2 Corinthians 2:11 WEL Fearing that Satan would take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
What are some of the devil’s schemes?
From the article, Temptation: The Ordinary Ways the Devil Attacks Us by Kathleen Beckman (beware Roman Catholic), I quote:
The devil tempts us to sin by several means: deception, accusation, doubt, seduction, and provocation. These are ways of disquieting us and of arranging circumstances that will likely stir us to commit deadly sins of pride, greed, anger, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth.
In his excellent book The Devil You Don’t Know, Fr. Louis Cameli articulates four ordinary, common means of diabolical temptation: deception, division, diversion, and discouragement. In my experience, we could add distance, destruction, disobedience, and duplicity. Below, I’ll demonstrate these and other ordinary demonic.
The list includes the following ways of deception:
B1 Deception
B2 Accusation
B3 Doubt
B4 Seduction
B5 Provocation
B6 Division
B7 Diversion
B8 Destruction
The Greek word for schemes/devices is νόημα nóēma. It means mental processes, thoughts, plans, mind and depends on context.
All of satan’s schemes are based on lies instead of truth. It can be seen throughout history.
B1 Jesus: John 1:17 NIV For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
B2 satan: John 8:44 NIV You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
B3 A contrast of a few verses in Proverbs illustrates truth vs lies.
C1 Proverbs 6:16, 19 NIV There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: ... 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
C2 Proverbs 12:17 NIV An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.
C3 Psalm 5:5-6 NIV The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; 6 you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, LORD, detest.
C4 Proverbs 29:12 NIV If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
C5 Zechariah 8:16-17 NIV These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this," declares the LORD.
C6 Hebrews 6:18 NLT So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
Deception
B1 Defined
C1 From Cambridge Dictionary the act of hiding the truth, especially to get an advantage.
C2 From Merriam-Webster Dictionary
D1 the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid : the act or practice of deceiving : deception achieving one's goals through a web of deceit.
D2 an attempt or device to deceive : trick Her excuse turned out to be a deceit.
D3 the quality of being dishonest or misleading : the quality of being deceitful .
B2 Examples
C1 Genesis 3:1-5 NIV Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' " 4 "You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
C2 Genesis 37:31-34 NIV Then they got Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, "We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son's robe." 33 He recognized it and said, "It is my son's robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces." 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days.
B3 Scripture
C1 Jesus warned us. Matthew 24:4 AFV Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Be on guard, so that no one deceives you.
C2 Romans 16:18 EMTV For such people do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and through smooth speech and flattering, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.
C3 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 NRSV and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, 12 so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.
Accusation
B1 Defined
D1 a statement saying that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal, or unkind, or the fact of accusing someone
D2 Using a FALSE accusation is a lie.
D1 an allegation that a person is guilty of some fault, offence, or crime; imputation
D2 Using a FALSE accusation is a lie
B2 Example
C1 Jeremiah 37:13-15 NRSV When he reached the Benjamin Gate, a sentinel there named Irijah son of Shelemiah son of Hananiah arrested the prophet Jeremiah saying, "You are deserting to the Chaldeans." 14 And Jeremiah said, "That is a lie; I am not deserting to the Chaldeans." But Irijah would not listen to him, and arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. 15 The officials were enraged at Jeremiah, and they beat him and imprisoned him in the house of the secretary Jonathan, for it had been made a prison.
C2 Luke 6:7 NRSV The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him.
B3 Scriptures
C1 Exodus 20:16 NLT You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
C2 Matthew 5:10-12 EMTV Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you whenever they revile you, and they persecute you, and they say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Doubt
B1 Defined
C1 Wordnik To be uncertain as to a truth or fact; be undetermined or undecided; waver or fluctuate in opinion; hesitate.
C2 Free Dictionary The state of being uncertain about the truth or reliability of something.
B2 Examples. The devil or even ourselves start to question what we know is true.
C1 Luke 7:18-19 NRSV The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"
C2 Psalms 77:7-9 GNB Will the Lord always reject us? Will he never again be pleased with us? 8 Has he stopped loving us? Does his promise no longer stand? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has anger taken the place of his compassion?"
