Fraud, in the biblical context, refers to deceitful practices and dishonest schemes that are condemned throughout Scripture. It involves the act of deception for personal gain, often at the expense of others. The Bible consistently warns against fraudulent behavior, emphasizing integrity, honesty, and justice as virtues that align with God's character.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament provides numerous admonitions against fraud and deceit. In Leviticus 19:11, the Israelites are commanded, "You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another." This directive underscores the importance of honesty and integrity within the community. The book of Proverbs also contains wisdom literature that warns against fraudulent practices. Proverbs 11:1 states, "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight." This verse highlights God's disdain for deceit in business and trade, advocating for fairness and truthfulness.

The prophets frequently addressed the issue of fraud, particularly in the context of social justice. Micah 6:11 poses a rhetorical question, "Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?" This reflects God's judgment against those who exploit others through deceitful means. The prophet Amos also condemns fraudulent practices, particularly those that oppress the poor and vulnerable (Amos 8:5-6).

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles continue to denounce fraud and deceit. Jesus' teachings often emphasize the importance of sincerity and truthfulness. In the Sermon on the Mount, He instructs, "Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For anything more comes from the evil one" (Matthew 5:37). This teaching underscores the value of honesty in all interactions.

The apostle Paul also addresses the issue of fraud in his epistles. In 1 Thessalonians 4:6, he warns, "In this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother. The Lord will avenge all such offenses, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you." Paul emphasizes that fraudulent behavior is not only a sin against others but also an offense against God.

Moral and Ethical Implications

Fraud is fundamentally opposed to the biblical principles of justice, righteousness, and love for one's neighbor. The Bible calls believers to live lives marked by integrity and truth. Ephesians 4:25 exhorts, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body." This call to honesty is rooted in the understanding that deceit undermines community and trust.

The biblical narrative consistently portrays God as a God of truth and justice, who desires His people to reflect His character. Fraud, therefore, is not merely a legal or ethical issue but a spiritual one, as it contradicts the nature of God and His commandments.

Consequences of Fraud

The Bible warns of both temporal and eternal consequences for those who engage in fraudulent practices. Proverbs 21:6 cautions, "The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare." This verse suggests that ill-gotten gains are ultimately futile and lead to destruction. In the New Testament, Revelation 21:8 lists deceit among the sins that lead to the second death, indicating the severe spiritual consequences of living a life marked by fraud.

Conclusion

The biblical teaching on fraud is clear and unequivocal. It is a sin that God detests, and it is contrary to the life of righteousness to which believers are called. The Scriptures encourage a life of honesty, integrity, and justice, reflecting the character of God in all dealings with others.Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 22:15
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie.
Topicalbible.org

John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Topicalbible.org

1. (n.) Deception deliberately practiced with a view to gaining an unlawful or unfair advantage; artifice by which the right or interest of another is injured; injurious stratagem; deceit; trick.

2. (n.) An intentional perversion of truth for the purpose of obtaining some valuable thing or promise from another.

3. (n.) A trap or snare.

1747. enedra -- a lying in wait, an ambush
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: enedra Phonetic Spelling:
(en-ed'-rah) Short Definition: an ambush, plot, treachery, fraud Definition: an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1747.htm - 6k

2829. klope -- theft
... Cognate: 2829 -- theft, done (through stealth, fraud, etc.), ie thievery done
secretively (not out in the open or with violence). See 2812 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2829.htm - 6k

539. apate -- deceit
... Cognate: 539 -- a false impression, made to deceive or cheat -- ie deceit motivated
by guile and treachery (trickery, fraud). See 538 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/539.htm - 6k

1387. dolioo -- to deceive
... Verb Transliteration: dolioo Phonetic Spelling: (dol-ee-o'-o) Short Definition:
I act deceitfully, deceive Definition: I act deceitfully, deceive, use fraud. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1387.htm - 6k

3132. manteuomai -- to divine
... Phonetic Spelling: (mant-yoo'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I practice soothsaying
Definition: I divine, practice soothsaying, suggesting the fraud involved in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3132.htm - 6k

4468. rhadiourgia -- ease in doing, laziness, recklessness, hence ...
... Word Origin from the same as rhadiourgema Definition ease in doing, laziness,
recklessness, hence wickedness NASB Word Usage fraud (1). mischief. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4468.htm - 6k

2940. kubeia -- dice playing
... sleight, trickery. From kubos (a "cube", ie Die for playing); gambling, ie
(figuratively) artifice or fraud -- sleight. (kubeia) -- 1 Occurrence. 2939, ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2940.htm - 6k

4812. sulagogeo -- to carry off as spoil
... Transliteration: sulagogeo Phonetic Spelling: (soo-lag-ogue-eh'-o) Short Definition:
I plunder Definition: I plunder, lead captive; met: I make victim by fraud ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4812.htm - 7k

650. apostereo -- to defraud, deprive of
... defraud, deprive. From apo and stereo (to deprive); to despoil -- defraud, destitute,
kept back by fraud. see GREEK apo. (apesteremenos) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/650.htm - 7k

1114. goes -- a wailer, a sorcerer, a swindler
... 1114 ("a charlatan"), used only in 2 Tim 3:13, refers to a (properly,
a ) -- a fraud who "sounds off" like a whining enchanter. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1114.htm - 7k

8496. tok -- injury, oppression
... deceit, fraud. Or towk (Psa. 72:14) {toke}; from the same base as tavek (in the
sense of cutting to pieces); oppression -- deceit, fraud. see HEBREW tavek. ...
/hebrew/8496.htm - 6k

6233. osheq -- oppression, extortion
... From ashaq; injury, fraud, (subjectively) distress, (concretely) unjust gain --
cruelly, extortion, oppression, thing (deceitfully gotten). see HEBREW ashaq. ...
/hebrew/6233.htm - 6k

