A Few Thoughts about Suppressing Truth

Romans 1:18 NIV The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

B1 Suppress

C1 The Greek word is κατέχω katéchō. It means to prevent free movement. This movement is bound and held down. It also means to repress (Wuest).

C2 The truth is deliberately being held down, repressed, and prevented from being acknowledged and revealed.

C3 In our passage, it is the truth about God. It can be applied to all truth, for example, a person’s sins, fraudulent science, false prophets, false teachers, false pastors (who don’t want to be exposed), etc.

C4 An example of telling the truth and suppressing it. John 8:45-46 NRSV But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

B2 Where do lies come from?

C1 From the devil. The first liar evidently is the devil. John 8:44 NRSV You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

C2 From the human heart. The heart is the soul, the immaterial part of every human.

D1 Luke 6:45 NIV A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

D2 Matthew 15:18-20 NKJV But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 "These are [the things] which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

B3 Why do they do this?

C1 Why Do People Lie?

C2 Love evil. Psalm 52:3 NLT You love evil more than good and lies more than truth.

C3 Love darkness, that is, repression, suppression, covering up truth. John 3:19 NLT And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

C4 Hate light, that is, truth being exposed. John 3:20 NLT All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. Vincent’s Word Studies notes on John 3:20-21: There the plural is used: doeth evil things; evil being represented by a number of bad works. Here the singular, the truth, or truth; truth being regarded as one, and “including in a supreme unity all right deeds.” There is also to be noted the different words for doing in these two verses: doeth evil (πράσσων); doeth truth (ποιῶν). The latter verb contemplates the object and end of action; the former the means, with the idea of continuity and repetition. Πράσσων is the practice, while ποιῶν may be the doing once for all.

C5 Have a sin nature that all humans are born with. Psalms 58:3 NLT These wicked people are born sinners; even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.

B4 What is the danger of suppressing the truth?

C1 More apt to believe lies.

C2 Searing the conscious. It will be easier to lie and not feel guilty.

C3 Justifying evil actions.

C4 Substitute subjective opinions as the standard of truth.

C5 All the above increases sin. Note the downhill motion of sin in Romans 1.

D1 Realization of truth. The Holy Spirit opens all hearts and minds to understand some facts about God. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:18-20 and John 16:8-11.

E1 Romans 1:19 NLT They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.

E2 Acts 16:14 NIV One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.

E3 2 Corinthians 4:6 NLT For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

D2 Taught truth. God teaches them truth. (Romans 1:19-20). This includes

E1 God’s existence

E2 God’s eternal power which includes

F1 Omnipotence

F2 Power in ability

F3 Aseity (no beginning or end of existence. He is existent of Himself)

F4 Eternity (always existing)

E3 Power as the source of life

E4 Power in wisdom (omnisapience)

E5 Power in knowledge (omniscience)

E6 Power and authority as creator, king, judge, etc.

E7 Jesus’s ministry which showed authority over demons, weather, sickness, death, trick questions, temptations, etc.

E8 Power and authority to forgive sins and recreate a person’s heart (soul) when they believe. Compare Luke 18:13 and 2 Corinthians 5:17.

E9 Godhead which refers to what we call the Trinity. Compare John 1:1 and John 1:14, etc.

D3 Suppress truth (Romans 1:18)

D4 Refuse to give God credit for what He has done (creation and providence for example). (Romans 1:21)

E1 Also, not giving thanks for all He has done, is doing, and will do.

E2 Compare Acts 14:17 NLT but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.

D5 Empty imaginations to dream up things which bring about all goodness and creation, yet excludes Jesus as being that creator. (Romans 1:21)

D6 Foolishness leads the heart to be darkened. It is a punishment and result of rejection. (Romans 1:21). This was the reason for parables (Mark 4:12)

D7 Self arrogance when dealing with possible solutions to problems and questions. They do not accept Bible truth but do accept other suggestions (Romans 1:22). Compare Isaiah 44:9-20.

D8 Choose and make gods (Romans 1:23). This would include gods of science, philosophy, etc. Compare Acts 17:29 and Galatians 4:8.

D9 God gives them up, delivers, and takes truth away from them (Romans 1:24). These rejecters start worshiping fleshly desires. Compare: Romans 1:24 GW For this reason God allowed their lusts to control them. As a result, they dishonor their bodies by sexual perversion with each other.

D10 Romans 1:25 has the following effects from suppressing truth—to believe falsehood and to worship and serve the creature (pantheism). This is a type of spiritual blindness.

D11 Believe and practice all types of sex (Romans 1:26-27). God gives them up these sins. Giving them over to these sins is punishment resulting in even greater deceptions. Psalms 81:12 NLT So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas.

D12 The idea of God is still in their mind but thinking about God causes mental and emotional distress (Romans 1:28). Isaiah 30:11 GNB Get out of our way and stop blocking our path. We don't want to hear about your holy God of Israel.

D13 Next down the ladder of sin is that their lives become nothing but selfish (egotism), resulting in a long list of evil, hurtful attitudes, and evil actions. Compare the NLT: Romans 1:29-31 NLT Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.

D14 Finally, they realize God’s disapproval, yet give God the finger and do what they want, encourage others to join them, and have no concern for the future (Romans 1:32). Compare

E1 2 Thessalonians 2:12 NLT Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.

E2 Isaiah 57:20-21 GW But the wicked are like the churning sea. It isn't quiet, and its water throws up mud and slime. 21 There is no peace for the wicked," says my God.

E3 Revelation 22:12-15 Phillips “See, I come quickly! I carry my reward with me, and repay every man according to his deeds. I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the Beginning and the End. Happy are those who wash their robes, for they have the right to the tree of life and the freedom of the gates of the city. Shut out from the city shall be the depraved, the sorcerers, the impure, the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practises a lie!

B5 What is the solution?

C1 Recognize truth. Thoughts, desires, words, and deeds are either truth or lie. A part lie is a lie. Saying true words to deceive is a lie. A standard is needed to help us. That standard is God, the Creator.

D1 1 John 2:21 NRSV I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth.

D2 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

C2 Expose lies. Ephesians 5:11 NRSV Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

C3 Tell the truth and practice the truth. The more we tell the truth, the more we will tell the truth. Zechariah 8:16 NLT But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace.

C4 Note the comparison. We are to recognize lies, avoid lies, speak the truth, and do truth in the spirit of love. Ephesians 4:14-15 GNB Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent. 15 Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.

C5 Realize that all lies sometime and somewhere will be exposed. Proverbs 12:19 NLT Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.

C6 We are to guide and help each other back to truth. James 5:19-20 NLT My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

C6 Seek for pastors and teachers that tell and teach truth. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

John 14:6 NRSV Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

A Few Thoughts About Suppressing the Truth

Romans 1:18 NRSV For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth.

Words

B1 Truth

C1 The Greek word is ἀλήθεια alḗtheia. It means reality, the actual state of affairs. Things and happenings that are not concealed (Strong G227).

C2 Mark 5:33 EMTV But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.

B2 Suppress

C1 The Greek word is κατέχω katéchō. It means to hold back, hinder, and in some contexts keep tightly to oneself as in 1 Thessalonians 5:21. Here to hinder and suppress.

C2 For Romans 1:18 and Romans 7:6 TDNTa has this sense: for holding illegally.

Compare the word revealed with the word suppress. The former is not cover-up but the latter is. See Matthew 10:26-27 EMTV Therefore do not fear them. For nothing is concealed that shall not be unveiled, and secret that shall not be made known. 27 "What I say to you in the dark, say in the light; and what you hear in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.

How to people suppress truth?

B1 Lie

B2 Pretend something never happened

B3 Refuse to print or discuss an incident

B4 Ignore

B5 Threaten harm if something is revealed

B6 Falsely accuse someone who has the truth

C1 Projection is often used.

C2 Projection is the process of displacing one’s feelings onto a different person, animal, or object. The term is most commonly used to describe defensive projection—attributing one’s own unacceptable urges to another. The concept emerged from Sigmund Freud’s work in the 1890s. (Source)

B7 Have their supporters help by shaming the truth teller

B8 Gaslight them (Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or a group covertly sows seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or group, making them question their own memory, perception, or judgment, often evoking in them cognitive dissonance and other changes, including low self-esteem. Using denial, misdirection, contradiction, and misinformation, gaslighting involves attempts to destabilize the victim and delegitimize the victim's beliefs. Instances can range from the denial by an abuser that previous abusive incidents occurred, to belittling the victim's emotions and feelings, to the staging of bizarre events by the abuser with the intention of disorienting the victim. Copied from Wikipedia. Be cautious with Wikipedia data).

