APOSTASY

( ἀποστάσις , falling away.) A forsaking or renouncing of our religion, either formally, by an open declaration in words, or virtually, by our actions. The word has several degrees of signification. The primitive Christian Church distinguished several kinds of apostasy: the first, of those who went entirely from Christianity to Judaism. The second, of those who mingled Judaism and Christianity together. The third, of those who complied so far with the Jews, as to communicate with them in many of their unlawful practices, without formally profe ing their religion; and the fourth, of those who, after having been some time Christians, voluntarily relapsed into Paganism. It is expre ly revealed in Holy Scripture that there will be a very general falling away from Christianity, or an apostasy, before the second coming of our Lord . (2 The . ii. 3; 1 Tim. iv. 1; 2 Tim. iv. 3, 4.) In the Romish Church the term apostasy is also applied to a renunciation of the monastic vow.