Biblical Perspective on Lying to Correct Evil Actions
Lying is consistently and emphatically condemned throughout Scripture as an intentional violation of truth [1]. Passages such as John 8:44, 1 Timothy 1:9-10, Revelation 21:27, and Revelation 22:15 highlight this condemnation [1]. The Psalms declare that God's people should "keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies" (Psalm 34:13) and that "lying lips be dumb" (Psalm 31:18 LEB) [3, 4]. Ezekiel warns that lies grieve the righteous and strengthen the wicked (Ezekiel 13:22) [2]. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists lying as forbidden (Leviticus 19:11; Colossians 3:9), hateful to God (Proverbs 6:16-19), and an abomination (Proverbs 12:22) [5]. The devil is identified as the "father of lies" (John 8:44) [5].
Despite this strong biblical condemnation, the Bible also records instances where individuals considered righteous or "good men" engaged in deception. Examples include Abraham (Genesis 12:12-13; 20:2), Isaac (Genesis 26:7), Jacob (Genesis 27:24), the Hebrew midwives (Exodus 1:15-19), Michal (1 Samuel 19:14), and David (1 Samuel 20:6) [1]. These narratives present a complex picture, leading to theological discussions about whether lying can ever be justified, particularly to correct evil actions or to protect life.
Augustine, in Against Lying, distinguishes between different degrees of guilt in lying, noting that while it is "never allowable to tell a lie," lies "differ very much in guilt, according to the intention and the subject" [11]. He emphasizes that the essence of lying involves thinking one thing and saying another [11]. However, Augustine also firmly states that "those things which are clearly sins, are upon no plea of a good cause, with no seeming good end, no alleged good intention, to be done" [9]. This suggests that while intentions might mitigate the degree of sin, they do not transform a sinful act, such as lying, into a righteous one [9].
Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, argues that "every lie is a sin" [6]. He explains that an action is good only if it is right in every respect, and a lie is inherently evil because it involves words bearing on "undue matter" [6]. Words are naturally signs of intellectual concepts, and to use them to signify something contrary to one's mind is inherently wrong [6]. Therefore, for Aquinas, a lie is evil in its genus and cannot be made good by any intention [6].
Reformed theologians, such as Charles Hodge, acknowledge the principle that a "higher obligation absolves from a lower" [8]. While he notes that this principle has been abused, as seen in Jesuit teachings that justified falsehood for the good of the Church, Hodge maintains that the principle itself "stands firm" [8]. This suggests a potential framework for considering situations where a greater moral imperative might override a lesser one, though Hodge does not explicitly endorse lying as a means to correct evil [8]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, expresses a strong aversion to lying, stating, "I hate and abhor lying, which may be taken for all sin, inasmuch as by it we deal treacherously and perfidiously with God and put a cheat upon ourselves" [10]. He also connects lying with other forms of "spiritual wickedness" like malice, which are contrary to the gospel [7].
The biblical witness consistently portrays lying as a deviation from truth and an act contrary to God's character. While the narratives of biblical figures who lied present a challenge to a simplistic condemnation, theological tradition, particularly in Augustine and Aquinas, generally upholds the intrinsic sinfulness of lying, regardless of intent.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lie — An intentional violation of the truth. Lies are emphatically condemned in Scripture (John 8:44; 1 Tim. 1:9, 10; Rev. 21:27; 22:15). Mention is made of the lies told by good men, as by Abraham (Gen. 12:12, 13; 20:2), Isaac (26:7), and Jacob (27:24); also by the Hebrew midwives (Ex. 1:15-19), by Michal (1 Sam. 19:14), and by David (1 Sam. 20:6). (See [356]ANANIAS.)”
- Ezekiel “Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive: -- Ezekiel 13:22”
- Psalms “Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies. -- Psalms 34:13”
- Psalms “Psalms 31:18 (LEB) — Let lying lips be dumb, that speak against the righteous unrestrained with arrogance and contempt.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Lying — Forbidden -- Le 19:11; Col 3:9. Hateful to God -- Pr 6:16-19. An abomination to God -- Pr 12:22. A hindrance to prayer -- Isa 59:2,3. The devil, the father of -- Joh 8:44. The devil excites men to -- 1Ki 22:22; Ac 5:3. Saints Hate. -- Ps 119:163; Pr 13:5. Avoid. -- Isa 63:8; Zep 3:13. Respect not those who practise. -- Ps 40:4. Reject those who practise. -- Ps 101:7. Pray to be preserved from. -- Ps 119:29; Pr 30:8. Unbecoming in rulers -- Pr 17:7. The evil of rulers hearkening to -- Pr 29:12. False prophets addicted to -- Jer 23:14; Eze 22:28. False witnesse”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of the Vices Opposed to Truth, and First of Lying, Art. 3: Article: Whether every lie is a sin? I answer that, An action that is naturally evil in respect of its genus can by no means be good and lawful, since in order for an action to be good it must be right in every respect: because good results from a complete cause, while evil results from any single defect, as Dionysius asserts (Div. Nom. iv). Now a lie is evil in respect of its genus, since it is an action bearing on undue matter. For as words are naturally si”
- Colossians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Colossians 3:8: As we are to mortify inordinate appetites, so we are to mortify inordinate passions (Col 3:8): But now you also put off all these, anger wrath, malice; for these are contrary to the design of the gospel, as well as grosser impurities; and, though they are more spiritual wickedness, have not less malignity in them. The gospel religion introduces a change of the higher as well as the lower powers of the soul, and supports the dominion of right reason and conscience over appetite and passion. Anger and wrath are bad, but malice is worse, because it is more rooted ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 51: is not invalidated by its possible or actual abuse. It has been greatly abused. Jesuits taught that the obligations to promote the good of the Church absorbed or superseded every other obligation. And, therefore, in their system not only falsehood and mental reservation, but perjury, robbery, and assassination became lawful if committed with the design of promoting the interests of the Church. Notwithstanding this liability to abuse, the principle that a higher obligation absolves from a lower stands firm. It is a dictate even of the natu”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — TO CONSENTIUS: AGAINST LYING. (part 16): the deed, when any thing is said to be done not after the purpose of the mind,[4] which yet were not done, unless the mind decreed it to be done. 18. It does indeed make very much difference, for what cause, with what end, with what intention a thing be done: but those things which are dearly sins, are upon no plea of a good cause. with no seeming good end, no alleged good intention, to be done. Those works, namely of me, which are not in themselves sins, are now good, now evil, according as their causes ar”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:163: Love and hatred are the leading affections of the soul; if those be fixed aright, the rest move accordingly. Here we have them fixed aright in David. 1. He had a rooted antipathy to sin; he could not endure to think of it: I hate and abhor lying, which may be taken for all sin, inasmuch as by it we deal treacherously and perfidiously with God and put a cheat upon ourselves. Hypocrisy is lying; false doctrine is lying; breach of faith is lying. Lying, in commerce or conversation, is a sin which every good man hates and abhors, hates and doubly hates, because of ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 18.--IT IS NEVER ALLOWABLE TO TELL A LIE; BUT LIES DIFFER VERY MUCH IN GUILT, ACCORDING TO THE INTENTION AND THE SUBJECT. (part 2): think one thing and say another; but the latter, though his statements may be true in fact, has one thought in his heart and another on his lips: and that is the very essence of lying. But when we come to consider truth and falsehood in respect to the subjects spoken of, the point on which one deceives or is deceived becomes a matter of the utmost importance. For although, as far as a man's own conscience is con”