8419. tahpukah -- perversity, perverse thing
... procession. From haphak; a perversity or fraud -- (very) froward(-ness, thing),
perverse thing. see HEBREW haphak. 8418, 8419. tahpukah. 8420 . ...
/hebrew/8419.htm - 6k

1892. hebel -- vapor, breath
... root Definition vapor, breath NASB Word Usage breath (5), delusion (2), emptily
(1), emptiness (2), fleeting (2), fraud (1), futile (1), futility (13), idols (7 ...
/hebrew/1892.htm - 6k

4820. mirmah -- deceit, treachery
... From ramah in the sense of deceiving; fraud -- craft, deceit(-ful, -fully), false,
feigned, guile, subtilly, treachery. see HEBREW ramah. 4819, 4820. ...
/hebrew/4820.htm - 6k

8649. tormah -- perhaps treachery
... deceitful, privily And tarmuwth {tar-mooth'}; or tarmiyth {tar-meeth'}; from ramah;
fraud -- deceit(-ful), privily. see HEBREW ramah. 8648, 8649. ...
/hebrew/8649.htm - 5k

8595. tatuim -- mockery
... Word Origin from taa Definition mockery NASB Word Usage mockery (2). error. From
ta'a'; a fraud -- error. see HEBREW ta'a'. 8594, 8595. tatuim. 8596 . ...
/hebrew/8595.htm - 6k

Whether Fraud Pertains to Craftiness?
... OF VICES OPPOSED TO PRUDENCE BY WAY OF RESEMBLANCE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether
fraud pertains to craftiness? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether fraud pertains to craftiness.htm

A Pious Fraud.
... Book X. Chapter LXIII."A Pious Fraud. Then said I: "God arranges our affairs
to our liking; for we have with us Anubion an astrologer ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter lxiii a pious fraud.htm

The Fraud of the Foregoing Practices; their Connection with Heresy ...
... Book IV. Chapter XLII."The Fraud of the Foregoing Practices; Their Connection
with Heresy. These are the deeds of the magicians ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xlii the fraud of the.htm

Whether Treachery, Fraud, Falsehood, Perjury, Restlessness ...
... OF THE VICES OPPOSED TO LIBERALITY, AND IN THE FIRST PLACE, OF COVETOUSNESS (EIGHT
ARTICLES) Whether treachery, fraud, falsehood, perjury, restlessness ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether treachery fraud falsehood perjury.htm

The Fraud, Pride, and Tyrannical Kingdom of Antichrist, as ...
... Against Heresies: Book V Chapter XXV."The fraud, pride, and tyrannical
kingdom of Antichrist, as described by Daniel and Paul. ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxv the fraud pride and.htm

Christ and his Apostles, Without any Fraud, Deception, or ...
... Against Heresies: Book III Chapter V."Christ and His apostles, without any fraud,
deception, or hypocrisy, preached that one God, the Father, was the founder ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter v christ and his apostles.htm

The Personal History of Callistus; his Occupation as a Banker ...
... Chapter VII."The Personal History of Callistus; His Occupation as a Banker; Fraud
on Carpophorus; Callistus Absconds; Attempted Suicide; Condemned to the ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter vii the personal history of.htm

Professing Rhetoric at Rome, He Discovers the Fraud of his ...
... Book V. Chapter XII."Professing Rhetoric at Rome, He Discovers the Fraud
of His Scholars. 22. Then began I assiduously to practise ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter xii professing rhetoric at rome.htm

Whether the Prohibitive Precepts Relating to the vices Opposed to ...
... Objection 2: Further, there is room for fraud in other things than in
buying and selling. Therefore the Law unfittingly forbade ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the prohibitive precepts relating.htm

Having Adduced Examples of Certain Frauds Found in a Few Passages ...
... For why did he show himself so eager for luxuries and delicacies as to allow a fraud
of this character? 71. ... [673] For this he perished as guilty of fraud. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xi having adduced examples.htm

Fraud (15 Occurrences)
...Fraud (15 Occurrences). ... 1 Thessalonians 2:3 For our preaching was not grounded on
a delusion, nor prompted by mingled motives, nor was there fraud in it. (WEY). ...
/f/fraud.htm - 11k

Guile (21 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GUILE. gil (mirmah; dolos): "Guile" is twice the
translation of mirmah, "fraud," "deceit" (Psalm 34:13, "Keep. ...
/g/guile.htm - 15k

Cheat (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) An act of deception or fraud; that which is the
means of fraud or deception; a fraud; a trick; imposition; imposture. ...
/c/cheat.htm - 8k

Sham (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) That which deceives expectation; any trick, fraud, or device that deludes
and disappoint; a make-believe; delusion; imposture, humbug. ...
/s/sham.htm - 7k

Balance (12 Occurrences)
... 3. The System of Weighing Liable to Fraud: Though the "balances" in ancient times
were rudely constructed, the weighing could be done quite accurately, as may ...
/b/balance.htm - 18k

Vanity (100 Occurrences)
... Selah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Psalms 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit
and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. (KJV WBS). ...
/v/vanity.htm - 39k

Knavery (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Dishonesty; deceitfulness; petty tricks; fraud;
trickery; as, a knavish action. 2. (n.) Roguish or mischievous tricks. ...
/k/knavery.htm - 7k

Labourers (11 Occurrences)
... James 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which
is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have ...
/l/labourers.htm - 9k

Laborers (19 Occurrences)
... James 5:4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you have
kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of those who reaped have entered ...
/l/laborers.htm - 11k

Gouge (4 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Imposition; cheat; fraud; also, an impostor; a cheat; a trickish
person. Multi-Version Concordance Gouge (4 Occurrences). ...
/g/gouge.htm - 8k

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