Definition: To delude is to deceive or mislead someone into believing something that is false. In a biblical context, delusion often refers to spiritual deception, where individuals are led away from the truth of God's Word.

Biblical References:

1. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 : "and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie, in order that judgment will come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness." This passage highlights the concept of divine judgment through delusion, where those who reject the truth of the Gospel are given over to false beliefs as a consequence of their choices.

2. Romans 1:21-25 : Although the term "delude" is not explicitly used, the passage describes a process of self-delusion where individuals, having known God, fail to honor Him and instead exchange the truth of God for lies. "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles... They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen."

3. James 1:22 : "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves." This verse warns against self-delusion, emphasizing the importance of not only hearing God's Word but also acting upon it. Self-deception occurs when individuals believe they are righteous simply by hearing the Word without putting it into practice.

4. Galatians 6:7 : "Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return." This verse serves as a warning against delusion in the form of mocking God, suggesting that self-deception can lead to a false sense of security regarding the consequences of one's actions.

Theological Implications:

Delusion in the Bible is often associated with a rejection of truth and a turning away from God. It is both a human and divine phenomenon, where individuals may deceive themselves or be given over to delusion by God as a form of judgment. The Bible consistently warns against the dangers of being led astray by false teachings, emphasizing the importance of discernment and adherence to the truth of Scripture.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to remain vigilant against delusion by grounding themselves in the truth of God's Word. Regular study of the Bible, prayer, and fellowship with other believers are essential practices to guard against deception. Christians are also called to test all teachings against Scripture to ensure they align with biblical truth, as seen in Acts 17:11 : "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true."

Conclusion:

While the Bible does not shy away from the reality of delusion, it provides clear guidance on how to avoid being misled. By embracing the truth of God's Word and living it out in daily life, believers can protect themselves from the spiritual dangers of delusion.1. (v. t.) To lead from truth or into error; to mislead the mind or judgment of; to beguile; to impose on; to dupe; to make a fool of.

2. (v. t.) To frustrate or disappoint.

3884. paralogizomai -- to miscalculate, to reason falsely
... Word Origin from para and logizomai Definition to miscalculate, to reason
falsely NASB Word Usage delude (2). beguile, deceive. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3884.htm - 7k

538. apatao -- to deceive
... deceive. Of uncertain derivation; to cheat, ie Delude -- deceive. (apatato) -- 1
Occurrence. (apaton) -- 1 Occurrence. (epatethe) -- 1 Occurrence. 537b, 538. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/538.htm - 7k

1185. deleazo -- to lure
... allure, beguile, entice. From the base of dolos; to entrap, ie (figuratively) delude --
allure, beguile, entice. see GREEK dolos. (deleazomenos) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1185.htm - 6k

5422. phrenapatao -- to deceive the mind
... deceive. From phrenapates; to be a mind-misleader, ie Delude -- deceive. see GREEK
phrenapates. (phrenapata) -- 1 Occurrence. 5421, 5422. phrenapatao. 5423 > ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5422.htm - 7k

6601. pathah -- to be spacious, wide or open
... causatively, make) roomy; usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be
(causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way) delude -- allure, deceive ...
/hebrew/6601.htm - 5k

7411. ramah -- to cast, shoot
... A primitive root; to hurl; specifically, to shoot; figuratively, to delude or betray
(as if causing to fall) -- beguile, betray, (bow-)man, carry, deceive ...
/hebrew/7411.htm - 5k

5377. nasha -- to lend on interest, be a creditor
... beguile, deceive, greatly, utterly. A primitive root; to lead astray, ie (mentally)
to delude, or (morally) to seduce -- beguile, deceive, X greatly, X utterly. ...
/hebrew/5377.htm - 6k

Concerning John of Gichala. Josephus Uses Stratagems against the ...
... He was a ready liar, and yet very sharp in gaining credit to his fictions: he thought
it a point of virtue to delude people, and would delude even such as were ...
/.../chapter 21 concerning john of.htm

Colossians i. 26-28
... hid," that He alone knoweth. Ver.4. "This I say, that no one may delude you
with persuasiveness of speech.". Seest thou that he saith ...
/.../homily v colossians i 26-28.htm

To the Right Honourable the Earl of Lichfield.
... bowl: A thousand phantoms, and a thousand spells,. A thousand opiates scatters,
to delude,. To fascinate, inebriate, lay asleep,. And ...
/.../young/youngs night thoughts/to the right honourable the.htm

Conversational Phrases
... Do not misunderstand me. Do not the circumstances justify it? Don't be so dismal,
please. Don't delude yourself. Don't let me encroach on your good nature. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section ix conversational phrases.htm

The Fourth Book
... without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." [186] He adds
also certain harder sayings for the confusion of those who delude themselves by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the fourth book.htm

Hymn Before Sleep
... revealed; But he whose heart is blackened, With many a sin imbued, Sees
phantoms grim and ghastly That beckon and delude. So in ...
/.../prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/vi hymn before sleep.htm

A Doer that Worketh Shall be Blessed in Doing
... Hence the warning of James, not to delude ourselves with being hearers and not doers.
Hence his pronouncing the doer who worketh blessed in his doing. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/working for god/xxvii a doer that worketh.htm

Conclusion
... do? But here the devil is busy to delude us with false appearances, and
lead us away from the work of God to our own works. For ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/conclusion.htm

The Church of Christ
... no food; they trouble them with fanciful superstitions and silly views, and instead
of telling them that the Messiah is already come, they delude them with the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the church of christ.htm

The Admonition.
... Because so many will be deceived by the strange performances of the spirits of demons,
and their miracles so delude the multitude, Christ's coming will be to ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the admonition.htm

Delude (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Delude (2 Occurrences). Colossians 2:4 Now this I say
that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. (WEB ASV DBY NAS RSV). ...
/d/delude.htm - 7k

Delos

/d/delos.htm - 10k

Guile (21 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Craft; deceitful cunning; artifice; duplicity; wile; deceit; treachery.
2. (n.) To disguise or conceal; to deceive or delude. Int. ...
/g/guile.htm - 15k

Delusive (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Apt or fitted to delude; tending to mislead the mind;
deceptive; beguiling; delusory; as, delusive arts; a delusive dream. ...
/d/delusive.htm - 7k

Deceive (48 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To mislead; to cause to believe what is false, or disbelieve what is true;
to impose upon; to mislead; to cheat; to disappoint; to delude; to ensnare. ...
/d/deceive.htm - 22k

Deluded (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Delude. Multi-Version Concordance
Deluded (5 Occurrences). John 7:47 "Are *you* deluded ...
/d/deluded.htm - 8k

Persuasiveness (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Persuasiveness (3 Occurrences). Colossians 2:4 Now this
I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. (WEB ASV). ...
/p/persuasiveness.htm - 7k

Persuasive (4 Occurrences)
... WEY). Colossians 2:4 Now this I say that no one may delude you with
persuasiveness of speech. (Root in WEB ASV DBY NAS). Proverbs ...
/p/persuasive.htm - 7k

Beguile (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To delude by guile, artifice, or craft;
to deceive or impose on, as by a false statement; to lure. ...
/b/beguile.htm - 10k

Amuse (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (v.) To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude. 4. (vi) To muse;
to mediate. Multi-Version Concordance Amuse (1 Occurrence). ...
/a/amuse.htm - 7k

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