THOUGHTS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT.
By F. D. Starr
The term “apostasy” has become quite familiar in religious parlance, and it is certainly not an unscriptural expression. Paul stated to the Thessalonians that before the coming of Christ, there would come the apostasia (apostasy). 2 Thess. 2:3. This word is rendered by the translators, “a falling away.” To get a more complete idea of the meaning of this word, and what it is to apostatize, we will notice some uses made of this term in the Septuagint. In Num. 14:9 we read, “Only rebel not ye against the Lord,” etc. Also in verse 31, “They shall know the land which ye have despised.” Here the words rendered “rebel” and “despised” are translated in the Greek apostatai and apostete, both forms of the Greek word apostasia, meaning to apostatize. In Deut. 13:10 we find this statement: “He hath sought to thrust thee away from the Lord thy God.” Also verse 13 reads: “Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and hath withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known.” In these instances, the terms “thrust . . . away” and “withdrawn” are rendered in the Septuagint “apostatize.” In Deut. 24:1–3 we read, “Let him write her a bill of divorcement.” This is called in the Greek biblion apostasion, the bill (or book) of apostasy. These words were quoted directly by our Lord, as recorded in Matt. 5:31; 19:7, and Mark 10:4. From all these instances we get a good understanding of the meaning of the term “apostasy.” It signifies rebellion, withdrawal, turning away from, despising, and proving untrue, as a false-hearted companion toward one with whom lifelong union had been solemnly promised. Such has been the course of the professed church of Christ, as proven by her history since apostolic times; and, in fact, this course has been characteristic of the church for ages before the Christian era. How natural to apostatize or backslide! In 2 Tim. 2:19 we read: “The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” It may not have occurred to the reader that Paul was here quoting Old Testament language, but a comparison of Num. 16:5, as rendered in the Septuagint, would very clearly indicate that such was the case. The account is concerning Korah and his company, how the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up. The statement of the Authorized Version is, “Even to-morrow the Lord will show who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him; even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.” In the Septuagint, instead of “will show” or “make known,” we have the identical words used by Paul in the New Testament quotation rendered “knoweth them that are his.” God knoweth them that are his and them that are holy.” If one will take the pains to see how many times the admonition was given to “separate,” “depart,” etc., from Korah and his company (verses 21, 24, 26), he will discover the application also of the command, “Depart from iniquity.” The apostle proceeds to speak of “vessels” (2 Tim. 2:20, 21), and their use in the service of God. Some were unto honor and some to dishonor. This reminds one that there were some vessels used by Korah and his company. Such a use was to be made of these vessels as would forever remind future generations of the dishonorable course of these rebellious men (Num. 16:37–40), and constitute a warning to us, that we might take such a course that in the “great house” of the Lord we may not be vessels that shall have an ignominious history as a memorial, but vessels unto honor. Based upon the awful consequences of the rebellion described in Numbers 16, the warning of Paul to “depart from iniquity,” and “the Lord knoweth them that are his,” has greatly augmented force.