Topical Bible: Deceit: False Teachers are Workers of

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Deceit, in the biblical context, refers to the act of misleading or deceiving others through falsehoods or misrepresentations. It is a sin that is frequently condemned in Scripture, as it stands in direct opposition to the truth of God. One of the most dangerous forms of deceit is that perpetrated by false teachers, who distort the Word of God and lead believers astray.

The New Testament provides numerous warnings against false teachers, emphasizing their deceitful nature. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, the Apostle Paul warns the church in Corinth about such individuals: "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions." Here, Paul highlights the deceptive appearance of false teachers, who present themselves as genuine servants of Christ while spreading falsehoods.

Similarly, in 2 Peter 2:1-3, the Apostle Peter cautions believers about the presence of false teachers among them: "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep." Peter underscores the secretive and destructive nature of these teachers, who exploit believers with their deceitful teachings.

The Apostle John also addresses the issue of deceit in his epistles. In 1 John 4:1, he advises believers to test the spirits to discern the truth: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." This exhortation highlights the need for discernment in the face of deceitful teachings.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy, further elaborates on the characteristics of false teachers. In 1 Timothy 4:1-2, he writes: "Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron." Paul warns that false teachers are influenced by deceitful spirits and are characterized by hypocrisy and a lack of moral conscience.

The Bible consistently portrays false teachers as workers of deceit, who, through their cunning and manipulation, lead believers away from the truth of the Gospel. Their teachings are often marked by a distortion of Scripture, a denial of core Christian doctrines, and an appeal to the desires of the flesh. Believers are called to remain vigilant, grounded in the truth of God's Word, and to exercise discernment in order to recognize and reject deceitful teachings.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Corinthians 11:13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Teaching of Matthew 13 Proves that no Era of Millennial ...
... of Satan," "false apostles, deceitful workers" (2:Cor ... the apostles, showing us the
false teachers"the children ... 2). But both "craftiness" and "deceit" did mark ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/2 the teaching of matthew.htm

Book ix. In the Last Book we Treated of the Indistinguishable ...
... be any one that leadeth you astray through philosophy and vain deceit, after the ...
Not daring to deny the words themselves, these false teachers, in the mask of ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book ix in the last.htm

Motives from the Benefits of Work
... they will either divide them, or allow more teachers to a ... flinch and turn our backs,
and prove false-hearted, why ... and whence is all this strange deceit of heart ...
//christianbookshelf.org/baxter/the reformed pastor/article i.htm

Miscellaneous Subjects.
... there were certain prophets and teachers in the ... Yea, and we are found false witnesses
of ... murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter xvi miscellaneous subjects.htm

The Old Testament and Comparative Religion
... False accusation of a crime; 3, 4, False witness and ... negations, "I have not acted
with deceit; I have ... it not more likely that the inspired teachers and writers ...
/.../eiselen/the christian view of the old testament/chapter v the old testament.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... cannot wonder, that under such teachers, 'Christians learned ... covetous, to be treacherous,
and false, to be ... lasciviousness"this is a grand deceit, common, and ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of ...
... Scripture, not by intercourse with Christian teachers; so much ... both bishop and clergy
in a false position. ... and had their own confessors and workers of miracles ...
/.../introduction chapter i the life and.htm

Enthusiasm.
... pride, blind credulity, infatuated self-deceit, barefaced imposture. ... 489] Such specious,
but false and dangerous ... terms, as true spiritual teachers, purified by ...
/.../abbey/the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter vii enthusiasm.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
... dimly see "men as trees walking." Among these there appeared teachers, who, unable
to ... the Scriptures""Yea, and we," saith Paul, "are found false witnesses of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the resurrection of the dead.htm

part i
... "Thou hatest all workers of iniquity ... of every means to chill our hearts and fill
them with deceit in a ... is limited by self-love, and that love is a false one; we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm