There are other actual instances of apostasy recorded in the New Testament. I’ll stay in 1 Timothy for now.
NAS 1 Timothy 1:18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
Timothy was to keep “faith and a good conscience”. Some, however, had rejected faith and a good conscience. Here Paul even specifically names two among others who had done so; as a result they had “suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.” Evidently they were blaspheming. Paul had delivered them to Satan.
Paul writes of others who had actually left the faith later in this same epistle.
NAS 1 Timothy 5:9 Let a widow be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. 13 And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. 14 Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15 for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
The early church practiced something that most churches today do not. (But that is another discussion.) They would enroll widows over 60 who met certain qualifications to receive support and evidently to serve the church. Now to my point. Notice why younger widows were to be refused. Evidently, should they get married they would be breaking a pledge of special service to Christ. This appears to be a serious thing, for Paul describes the result of them doing this as “thus incurring condemnation”. After giving other dangers of enrolling young widows into service Paul gives instruction, then a warning to “give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15 for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.”
But there are more instances of leaving the faith here in 1 Timothy.
NAS 1 Timothy 6:9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang. 11 But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Paul writes about the danger of loving money. He issues a warning to Timothy, and he bases the warning upon actual instances of some leaving the faith. “Some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.” Timothy, in contrast, was to “flee from these things” and “take hold of the eternal life to which you were called”.
Finally, here at the end of his epistle, Paul gives one more encouragement to faithfulness to Timothy.
NAS 1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge "-- 21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.
Paul’s reference to “knowledge” would appear to be a reference to “Gnosticism”. The Greek word “gnosis” meant “knowledge”. Gnosticism was a religion that taught one could achieve salvation through arriving at greater and greater levels of knowledge thus freeing oneself from the material world. Christian Gnostics believed Christianity in its apostolic form was just one level to be advanced beyond. Some had professed belief in Gnosticism “and thus gone astray from the faith.” Thus Timothy was warned to guard what had been entrusted to him.
So in 1 Timothy Paul records four different accounts of apostasy that had happened. And Paul, still here in 1 Timothy, speaking through inspiration, says that in later times there would be more.
NAS 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith….
It amazes me that some will teach that it is impossible to fall away from the faith when the Spirit explicitly states that it will happen!
NAS 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
No wonder, then, that Paul urges Timothy pay attention to himself and to his teaching. This was a matter of salvation. Concluding the chapter, Paul writes:
11 Prescribe and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Given the actual cases of apostasy recorded in the Scriptures, it is difficult for me to understand how anyone can maintain that it is impossible to fall from grace.
In Christ Jesus,
Bob
