnings and following the encouragements, we can be overcomers who finish the race and receive the prize of eternal life with Christ.