The Great Apostasy - Revision history

SpencerMarsh: /* 1800 Years of Spiritual Darkness and Confusion */

2026-07-19T16:59:20Z

1800 Years of Spiritual Darkness and Confusion

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	[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatian Tatian] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_of_Antioch Theophilus] died by AD 185. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus Irenaeus] (191 AD), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen Origen] (253 AD), and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertullian Tertullian] (220 AD) all died by the third century AD. This doctrine they taught contravened the Bible. John 17:3 teaches, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” By not knowing the true God, the Christians certainly fell into apostasy.		[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatian Tatian] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_of_Antioch Theophilus] died by AD 185. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus Irenaeus] (191 AD), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen Origen] (253 AD), and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertullian Tertullian] (220 AD) all died by the third century AD. This doctrine they taught contravened the Bible. John 17:3 teaches, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” By not knowing the true God, the Christians certainly fell into apostasy.

	====1800 Years of Spiritual Darkness and Confusion====		====1800 Years of Spiritual Darkness and Confusion?====

	====Preparing the Way for the Restoration====		====Preparing the Way for the Restoration====

	{{endnotes sources}}		{{endnotes sources}}

SpencerMarsh: /* The Corruption of Scripture */

2026-07-19T16:58:23Z

The Corruption of Scripture

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	Nephi's vision varies in claiming that many plain and precious things are taken out of the Bible (1 Nephi 13:29) or taken out of the ''gospel'' (1 Nephi 13:26). Nephi also mentions "covenants" that have been taken away (1 Nephi 13:26). These plain and precious parts were taken away by "the great and abominable church" so "that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men (vv. 26–27). Here, we have a clear distinction between the ''perpetrators'' and their ''unfortunate victims'' whom they have blinded and whose hearts they have hardened against the true church.		Nephi's vision varies in claiming that many plain and precious things are taken out of the Bible (1 Nephi 13:29) or taken out of the ''gospel'' (1 Nephi 13:26). Nephi also mentions "covenants" that have been taken away (1 Nephi 13:26). These plain and precious parts were taken away by "the great and abominable church" so "that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men (vv. 26–27). Here, we have a clear distinction between the ''perpetrators'' and their ''unfortunate victims'' whom they have blinded and whose hearts they have hardened against the true church.

			The great and abominable church sought to "pervert the right ways of the Lord" (v. 27). The angel tells Nephi, "Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church" (1 Nephi 13:8).

	The most thorough treatment of this topic was done by Latter-day Saint scholar and Egyptologist John Gee in a book chapter he authored in 2005.<ref>John Gee, "[https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/corruption-scripture-early-christianity The Corruption of Scripture in Early Christianity]," in ''Early Christians in Disarray: Contemporary LDS Perspectives on the Christian Apostasy'', ed. Noel B. Reynolds (FARMS, 2005), 163–204.</ref>		The most thorough treatment of this topic was done by Latter-day Saint scholar and Egyptologist John Gee in a book chapter he authored in 2005.<ref>John Gee, "[https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/corruption-scripture-early-christianity The Corruption of Scripture in Early Christianity]," in ''Early Christians in Disarray: Contemporary LDS Perspectives on the Christian Apostasy'', ed. Noel B. Reynolds (FARMS, 2005), 163–204.</ref>