B3 Scriptures
C1 Knowing truth. Psalm 119:130 NKJV The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
C2 Colossians 2:2 NET My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ.
Seduction
B1 Defined
C1 Enticement and temptation. (FreeDictionary)
C2 History and Etymology for seduction Middle French, from Late Latin seduction-, seductio, from Latin, act of leading aside, from seducere. (Merriam-Webster)
C3 The deliberate enticement or persuasion of someone into the abandonment of godly principles. Scripture speaks of both sexual and spiritual seduction. (Source Manser Dictionary of Bible Themes)
B2 Examples
C1 Genesis 39:6-12.
C2 Acts 20:28-31 NIV Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
B3 Scriptures
C1 Philippians 4:8-9 GNB In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. 9 Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.
C2 Ephesians 6:11 NRSV Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Provocation
B1 Defined
C1 unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment (FreeDictionary)
C2 an action or statement that is intended to make someone angry (Cambridge Dictionary)
B2 Examples
C1 Proverbs 18:6 ERV Fools say things to start arguments. They are just asking for a beating.
C2 Deuteronomy 9:18 NLT Then, as before, I threw myself down before the LORD for forty days and nights. I ate no bread and drank no water because of the great sin you had committed by doing what the LORD hated, provoking him to anger. Compare 1 Kings 14:9.
B3 Scriptures
C1 Proverbs 29:11 NLT Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.
C2 1 Peter 2:23 EMTV who, being verbally abused, did not return verbal insults, when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.
Division/dissension
B1 Defined
C1 Disagreement in opinion, usually of a violent character, producing warm debates or angry words; contention in words; partisan and contentious divisions; breach of friendship and union; strife; discord; quarrel. (Webster 1913)
C2 The Greek word is σχίσμα schísma. It means
Gloss: tear, split, divide an object into parts, with an implication that the object is now damaged; by extension: division, dissension, implying discord and damage to the unity of the original group
Definition: a split, Mt. 9:16; Mk. 2:21; met. a division into parties, schism, Jn. 7:43; 9:16; 10:19; 1 Cor. 1:10; 11:18; 12:25* (Mounce)
B2 Examples.
C1 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Compare 2 Corinthians 12:20 and Galatians 5:20.
C2 Romans 16:17 ESV I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
C3 John 9:16 GW Some of the Pharisees said, "The man who did this is not from God because he doesn't follow the traditions for the day of worship." Other Pharisees asked, "How can a man who is a sinner perform miracles like these?" So the Pharisees were divided in their opinions.
B3 Scriptures
C1 Read 1 Corinthians 12 which addresses why there should not be divisions.
C2 “The spirit and the law of the Life of Christ is to be that of every member of the Church, and the law of the Life of Christ is that of sympathy. How little, during the eighteen hundred years, have the hearts of men been got to beat together! Nor can we say that this is the fault of the capitalists and the masters only. It is the fault of the servants and dependents also.”—Robertson. (Quoted by Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Scroll down to verse 25).
Diversion
B1 Defined
C1 The act of turning aside from any course, occupation, or object; as, the diversion of a stream from its channel; diversion of the mind from business. (Webster Dictionary 1913)
C2 The act or an instance of diverting or turning aside; deviation. (Wordnik)
B2 Examples
C1 Proverbs 4:27 NLT Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.
C2 Psalms 40:4 ESV Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!
B3 Scriptures
C1 1 Thessalonians 5:22 EMTV Abstain from every form of evil.
C2 Philippians 3:13-14 EMTV Brothers, I do not count myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
C3 Adam Clarke writes:
I press toward the mark - Κατα σκοπον διωκω· I pursue along the line; this is a reference to the white line that marked the ground in the stadium, from the starting place to the goal, on which the runners were obliged to keep their eye fixed; for they who transgressed or went beyond this line did not run lawfully, and were not crowned, even though they got first to the goal. See the concluding observations on 1Co 9:27.
What is called σκοπος, mark or scope, here, is called κανων, the line, i.e. the marked line, Phil 3:16. When it was said to Diogenes, the cynic, "Thou art now an old man, rest from thy labors;" to this he answered: Ει δολιχον εδραμον, προς τῳ τελει εδει με ανειναι, και μη μαλλον επιτειναι; "If I have run long in the race, will it become me to slacken my pace when come near the end; should I not rather stretch forward? " Diog. Laert., lib. vi. cap. 2. sec. 6.
For the prize of the high calling of God - The reward which God from above calls me, by Christ Jesus, to receive. The apostle still keeps in view his crown of martyrdom and his glorious resurrection.
Destruction
B1 Defined
C1 One of the Greek words is ἀπώλεια apṓleia. It mean complete ruin in various senses.
C2 the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
B2 Examples
C1 Love of money leads to destruction. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 EMTV But those desiring to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many senseless and harmful lusts which sink men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all evils, of which some by aspiring have strayed away from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
C2 So does pride. Proverbs 16:18 NRSV Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
C3 Can be done verbally. Psalms 52:1-4 NRSV To the leader. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech." Why do you boast, O mighty one, of mischief done against the godly? All day long 2 you are plotting destruction. Your tongue is like a sharp razor, you worker of treachery. 3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking the truth. [Selah] 4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.
B3 Scriptures
C1 Psalm 15:2 CSB The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart
C2 By knowing God’s ways: Proverbs 10:14 NRSV The wise lay up knowledge, but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.
Gill writes on this passage: Wise [men] lay up knowledge,.... Which they get by reading, prayer, meditation, hearing the word of God, and conversation with good men: this they lay up in their hearts, minds, and memories, that they may not forget it, and as a rich treasure they highly value it; that they may bring it forth at proper times, and on proper occasions, for the benefit of others; see Mt 12:35; or hide {f} it; conceal it; do not boast and brag of it, as foolish men do;
but the mouth of the foolish [is] near destruction: who rashly and unguardedly utters things which bring swift and sudden destruction on himself and others; or terror and consternation, as the word {g} also signifies. The Vulgate Latin version is, "but the mouth of the foolish is near to confusion"; he boasts of his knowledge, betrays his ignorance, and so brings himself to shame and confusion.
Other articles on types of lies.
B1 5 Different Types Of Lies You Tell Without Noticing (And How To Be More Honest)
B2 The truth is everybody lies.
B3 100 Bible Verses about Dealing With A Liar
Truth and reality are the defense
B1 Know the truth. Become mature in the faith, which only comes from Bible study.
C1 Ephesians 4:13-14 NLT This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
C2 Psalms 119:11 LEB In my heart I have hidden your word, so that I may not sin against you.
B2 Study truth
C1 2 Timothy 3:16-17 EMTV All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be proficient, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.
C2 Matthew 22:29 NRSV Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God.
C3 Proverbs 23:23 NRSV Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
Adam Clarke writes: Buy the truth—Acquire the knowledge of God at all events; and in order to do this, too much pains, industry, and labor cannot be expended.
And sell it not—When once acquired, let no consideration deprive thee of it. Cleave to and guard it, even at the risk of thy life. Coverdale translates: "Labour for to get the treuth; sell not awaye wissdome."
B3 Be a little skeptical
C1 1 Thessalonians 5:21 EMTV But test all things; hold fast that which is good.
C2 1 John 4:1-3 EMTV Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this the Spirit of God is known: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit which does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard that it is coming, and now is already in the world.
B4 Live the truth
C1 These teachers did NOT: Matthew 23:3-4 NRSV therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.
C2 Romans 2:21 NRSV you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
B5 Practice truth in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds to yourself and all people
B6 Make true decisions
C1 John 7:24 EMTV Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.
C2 Proverbs 17:15 GNB Condemning the innocent or letting the wicked go—both are hateful to the LORD.
B7 Choices have consequences
C1 Galatians 6:7-8 EMTV Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for what a man sows, this also he will reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh, from his own flesh will reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap everlasting life.
C2 1 Corinthians 15:33 GNB Do not be fooled. "Bad companions ruin good character."
Articles about truth
B1 What Is Truth? — A Question for the Ages
B2 How to Know Truth and Evaluate Competing Worldviews
The father of lies, the devil, will be punished forever. Revelation 20:10 NRSV And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The bringing of truth, Jesus, will live and reign forever. Revelation 11:15 NRSV Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever."
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