The word apostasia is used twice in the New Testament. In the first instance, it is of a sin alleged (Acts 21:21), where it is said of Paul that he was teaching Jews to “forsake” or “fall away from” Moses. He wasn’t really, not the way they claimed, but the allegation was that he was …
Fifty Yards Across and Bright Red
The Greek word apoplanao is only found twice in the New Testament. The first use is in Mark 13:22, where it is rendered as seduce. The second is in 1 Tim. 6:10, where it is translated as err. In Mark, the atttempted seduction is offered by means of signs and wonders. “For false Christs and …
Unbelief, Straight Up
The word apistos is rendered in a number of different ways, but all of them relate to the sin of unbelief. Paul refers to those “that believe not” in the context of marriage. A Christian spouse is not bound if he or she has a husband or wife who doesn’t believe, and who does not …
Simple Unbelief
We have already considered the verb that expressed unbelief (apisteo), and the noun apistia is obviously related Jesus did not do many miracles in His hometown because of their unbelief (Matt. 13:58; Mk. 6:6). The disciples were unable to cast out a particularly stubborn demon because of their unbelief (Matt. 17:20). It is striking that …
He Cannot Deny Himself
Influenced by certain Enlightenment assumptions, we like to believe that we all may reserve the right to not believe certain things. But in Scripture to “believe not” is described as a sin. The verb used to describe this unbelief in Scripture is apisteo. The male disciples had been told by Jesus that He was going …
Forbear Threatening
We have already consider one word for threatening (apeileo), and we now come to another closely related one (apeile). As before, threatening is something the ungodly do. In one place, the two words are used together, for straitly and for threatening. “But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, …
The Sin of Threatening
The word apeileo means to threaten, and is used twice in the New Testament. In both instances it is cited as a sinful kind of behavior. When the Jewish leaders were trying to shut down the apostles early in the book of Acts, one of the means they tried was that of threats. “But that …
Simply Disobedient
Apeithes occurs six times in the New Testament, and is rendered by the word disobedient. Zacharias was promised that his son John would be used to turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just (Luke 1:17). When the Lord appeared to Saul of Tarsus, he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision (Acts 26:19). …
Unbelief and Disobedience
The word apeitheo relates to unbelief and disobedience both. It is important for us as classical Protestants to distinguish them, but is equally important for us to refuse to separate them. Far too many tight Protestants, zealous for what they believe to be the truth, are willing to sacrifice sola Scriptura on the altar of …
Unbelief is Disobedience and Vice Versa
The Greek word apeitheia is rendered, strikingly, as both unbelief and as disobedience. And when you consider the context of these passages, it is noteworthy that either translation works about as well. In Romans 11, Pauls states it this way: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times …