	=====The Change of Covenants=====		=====The Change of Covenants=====

SpencerMarsh: /* The Loss of Apostolic Authority */

2026-07-19T14:09:12Z

The Loss of Apostolic Authority

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	Doctrine and Covenants 86 presents the Apostles as the original sowers of the gospel in the Savior's Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. According to the revelation, they planted the "good seed," but after they "fell asleep" (that is, after their deaths), the adversary sowed tares among the wheat, symbolizing the introduction of corruption and false teachings into the Church (Doctrine & Covenants 86:1–3). Unlike some earlier Latter-day Saint interpretations that suggested the wheat disappeared entirely, this revelation teaches that the wheat continued to exist alongside the tares until the last days, when the Lord would begin the work of gathering and separating them. Thus, Doctrine and Covenants 86 portrays the Apostles as faithfully establishing Christ's Church and attributes the subsequent Apostasy to the enemy's efforts after their ministry ended, while emphasizing that God preserved faithful believers ("the wheat") until the Restoration and the final gathering.		Doctrine and Covenants 86 presents the Apostles as the original sowers of the gospel in the Savior's Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. According to the revelation, they planted the "good seed," but after they "fell asleep" (that is, after their deaths), the adversary sowed tares among the wheat, symbolizing the introduction of corruption and false teachings into the Church (Doctrine & Covenants 86:1–3). Unlike some earlier Latter-day Saint interpretations that suggested the wheat disappeared entirely, this revelation teaches that the wheat continued to exist alongside the tares until the last days, when the Lord would begin the work of gathering and separating them. Thus, Doctrine and Covenants 86 portrays the Apostles as faithfully establishing Christ's Church and attributes the subsequent Apostasy to the enemy's efforts after their ministry ended, while emphasizing that God preserved faithful believers ("the wheat") until the Restoration and the final gathering.

	The best historical scholarship available places the death of the last Apostle ~~around~~ 100 AD.<ref>Kurt Manwaring, "Fact vs. Fiction: How Did All the Apostles Die?" ''From the Desk'', July 4, 2026, https://fromthedesk.org/how-did-all-the-apostles-die/.</ref>		The best historical scholarship available places the death of the last Apostle as early 100 AD and as late as 107 AD.<ref>Kurt Manwaring, "Fact vs. Fiction: How Did All the Apostles Die?" ''From the Desk'', July 4, 2026, https://fromthedesk.org/how-did-all-the-apostles-die/.</ref>

	{\|class="wikitable" vertical-align:top border="3" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"		{\|class="wikitable" vertical-align:top border="3" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"

SpencerMarsh: /* The Symptoms of the Great Apostasy Predicted */

2026-07-19T13:56:27Z

The Symptoms of the Great Apostasy Predicted

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	*Revelations 2–3		*Revelations 2–3

	====The Symptoms of the Great Apostasy ~~Predicted~~====		====The Symptoms of the Great Apostasy====
	The scriptures give three symptoms that characterize the Great Apostasy.		The scriptures give three symptoms that characterize the Great Apostasy.
	#Loss of Apostolic authority		#Loss of Apostolic authority

SpencerMarsh: /* Defining the Apostasy */

2026-07-19T12:13:56Z

Defining the Apostasy

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	Defining ''what'' the Apostasy actually was is a matter of great importance. Without this definition, we cannot assuage the concerns of those studying this topic. It is important to define the Apostasy using scripture.		Defining ''what'' the Apostasy actually was is a matter of great importance. Without this definition, we cannot assuage the concerns of those studying this topic. It is important to define the Apostasy using scripture.

	The word ''apostasy'' comes from the Greek word ''ἀποστασία'' (ah-poh-stah-SEE-uh). The prefix ''ἀπο'' means (away), and ''στασίs'' means "standing." Thus, etymologically, we get "standing away" or "standing apart" as the meaning of the word. "The word means ‘rebellion,’ ‘mutiny,’ ‘revolt,’ or ‘revolution,’ and it is used in ancient contexts with reference to uprisings against established authority."<ref>Kent P. Jackson, ''From Apostasy to Restoration'' (Deseret Book, 1996), 6.</ref>		The word ''apostasy'' comes from the Greek word ''ἀποστασία'' (ah-poh-stah-SEE-uh). The prefix ''ἀπο'' means "away", and ''στασίs'' means "standing." Thus, etymologically, we get "standing away" or "standing apart" as the meaning of the word. "The word means ‘rebellion,’ ‘mutiny,’ ‘revolt,’ or ‘revolution,’ and it is used in ancient contexts with reference to uprisings against established authority."<ref>Kent P. Jackson, ''From Apostasy to Restoration'' (Deseret Book, 1996), 6.</ref>

	In 2 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul said, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for [the Second Coming of Jesus Christ] shall not come, except there come a falling away ["''ἀποστασία''"] first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" (2 Thessalonians 2:3).		In 2 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul said, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for [the Second Coming of Jesus Christ] shall not come, except there come a falling away ["''ἀποστασία''"] first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

