Apostasy, according to the Law, is not just about abandoning God’s teachings but also about leading others away from them. Deuteronomy 13 warns against those who secretly entice others to follow different gods or reject God’s commands. This shows that apostasy is not merely an individual matter—it is also a corrupting influence that spreads when false teachers convince others to depart from the truth.
Jesus reinforced this principle by warning about false teachers who would distort His message, deceiving even those who claim to follow Him. Paul also took this threat seriously. He openly admitted that he dealt severely with certain false teachers who endangered the faith. In 1 Timothy 1:20, he speaks of handing Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan so they would learn not to blaspheme. This was not just an act of excommunication but a method of divine judgment, calling upon the Lord to allow Satan to afflict them as a form of correction—or even destruction if they persisted in their rebellion.
This method of judgment is seen again in 1 Corinthians 5:5, where Paul commands that a man engaged in grievous sin be handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved. This shows that such an action was not only a means of punishment but also a warning and a last attempt to bring the person to repentance.
The seriousness of apostasy cannot be overstated. Those who reject Christ’s teachings risk being cut off, like a withered branch thrown into the fire. But those who actively lead others astray bear even greater responsibility, as they endanger the faith of many. Paul’s example shows that apostasy must be confronted firmly, for the sake of both the individual and the church. Faithfulness to Christ’s words requires not only personal obedience but also a refusal to tolerate false teachings that turn people away from the truth.
Stephen D Green with ChatGPT, March 2025
