http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/214463/1/Are-you-an-apostate "Here is what the Insight book says on apostasy: This term in Greek ( a·po·sta·si′a ) comes from the verb a·phi′ste·mi, literally meaning “stand away from.” The noun has the sense of “ desertion, abandonment or rebellion .” (Ac 21:21, ftn) In classical Greek thenoun was used to refer to political defection, and the verb is evidently employed in this sense at Acts 5:37, concerning Judas the Galilean who “drew off” ( a·pe′ste·se, form of a·phi′ste·mi ) followers. The Greek Septuagint uses the term at Genesis 14:4 with reference to such a rebellion. However, in the Christian Greek Scriptures it is used primarily with regard to religious defection; a withdrawal or abandonment of the true cause, worship, and service of God , and hence an abandonment of what one has previously professed and a totaldesertion of principles or faith . The religious leaders of Jerusalem charged Paul with such an apostasy against the Mosaic Law. It may properly be said that God’s Adversary was the first apostate, as is indicated by the name Satan . He caused the first human pair to apostatize. (Ge 3:1-15; Joh 8:44) Following the Flood, there was a rebellion against the words of the God ofNoah. (Ge 11:1-9) Job later found it necessary to defend himself against the charge of apostasy on the part of his three supposed comforters. (Job 8:13; 15:34; 20:5) In his defense Job showed that God grants no audience to the apostate (Job 13:16), and he also showed the hopeless state of one cut off in apostasy. (Job 27:8; compare also Elihu’s statement at 34:30; 36:13.) In these cases the Hebrew noun cha·neph′ is used, meaning “[one] alienated from God ,” thatis, an apostate. The related verb cha·neph′ means “be inclined away from the right relation to God ,” or “pollute, lead to apostasy.”— Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros, by L. Koehler and W. Baumgartner, Leiden, 1958, p. 317."
