Outline

The following is an outline of Owen’sThe Nature of Apostasy from the Gospel that reflects the chapter titles and headings that appear in the treatise after Owen’s preface.

  I.  Chapter 1: Apostasy defined from Hebrews 6:4–6

  II.  An exposition of Hebrews 6:4–6

  III.  Historical errors in interpreting Hebrews 6:4–6

  IV.  The context of Hebrews 6:4–6

  V.  The privileges the apostates enjoyed

  A.  The apostates were once enlightened, not merely baptized

  B.  The apostates had tasted of the heavenly gift

  1.  The meaning of “heavenly gift”

  2.  The meaning of “tasting” the heavenly gift

  C.  The apostates were made partakers of the Holy Ghost

  D.  The apostates had tasted the goodness of the word of God

  1.  What does the “goodness” refer to?

  2.  How do apostates taste the good word, and to what effect?

  E.  The apostates had tasted the powers of the world to come

  VI.  Who the apostates were and what they fell from

  A.  They had never been true believers

  B.  They fell from light, gifts, privileges, and profession into a course of sin

  C.  This “falling away” is a total renunciation of the principal doctrines of Christianity

  VII.  How and why the renewal of apostates is impossible

  A.  The renewal of apostates is impossible

  1.  The meaning of “it is impossible”

  2.  The meaning of “to renew”

  3.  Summary of the apostle’s argument

  4.  How God exercises his severity

  B.  Renewal is impossible because the sin of apostates, crucifying Christ again, is unpardonable

  1.  How apostates crucify the Son of God again to themselves

  2.  How apostates commit a greater sin than Christ’s earthly crucifixion

  3.  Apostasy is always willful obstinance

  VIII.  Chapter 2: The prevalence of partial apostasy and the error of Rome’s indefectibility

  IX.  What partial apostasy consists of

  X.  Refutation of the Roman Catholic Church’s claims to infallibility

  A.  Rome has denied Christ

  B.  Rome sets up a form of godliness but despises its power

  C.  Rome claims the gifts and graces of the Spirit but has departed from the truth

  XI.  Chapter 3: Apostasy from gospel truth and the church’s proneness to it throughout history

  XII.  The gospel is not only profession, but doctrine, obedience, and keeping the faith in trial

  XIII.  Instances and predictions of apostasy in the New Testament

  A.  The New Testament churches in apostolic times

  B.  The New Testament’s predictions of apostasy

  XIV.  Instances of apostasy in the early church

  XV.  The Reformation, following a time of decay, was a work of God

  XVI.  The regression of the Reformed churches into error and heresy

  A.  Regression into Roman Catholicism

  B.  Regression into Arminianism

  C.  Regression into Socinianism

  XVII.  Chapter 4: Enmity toward spiritual things as the first cause of apostasy from gospel truth

  XVIII.  The first cause of apostasy: Mankind’s innate enmity toward spiritual truth

  A.  Man’s innate enmity toward gospel truth necessitates a renewal of the mind by gospel power

  B.  The means of preservation of true religion in the face of temptations to defect

  1.  The power of the state is an ineffective means to stem the influx of popery

  2.  Only the renewal of the inner person by the gospel’s power can preserve gospel profession

  3.  Only the diligent ministerial dispensation of the word can prevent a revolt from the truth

  C.  Enmity toward gospel truths fills the mind with a love of sin and the life with wicked works

  1.  People’s love of sin is the cause of spiritual decay and Roman Catholic apostasy

  2.  People’s general aim is to live heedlessly in sin

  XIX.  Chapter 5: Spiritual darkness and ignorance as the second cause of apostasy from gospel truth

  XX.  Natural or innate spiritual darkness in the minds of men

  A.  Sin depraves and darkens people’s minds

  B.  The gospel proposes beautiful and gloriou