In the context of the Bible, "pretenders" refers to individuals who falsely claim authority, identity, or divine inspiration, often leading others astray. The Scriptures provide numerous warnings against such figures, emphasizing the importance of discernment and faithfulness to God's truth.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament contains several instances where individuals or groups acted as pretenders, often leading Israel into idolatry or rebellion against God. One notable example is found in the account of Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16), where Korah and his followers challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron, claiming equal holiness and right to lead. Their pretense was met with divine judgment, as the earth swallowed them up, demonstrating God's intolerance for false claims to spiritual authority.

The prophets frequently warned against false prophets who pretended to speak for God but led the people into error. Jeremiah 23:16 states, "This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.'"

New Testament References

The New Testament continues to address the issue of pretenders, particularly in the context of false teachers and false Christs. Jesus Himself warned of such individuals in Matthew 24:24 : "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible."

The Apostle Paul also cautioned the early church against pretenders who would distort the gospel. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 , he writes, "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."

Characteristics of Pretenders

Biblical pretenders often share common characteristics, including:

1. Deception: Pretenders use deceit to gain followers or authority. They may perform signs and wonders to lend credibility to their claims (Matthew 24:24).

2. Self-Promotion: Unlike true servants of God, pretenders often seek personal gain, power, or recognition. They prioritize their own agendas over God's will (2 Peter 2:1-3).

3. Contradiction of Scripture: Pretenders frequently teach doctrines that contradict the clear teachings of Scripture. They may twist the Word of God to suit their purposes (Galatians 1:6-9).

4. Lack of Fruit: Jesus taught that true prophets would be known by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20). Pretenders often lack the spiritual fruit that characterizes genuine followers of Christ.

Response to Pretenders

The Bible instructs believers to be vigilant and discerning in the face of pretenders. In 1 John 4:1 , the apostle John advises, "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."

Believers are encouraged to remain grounded in the truth of Scripture, to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and to uphold the teachings of Christ and the apostles. By doing so, they can guard against the influence of pretenders and remain faithful to the true gospel.5956. alam -- to conceal
... Usage blind (1), disregard* (1), escapes (1), ever (1), hidden (10), hide (6), hides
(1), melts (1), neglect (1), pay no attention (2), pretenders (1), secret ...
/hebrew/5956.htm - 6k

Chapter ii.
... of men. For hypocrites are pretenders, as it were setters forth of other
characters, just as in the plays of the theatre. For he ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter ii 2.htm

Chapter xix.
... Under the designation hypocrites, therefore, you are to understand pretenders.
And there is, in fact, a class of pretenders much ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xix 2.htm

Simon the Sorcerer
... the seas. So we find the early preachers of Christianity coming into frequent
contact with pretenders to magical powers. Sadly enough ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/simon the sorcerer.htm

On the Holy Spirit
... necessary to be well assured what Christ is to us: When that question is so differently
resolved by the pious but weak accounts of some pretenders to faith on ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 141 on the holy.htm

To the Beloved Brother, and Our Fellow Minister Serapion.
... have sent to you a copy of one letter of our fellow-ministers who are of Palestine,
that when it reaches you, you may know the fraud of the pretenders in this ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/xii probably for 340 a d to.htm

On Religion; the Natural and Divine Life; and the Exemplification ...
... I cannot speak of religion, but I must lament, that among so many pretenders to
it, so few understand what it means: some placing it in the understanding, in ...
/.../scougal/the life of god in the soul of man/part i on religion the.htm

The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of ...
... predict events lying in the far distant future and their success or failure will
show whether or not they are gods or merely pretenders and deceivers. ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter five the fulfilled prophecies.htm

Preface.
... the study of God's Word. His quarrel is not with the Professors of Natural
Science, but with those who are mere Pretenders to it. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/burgon/inspiration and interpretation/preface.htm

The Uproar in Ephesus.
... If Jehovah had his oracles and Prophets in the land of Judea, there were not wanting
among the Gentiles the arts of divination, pretenders to the knowledge of ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxiii the uproar in.htm

The Plenary Inspiration of Every Part of the Bible, vindicated and ...
... But pretenders to Natural Science, knowing nothing whatever of Divinity, and therefore
intruding into a realm of which they do not understand so much as the ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon iv the plenary inspiration.htm

Pretenders (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Pretenders (2 Occurrences). Luke 12:56 Vain
pretenders! You know how to read the aspect of earth and sky. ...
/p/pretenders.htm - 6k

Vain (141 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Luke 12:56 Vain pretenders! You know how to read the aspect of earth
and sky. How is it you cannot read this present time? (WEY). ...
/v/vain.htm - 36k

Pretender (1 Occurrence)

/p/pretender.htm - 7k

Pretendeth (1 Occurrence)

/p/pretendeth.htm - 6k

Bar-jesus (1 Occurrence)
... of the Magians, however, were the scientists of their day, the heirs of the science
of Babylon and the lore of Persia, and not merely pretenders or conjurers ...
/b/bar-jesus.htm - 9k

Barjesus (1 Occurrence)
... of the Magians, however, were the scientists of their day, the heirs of the science
of Babylon and the lore of Persia, and not merely pretenders or conjurers ...
/b/barjesus.htm - 9k

Aspect (10 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Luke 12:56 Vain pretenders! You know how to read the aspect of earth
and sky. How is it you cannot read this present time? (WEY). ...
/a/aspect.htm - 10k

Haggai (14 Occurrences)
... But this gave other ambitious pretenders cause to rebel, and many provinces revolted,
among them Susiana, Media, Assyria, Armenia, Parthia, and others (compare ...
/h/haggai.htm - 28k

Present (577 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Luke 12:56 Vain pretenders! You know how to read the aspect of earth and
sky. How is it you cannot read this present time? (WEY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/p/present.htm - 38k

Judah (802 Occurrences)
... Precisely the same fate overtook the IId Dynasty. Then followed a civil war in
which two pretenders were killed, one perishing by his own hand. ...
/j/judah.htm - 101k

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