B9 When referencing God (Yahweh), blaspheming, denying His existence, blaming Him for all the evils that are a consequence of bad choices of ourselves or others.

B10 Often to cover-up and suppress a “problem,” murder is used.

B11 What other ways can you think of?

 

Above image by J Dahl, MD

Dangers of suppressing truth

B1 When truth is suppressed, healing of a problem cannot begin.

B2 Acknowledging, admitting, confessing, asking forgiveness, and restitution are needed.

C1 A person still might be punished.

C2 Choices still have consequences which leave emotional, spiritual, relationship, etc. scars.

C3 James 5:16 ESV Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

C4 1 John 1:8-10 EMTV If we claim that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

B3 Admitting a emotional problem, abuse, molestation, addiction, etc. also starts with acknowledging the truth.

B4 Not admitting a problem with sin will lead to worse problems. Proverbs 29:1 NLT Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.

B5 In the history of Israel, many of the people complained about the way God treated them. God punished them by sending poisonous snakes. The way to be healed was to acknowledge the truth. Those who did not, died. The people needed to believe God. Numbers 21:8-9 ESV And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

B6 Exchanging truth for a lie. People do not believe the truth but instead believe a lie to be truth. Romans 1:25 CSB They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

Articles

B1 Non-Christian

C1 Why Confessing Is Good for You

C2 The Healing Practice of Confession

C3 The Mindset That Makes It Hard to Admit You're Wrong

B2 Christian

C1 The Importance of Confession in a Christian’s Life

C2 Here is the great evangelical disaster—the failure of the evangelical world to stand for truth as truth. There is only one word for this—namely accommodation: the evangelical church has accommodated to the world spirit of the age. First, there has been accommodation on Scripture, so that many who call themselves evangelicals hold a weakened view of the Bible and no longer affirm the truth of all the Bible teaches—truth not only in religious matters but in the areas of science and history and morality. Francis Schaeffer.

The ultimate source of truth is Jesus Christ: John 14:6 AFV Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

Romans 1:18 NRSV For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth.

B1 God is angry about sin

B2 God is angry because of ungodliness and wickedness (breaking the 10 Commandments). God’s anger is not an out of control rant and tantrum. It is a just judge/king’s emotions over rebellion to His laws.

B3 God is angry that people use wickedness to suppress the truth

B4 This is the start of a downhill cascade of trouble for humanity

B5 There is no healing without acknowledging truth about God and ourselves. We need to give God credit for His amazing person and deeds, and to be thankful for His goodness. Romans 1:21 WEL So, when they knew God, they didn’t glorify him as God, nor were they thankful, they became foolish in their reasonings, and so their foolish heart was darkened.

A Few Thoughts About the devil’s Methods

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

C1 Cambridge Dictionary

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.

C2 Free Dictionary

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."

A Few Thoughts About Lying

What is truth?

B1 Truth is reality. If I hit my thumb with a hammer, it hurts. That is the truth.

B2 Articles:

C1 Truth as a philosophy. You can find much here at Sanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and search for truth. This is the link.

C2 From a Christian viewpoint, Thomas Aquinas wrote much. See here “Truth by Thomas Aquinas (pdf).

C3 Search at Bethinking concerning truth.

The difficulty in knowing truth

B1 Why is truth difficult to know?

B2 Many different theories and philosophies of what truth is

B3 Many different lifestyles and worldviews because of this difficulty

B4 It seems obvious that there is a curse placed on the world. There is evil, death, sickness, etc.

C1 The logic that creation is most reasonable. See here: Created or evolved?

C2 God pronounced everything good, that is, it met His standard of perfection (Genesis 1:31).

C3 Truth also was perfect, so was love, compassion, gentleness, etc.

C4 All became corrupted when Adam (not Eve) deliberately, premeditatedly disobeyed God (Genesis 3:17-19).

C5 Since all was corrupted, truth was corrupted. Compare 1 Timothy 6:5

C6 Everything became so corrupted that God pronounced judgment (Genesis 6:11-13).

C7 Corruption from God’s standard is often related to what we say (Proverbs 4:24, Proverbs 6:12, Titus 1:15-16).

C8 Life itself becomes a lie instead of truth.

C9 Corruption is our heart, that is, our innermost being that is corrupted. See Matthew 15:18-20.

C10 Some people have no truth. See 1 Timothy 6:5.

C11 A problem with the human heart. It is not even able to do so. Romans 8:7-8 LEB because the mindset of the flesh is enmity toward God, for it is not subjected to the law of God, for it is not able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

C12 The heart is so corrupted that it is unable to know the truth of how evil it is. Jeremiah 17:9 ESV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

B5 To restore truth, Jesus, God the Son, came to earth, born of woman, and ministering to all.

Consider how lies influence us

B1 A child is told their nose is too big or too small (bullying).

B2 Someone is told they are stupid or highly intelligent (manipulation).

B3 Someone is blamed for all the problems in a marriage (domestic abuse).

B4 “Follow me. I have some secret knowledge that I will share with you.” (Seduction)

B5 “I’ll give you power and success.” (a deception to control the person who believes it).

B6 “This is Microsoft tech, and there is something wrong with your computer.” (lying to make money)

B7 Much too often we believe a lie, because we want to believe it.

C1 Flattery

C2 Something too good to be true

C3 To justify something we want to do

B8 30 Reasons Why People Lie

For the Christian truth starts with Jesus Christ.

B1 John 14:6 NLT Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

B2 He is the highest perfection of truth. There is no lie in him. See Isaiah 53:9, 1 Peter 1:19, 1 Peter 2:22, John 18:38,

B3 He teaches the truth and was never proven wrong by those who he lived with. They disagreed but never disproved.

B4 He teaches the Jews: John 8:44-47 NRSV You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God."

B5 It is most reasonable for everyone to be a Christian. See here.

B6 Decision

C1 There is truth, and there is lie.

C2 How do we know if anything is true or false?

C3 There must be a standard of truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Matthew 7:24-27).

C4 When we need to know if a statement, thought, deed, etc. is truth, we must compare it to a standard. The standard must be unchanging.

C5 How do we know what standard is truth? It seems it would depend of one’s beliefs, but this makes it subjective.

C6 Standards commonly accepted by people.

D1 The standard of authority. One is considered an authority because of education, research, experience, etc. But, the authority good be wrong, for we see disagreements among experts.

D2 The standard of coherence. Statements as commonly understood must be adhered together to a specified proposition. A coherence theory bases the truth of a belief on the degree to which it coheres ("hangs together") with all the other beliefs in a system of beliefs (typically one person's beliefs, but it could be any body of knowledge). (Source). But, a statement might be interpreted differently, what is seen is different from the facts (illusions, etc.), or not a complete set. One can see this in eye-witness statements.

D3 The standard of consensus. A statement, belief, situation is believed to be truth or false from most people. But, the consensus may be forced by a controlling power, deceived, or a cultural difference, etc.

D4 The standard of consistency. These are of two types.

E1 Mere consistency. A person makes statements that are consistent to each other. But, the person may be a practiced liar or a great salesman, lawyer, politician, preacher, abuser, etc.

E2 Strict consistency. A person makes a statement that results in a consistent second point, then third, etc. This is logic. But, one person’s logical statements may differ from another’s statements.

D5 The standard of correspondence. This is where the statement and the information from the statement correspond. They are the same. But, the words may be interpreted differently as in sarcasm, which may be true.

D6 The standard of custom. An action or statement is true because that’s the way it always has been understood. Theology may be an example. But, the custom may be in error.

D7 The standard of emotion. A statement is true because of a feeling that is trusted to be true. Even an experience could be considered true. But, an experience may be due to habit, training, beliefs, wishes, etc. and not agree with the facts.

D8 The standard of intuition. A statement or action is true, because it was heard or thought about there was a certainty. “My intuition tells me so.” But, it cannot be tested against any facts.

D9 The standard of majority rule. A statement is true because most people, whether experts or not, believe it so. But, again when tested, there it doesn’t match the facts.

D10 The standard of naïve realism. Seeing is believing. But, again, one person may interpret a color, for example, and another sees a distinct color.

D11 The standard of pragmatism. A statement or action is true because it works. But, in a different situation or culture it may not work.

D12 The standard of revelation. Something is true because some spirit declared it true whether the information came in a dream, vision, or something else. But, the revelator may be a liar or imaginary. Again, can it be tested.

D13 The standard of time. This is when something is considered true because it has been considered true for so long as in the statement “the test of time.” But, again further information may show differently.