SpencerMarsh at 12:13, 19 July 2026

2026-07-19T12:13:23Z

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			{{UnderConstructionSuggestions}}
	<h1><b>The Great Apostasy</b></h1>		<h1><b>The Great Apostasy</b></h1>
	__NOTOC__		__NOTOC__

SpencerMarsh at 06:34, 19 July 2026

2026-07-19T06:34:03Z

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	====Patristic Evidence for the Apostasy====		====Patristic Evidence for the Apostasy====

	~~====The Corruption of Scripture====~~

	====The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God====		====The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God====
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	[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatian Tatian] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_of_Antioch Theophilus] died by AD 185. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus Irenaeus] (191 AD), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen Origen] (253 AD), and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertullian Tertullian] (220 AD) all died by the third century AD. This doctrine they taught contravened the Bible. John 17:3 teaches, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” By not knowing the true God, the Christians certainly fell into apostasy.		[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatian Tatian] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_of_Antioch Theophilus] died by AD 185. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus Irenaeus] (191 AD), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen Origen] (253 AD), and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertullian Tertullian] (220 AD) all died by the third century AD. This doctrine they taught contravened the Bible. John 17:3 teaches, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” By not knowing the true God, the Christians certainly fell into apostasy.

	~~====The Loss of Apostolic Authority====~~

	====1800 Years of Spiritual Darkness and Confusion====		====1800 Years of Spiritual Darkness and Confusion====

SpencerMarsh: /* The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God */

2026-07-19T06:33:34Z

The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God

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	====The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God====		====The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God====
	By the 2nd century, Christians were teaching that God created the universe out of nothing. As observed by James Hubler, ~~“Creatio~~ ex nihilo appeared suddenly in the latter half of the second century c.e. Not only did creatio ex nihilo lack precedent, it stood in firm opposition to all the philosophical schools of the Greco-Roman world. As we have seen, the doctrine was not forced upon the Christian community by their revealed tradition, either in Biblical texts or the Early Jewish interpretation of them. As we will also see it was not a position attested in the New Testament doctrine or even sub-apostolic writings. It was a position taken by the apologists of the late second century, Tatian and Theophilus, and developed by various ecclesiastical writers thereafter, by Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen. Creatio ex nihilo represents an innovation in the interpretive traditions of revelation and cannot be explained merely as a continuation of tradition.”<ref>James N. Hubler, ''Creatio ex Nihilo: Matter, Creation, and the Body in Classical and Christian Philosophy through Aquinas'' (University of Pennsylvania, 1995), 102.</ref>		By the 2nd century, Christians were teaching that God created the universe out of nothing. As observed by James Hubler,

			<blockquote>Creatio ex nihilo appeared suddenly in the latter half of the second century c.e. Not only did creatio ex nihilo lack precedent, it stood in firm opposition to all the philosophical schools of the Greco-Roman world. As we have seen, the doctrine was not forced upon the Christian community by their revealed tradition, either in Biblical texts or the Early Jewish interpretation of them. As we will also see it was not a position attested in the New Testament doctrine or even sub-apostolic writings. It was a position taken by the apologists of the late second century, Tatian and Theophilus, and developed by various ecclesiastical writers thereafter, by Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen. Creatio ex nihilo represents an innovation in the interpretive traditions of revelation and cannot be explained merely as a continuation of tradition.<ref>James N. Hubler, ''Creatio ex Nihilo: Matter, Creation, and the Body in Classical and Christian Philosophy through Aquinas'' (University of Pennsylvania, 1995), 102.</ref></blockquote>

	[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatian Tatian] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_of_Antioch Theophilus] died by AD 185. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus Irenaeus] (191 AD), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen Origen] (253 AD), and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertullian Tertullian] (220 AD) all died by the third century AD. This doctrine they taught contravened the Bible. John 17:3 teaches, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” By not knowing the true God, the Christians certainly fell into apostasy.		[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatian Tatian] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_of_Antioch Theophilus] died by AD 185. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus Irenaeus] (191 AD), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen Origen] (253 AD), and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertullian Tertullian] (220 AD) all died by the third century AD. This doctrine they taught contravened the Bible. John 17:3 teaches, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” By not knowing the true God, the Christians certainly fell into apostasy.

SpencerMarsh: /* The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God */

2026-07-19T06:32:57Z

The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:32, 19 July 2026
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	By the 2nd century, Christians were teaching that God created the universe out of nothing. As observed by James Hubler, “Creatio ex nihilo appeared suddenly in the latter half of the second century c.e. Not only did creatio ex nihilo lack precedent, it stood in firm opposition to all the philosophical schools of the Greco-Roman world. As we have seen, the doctrine was not forced upon the Christian community by their revealed tradition, either in Biblical texts or the Early Jewish interpretation of them. As we will also see it was not a position attested in the New Testament doctrine or even sub-apostolic writings. It was a position taken by the apologists of the late second century, Tatian and Theophilus, and developed by various ecclesiastical writers thereafter, by Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen. Creatio ex nihilo represents an innovation in the interpretive traditions of revelation and cannot be explained merely as a continuation of tradition.”<ref>James N. Hubler, ''Creatio ex Nihilo: Matter, Creation, and the Body in Classical and Christian Philosophy through Aquinas'' (University of Pennsylvania, 1995), 102.</ref>		By the 2nd century, Christians were teaching that God created the universe out of nothing. As observed by James Hubler, “Creatio ex nihilo appeared suddenly in the latter half of the second century c.e. Not only did creatio ex nihilo lack precedent, it stood in firm opposition to all the philosophical schools of the Greco-Roman world. As we have seen, the doctrine was not forced upon the Christian community by their revealed tradition, either in Biblical texts or the Early Jewish interpretation of them. As we will also see it was not a position attested in the New Testament doctrine or even sub-apostolic writings. It was a position taken by the apologists of the late second century, Tatian and Theophilus, and developed by various ecclesiastical writers thereafter, by Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen. Creatio ex nihilo represents an innovation in the interpretive traditions of revelation and cannot be explained merely as a continuation of tradition.”<ref>James N. Hubler, ''Creatio ex Nihilo: Matter, Creation, and the Body in Classical and Christian Philosophy through Aquinas'' (University of Pennsylvania, 1995), 102.</ref>

	[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatian Tatian] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_of_Antioch Theophilus] died by AD 185. This doctrine they taught contravened the Bible. John 17:3 teaches, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” By not knowing the true God, the Christians certainly fell into apostasy.		[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatian Tatian] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_of_Antioch Theophilus] died by AD 185. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus Irenaeus] (191 AD), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen Origen] (253 AD), and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertullian Tertullian] (220 AD) all died by the third century AD. This doctrine they taught contravened the Bible. John 17:3 teaches, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” By not knowing the true God, the Christians certainly fell into apostasy.

	====The Loss of Apostolic Authority====		====The Loss of Apostolic Authority====

SpencerMarsh: /* The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God */

2026-07-19T06:28:14Z

The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:28, 19 July 2026
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	====The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God====		====The Introduction of Greek Philosophy and Redefining the Christian Concept of God====
			By the 2nd century, Christians were teaching that God created the universe out of nothing. As observed by James Hubler, “Creatio ex nihilo appeared suddenly in the latter half of the second century c.e. Not only did creatio ex nihilo lack precedent, it stood in firm opposition to all the philosophical schools of the Greco-Roman world. As we have seen, the doctrine was not forced upon the Christian community by their revealed tradition, either in Biblical texts or the Early Jewish interpretation of them. As we will also see it was not a position attested in the New Testament doctrine or even sub-apostolic writings. It was a position taken by the apologists of the late second century, Tatian and Theophilus, and developed by various ecclesiastical writers thereafter, by Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen. Creatio ex nihilo represents an innovation in the interpretive traditions of revelation and cannot be explained merely as a continuation of tradition.”<ref>James N. Hubler, ''Creatio ex Nihilo: Matter, Creation, and the Body in Classical and Christian Philosophy through Aquinas'' (University of Pennsylvania, 1995), 102.</ref>

			[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatian Tatian] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_of_Antioch Theophilus] died by AD 185. This doctrine they taught contravened the Bible. John 17:3 teaches, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” By not knowing the true God, the Christians certainly fell into apostasy.

	====The Loss of Apostolic Authority====		====The Loss of Apostolic Authority====