Biblical Warning Against False Institutions and Propaganda
The Bible consistently warns against false institutions and propaganda, emphasizing the dangers of deception and the importance of discerning truth. This warning is rooted in both Old and New Testament teachings, addressing various forms of falsehood, from outright lies to misleading teachings and corrupting influences.
A foundational principle is the condemnation of lying and false witness. Scripture explicitly states that lying is an "intentional violation of the truth" and is "emphatically condemned" [4]. Passages like Leviticus 19:12, Numbers 30:2, and Matthew 5:33 forbid swearing falsely, while Zechariah 8:17 highlights that such actions are hateful to God [3]. Even instances where biblical figures like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob told lies are noted, though not condoned [4]. The Mishneh Torah by Maimonides, a significant work in Jewish tradition, describes practices like astrology and divination as "falsehood and lies" used by idolaters to deceive nations, asserting that "No black magic can be found among Jacob, or occult arts within Israel" [12].
The New Testament extends these warnings to include false prophets and teachers who spread deceptive doctrines. Jesus Christ Himself "warned His followers against false prophets" [5]. Matthew 7:15 cautions against "false prophets" who are essentially "false teachers," urging believers to be wary of those who might deceive and impose upon them [10]. Jeremiah 29:8-9 similarly warns against "false prophets and fortune-tellers" [6]. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15:33, states, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" [1]. The Living English Bible renders this as, "Do not be deceived! 'Bad company corrupts good morals'" [2]. This highlights the corrupting influence of association with those who promote falsehoods.
Mature Christians are expected to possess "well-grounded knowledge of the Good News and of Christ himself" to "discern and resist false teaching" [7]. This discernment is crucial to avoid being "tossed and blown about" by deceptive doctrines [7]. John's epistle also addresses false teachers, stating that those who claim to know God but live in sin are "liars, and no truth of God is in them" [9]. Calvin, in his commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, notes that Paul "forewarns not only the Ephesians, but all the churches throughout the world, about hypocritical teachers, who, by setting up false worship, and by ensnaring consciences with new laws, adulterate the true worship of God, and corrupt the pure doctrine of faith" [8]. The warning against falsehood also extends to pride and envy, with Clement of Rome exhorting believers to "Abhor falsehood, for says [the Scripture], 'Thou shalt destroy all them that speak lies'" [11].
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] 1 Corinthians 15:33 — Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 15:33 (LEB) — Do not be deceived! “Bad company corrupts good morals.””
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Swearing Falsely — Forbidden -- Le 19:12; Nu 30:2; Mt 5:33. Hateful to God -- Zec 8:17. We should not love -- Zec 8:17. Fraud often leads to -- Le 6:2,3. Saints abstain from -- Jos 9:20; Ps 15:4. Blessedness of abstaining from -- Ps 24:4,5. The wicked Addicted to. -- Jer 5:2; Ho 10:4. Plead excuses for. -- Jer 7:9,10. Shall be judged on account of. -- Mal 3:5. Shall be cut off for. -- Zec 5:3. Shall have a curse upon their houses for. -- Zec 5:4. False witnesses guilty of -- De 19:16,18. Exemplified Saul. -- 1Sa 19:6,10. Shimei. -- 1Ki 2:41-43. Jews. -- Eze 16:59. Ze”
- 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.)”
- CCEL (Patristic) “Athanasius of Alexandria, Select Works and Letters, section 261: 223 To the Bishops of Egypt. ———————————— Chapter I. 1. Christ warned His followers against false prophets. All things whatsoever our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as Luke wrote, ‘both hath done and taught 1147 1147 Acts i. 1 . ,’ He effected after having appeared for our salvation; for He came, as John saith, ‘not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved 1148 1148 John iii. 17 . .’ And among the rest we have especially to admire this instance of His goodness, that He was not silent concerning those wh”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 29:8: 29:8-9 The next divine command warned against false prophets and fortune-tellers.”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:14: 4:14 We won’t be tossed and blown about: Mature Christians, with a well-grounded knowledge of the Good News and of Christ himself, will be able to discern and resist false teaching (see Gal 1:6-7; 3:1; Col 2:8-23; 1 Tim 1:3-7; 4:1-3; 6:3-5, 20; 2 Tim 4:3-4; Titus 1:11).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 16.2: of Timothy, forewarns not only the Ephesians, but all the churches throughout the world, about hypocritical teachers, who, by setting up false worship, and by ensnaring consciences with new laws, adulterate the true worship of God, and corrupt the pure doctrine of faith. This is the real object of the passage, which it is especially necessary to remark. Besides, in order that all may hear with more earnest attention what he is going to say, he opens with a preface, that this is an undoubted and very clear prophecy of the Holy Sp”
- 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 2:4: He that saith, I know him - This is a severe blow against those false teachers, and against all pretenders to religious knowledge, who live under the power of their sins; and against all Antinomians, and false boasters in the righteousness of Christ as a covering for their personal unholiness. They are all liars, and no truth of God is in them.”
- Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 7:15: We have here a caution against false prophets, to take heed that we be not deceived and imposed upon by them. Prophets are properly such as foretel things to come; there are some mentioned in the Old Testament, who pretended to that without warrant, and the event disproved their pretensions, as Zedekiah, Kg1 22:11, and another Zedekiah, Jer 29:21. But prophets did also teach the people their duty, so that false prophets here are false teachers. Christ being a Prophet and a Teacher come from God, and designing to send abroad teachers under him, gives warning to al”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. V.--VARIOUS RELATIVE DUTIES.: Flee from haughtiness, "for the Lord resisteth the proud."(4) Abhor falsehood, for says [the Scripture], "Thou shalt destroy all them that speak lies."(5) Guard against envy, for its author is the devil, and his successor Cain, who envied his brother, and out of envy committed murder. Exhort my sisters to love God, and be content with their own husbands only. In like manner, exhort my brethren also to be content with their own wives. Watch over the virgins, as the precious tr”
- Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations 11:16: All the above matters are falsehood and lies with which the original idolaters deceived the gentile nations in order to lead them after them. It is not fitting for the Jews who are wise sages to be drawn into such emptiness, nor to consider that they have any value as [implied by Numbers 23:23]: "No black magic can be found among Jacob, or occult arts within Israel." Similarly, [Deuteronomy 18:14] states: "These nations which you are driving out listen to astrologers and diviners. This is not [what G”