D14 The standard of tradition. This is when something is true because that is the way we have always done that or believed that. But, when tested shows to not be according to the facts.

C7 Personally, correspondence theory seems most reasonable. When a person reads the Bible, they notice that God takes as truth what a person says, and God does the same when a person talks to Him.

C8 Also, I find it most reasonable that Jesus is this perfect source of truth. When he predicted something, it was true. The prediction was accurate as to who and/or what specifically happened.

D1 A few of Jesus’s predictions.

E1 Jesus predicted his death by the Romans at least 3 times.

E2 He also predicted his resurrection. See Matthew 12:40, Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:22-23, Matthew 20:17-19.

E3 He also predicted the method of killing him (Matthew 26:21).

E4 He predicted that he would be betrayed (Matthew 26:21-24).

E5 He predicted that his faithful followers would desert him (Matthew 26:30-32).

E6 He predicted his most fanatical follower would deny knowing Jesus (Matthew 26:33-35).

D2 Articles:

E1 Did Jesus Predict His Own Resurrection?

E2 Is prediction (prophecy) a proof of truth? See

F1 The Top 40 Messianic Prophecies

F2 Fulfilled Prophecy a Potent Argument for the Bible

F3 From Reliable to Divine: Fulfilled Prophecy in the Old Testament

C9 Because of the above, I personally accept that the Bible is the only standard of 100% truth. It is the perfect standard. We humans cannot know truth perfectly without it.

C10 The Bible must be interpreted in its plain, normal sense. See Principles of the Literal Bible Interpretation

Application to our life

B1 We must admit reality. If I am an addict, I must admit it. If I am abused, I must admit it. If I am a liar, I must admit it. If I am a sinner, I must admit it. No healing can take place spiritually, emotionally, or physically until we admit the truth.

B2 We must be a little skeptical and not believe everything we hear.

C1 Proverbs 14:15 ESV The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

C2 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

C3 Hebrews 13:9 NLT So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God's grace, not from rules about food, which don't help those who follow them.

B3 Healing starts with admitting the truth about ourselves. Compare Luke 18:9-14).

B4 Truth must be in our inward life as well as our outward life. Psalms 51:6 LEB Behold, you delight in truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden parts you make me to know wisdom.

B5 We must believe what someone tells us they have been abused, molested, etc. and take appropriate action. All crimes must be reported to law enforcement.

B6 We must live in the truth (Psalm 86:11 (NLT), 2 John 1:3-4, 3 John 1:3-4 (NLT)).

B7 The truth does set us free. (John 8:32, Romans 8:2, 2 Corinthians 3:17)

B8 We must continue to live in the truth. The Holy Spirit helps us by giving grace (Hebrews 4:16, Psalm 43:3) and chastens us when needed (Hebrews 12:6).

B9 We must read, study, memorize, pray for (Psalm 86:11), and live the truth (Psalm 15:2, Ephesians 4:25).

B10 We must teach the truth (2 Corinthians 6:7, 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)).

B11 We must stand up for the truth (Jeremiah 9:3 (NLT) and 2 Corinthians 13:8 (NLT)).

B12 Quote from Barclay (be cautious):

Discipleship results in freedom. "The truth will make you free." "In his service is perfect freedom." Discipleship brings us four freedoms. (a) It brings us freedom from fear. The man who is a disciple never again has to walk alone. He walks for ever in the company of Jesus, and in that company fear is gone. (b) It brings freedom from self. Many a man fully recognizes that his greatest handicap is his own self. And he may in despair cry out: "I cannot change myself. I have tried, but it is impossible." But the power and presence of Jesus can re-create a man until he is altogether new. (c) It brings freedom from other people. There are many whose lives are dominated by the fear of what other people may think and say. H. G. Wells once said that the voice of our neighbours sounds louder in our ears than the voice of God. The disciple is the man who has ceased to care what people say, because he thinks only of what God says. (d) It brings freedom from sin. Many a man has come to the stage when he sins, not because he wants to, but because he cannot help it. His sins have so mastered him that, try as he will, he cannot break away from them. Discipleship breaks the chains which bind us to them and enables us to be the persons we know we ought to be.

B13 Live like a Christian. Don’t be ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17). Don’t be ashamed of Jesus (Mark 8:38, 2 Timothy 2:12, 1 John 2:22). God help us.

John 17:17 GW Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth.