Topical Encyclopedia
Fraud, in the biblical context, refers to deceitful practices and dishonest schemes that are condemned throughout Scripture. It involves the act of deception for personal gain, often at the expense of others. The Bible consistently warns against fraudulent behavior, emphasizing integrity, honesty, and justice as virtues that align with God's character.
Old Testament ReferencesThe Old Testament provides numerous admonitions against fraud and deceit. In
Leviticus 19:11, the Israelites are commanded, "You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another." This directive underscores the importance of honesty and integrity within the community. The book of Proverbs also contains wisdom literature that warns against fraudulent practices.
Proverbs 11:1 states, "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight." This verse highlights God's disdain for deceit in business and trade, advocating for fairness and truthfulness.
The prophets frequently addressed the issue of fraud, particularly in the context of social justice.
Micah 6:11 poses a rhetorical question, "Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?" This reflects God's judgment against those who exploit others through deceitful means. The prophet Amos also condemns fraudulent practices, particularly those that oppress the poor and vulnerable (
Amos 8:5-6).
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles continue to denounce fraud and deceit. Jesus' teachings often emphasize the importance of sincerity and truthfulness. In the Sermon on the Mount, He instructs, "Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For anything more comes from the evil one" (
Matthew 5:37). This teaching underscores the value of honesty in all interactions.
The apostle Paul also addresses the issue of fraud in his epistles. In
1 Thessalonians 4:6, he warns, "In this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother. The Lord will avenge all such offenses, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you." Paul emphasizes that fraudulent behavior is not only a sin against others but also an offense against God.
Moral and Ethical ImplicationsFraud is fundamentally opposed to the biblical principles of justice, righteousness, and love for one's neighbor. The Bible calls believers to live lives marked by integrity and truth.
Ephesians 4:25 exhorts, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body." This call to honesty is rooted in the understanding that deceit undermines community and trust.
The biblical narrative consistently portrays God as a God of truth and justice, who desires His people to reflect His character. Fraud, therefore, is not merely a legal or ethical issue but a spiritual one, as it contradicts the nature of God and His commandments.
Consequences of FraudThe Bible warns of both temporal and eternal consequences for those who engage in fraudulent practices.
Proverbs 21:6 cautions, "The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare." This verse suggests that ill-gotten gains are ultimately futile and lead to destruction. In the New Testament,
Revelation 21:8 lists deceit among the sins that lead to the second death, indicating the severe spiritual consequences of living a life marked by fraud.
ConclusionThe biblical teaching on fraud is clear and unequivocal. It is a sin that God detests, and it is contrary to the life of righteousness to which believers are called. The Scriptures encourage a life of honesty, integrity, and justice, reflecting the character of God in all dealings with others.
Topical Bible Verses
Acts 2:38Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Topicalbible.orgRevelation 22:15
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie.
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John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Topicalbible.org
Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Deception deliberately practiced with a view to gaining an unlawful or unfair advantage; artifice by which the right or interest of another is injured; injurious stratagem; deceit; trick.
2. (n.) An intentional perversion of truth for the purpose of obtaining some valuable thing or promise from another.
3. (n.) A trap or snare.
Greek
1747. enedra -- a lying in wait, an ambush... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: enedra Phonetic Spelling:
(en-ed'-rah) Short Definition: an ambush, plot, treachery,
fraud Definition: an
...2829. klope -- theft
... Cognate: 2829 -- theft, done (through stealth,fraud, etc.), ie thievery done
secretively (not out in the open or with violence). See 2812 ()....
539. apate -- deceit
... Cognate: 539 -- a false impression, made to deceive or cheat -- ie deceit motivated
by guile and treachery (trickery,fraud). See 538 ()....
1387. dolioo -- to deceive
... Verb Transliteration: dolioo Phonetic Spelling: (dol-ee-o'-o) Short Definition:
I act deceitfully, deceive Definition: I act deceitfully, deceive, usefraud....
3132. manteuomai -- to divine
... Phonetic Spelling: (mant-yoo'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I practice soothsaying
Definition: I divine, practice soothsaying, suggesting thefraud involved in...
4468. rhadiourgia -- ease in doing, laziness, recklessness, hence...
... Word Origin from the same as rhadiourgema Definition ease in doing, laziness,
recklessness, hence wickedness NASB Word Usagefraud (1). mischief....
2940. kubeia -- dice playing
... sleight, trickery. From kubos (a "cube", ie Die for playing); gambling, ie
(figuratively) artifice orfraud -- sleight. (kubeia) -- 1 Occurrence. 2939,...
4812. sulagogeo -- to carry off as spoil
... Transliteration: sulagogeo Phonetic Spelling: (soo-lag-ogue-eh'-o) Short Definition:
I plunder Definition: I plunder, lead captive; met: I make victim byfraud...
650. apostereo -- to defraud, deprive of
... defraud, deprive. From apo and stereo (to deprive); to despoil -- defraud, destitute,
kept back byfraud. see GREEK apo. (apesteremenos) -- 1 Occurrence....
1114. goes -- a wailer, a sorcerer, a swindler
... 1114 ("a charlatan"), used only in 2 Tim 3:13, refers to a (properly,
a ) -- afraud who "sounds off" like a whining enchanter....
Strong's Hebrew
8496. tok -- injury, oppression... deceit,
fraud. Or towk (Psa. 72:14) {toke}; from the same base as tavek (in the
sense of cutting to pieces); oppression -- deceit,
fraud. see HEBREW tavek.
...6233. osheq -- oppression, extortion
... From ashaq; injury,fraud, (subjectively) distress, (concretely) unjust gain --
cruelly, extortion, oppression, thing (deceitfully gotten). see HEBREW ashaq....
8419. tahpukah -- perversity, perverse thing
... procession. From haphak; a perversity orfraud -- (very) froward(-ness, thing),
perverse thing. see HEBREW haphak. 8418, 8419. tahpukah. 8420 ....
1892. hebel -- vapor, breath
... root Definition vapor, breath NASB Word Usage breath (5), delusion (2), emptily
(1), emptiness (2), fleeting (2),fraud (1), futile (1), futility (13), idols (7...
4820. mirmah -- deceit, treachery
... From ramah in the sense of deceiving;fraud -- craft, deceit(-ful, -fully), false,
feigned, guile, subtilly, treachery. see HEBREW ramah. 4819, 4820....
8649. tormah -- perhaps treachery
... deceitful, privily And tarmuwth {tar-mooth'}; or tarmiyth {tar-meeth'}; from ramah;
fraud -- deceit(-ful), privily. see HEBREW ramah. 8648, 8649....
8595. tatuim -- mockery
... Word Origin from taa Definition mockery NASB Word Usage mockery (2). error. From
ta'a'; afraud -- error. see HEBREW ta'a'. 8594, 8595. tatuim. 8596 ....
Library
WhetherFraud Pertains to Craftiness?
... OF VICES OPPOSED TO PRUDENCE BY WAY OF RESEMBLANCE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether
fraud pertains to craftiness? Objection 1: It would...
A PiousFraud.
... Book X. Chapter LXIII."A PiousFraud. Then said I: "God arranges our affairs
to our liking; for we have with us Anubion an astrologer...
TheFraud of the Foregoing Practices; their Connection with Heresy...
... Book IV. Chapter XLII."TheFraud of the Foregoing Practices; Their Connection
with Heresy. These are the deeds of the magicians...
Whether Treachery,Fraud, Falsehood, Perjury, Restlessness...
... OF THE VICES OPPOSED TO LIBERALITY, AND IN THE FIRST PLACE, OF COVETOUSNESS (EIGHT
ARTICLES) Whether treachery,fraud, falsehood, perjury, restlessness...
TheFraud, Pride, and Tyrannical Kingdom of Antichrist, as...
... Against Heresies: Book V Chapter XXV."Thefraud, pride, and tyrannical
kingdom of Antichrist, as described by Daniel and Paul....
Christ and his Apostles, Without anyFraud, Deception, or...
... Against Heresies: Book III Chapter V."Christ and His apostles, without anyfraud,
deception, or hypocrisy, preached that one God, the Father, was the founder...
The Personal History of Callistus; his Occupation as a Banker...
... Chapter VII."The Personal History of Callistus; His Occupation as a Banker;Fraud
on Carpophorus; Callistus Absconds; Attempted Suicide; Condemned to the...
Professing Rhetoric at Rome, He Discovers theFraud of his...
... Book V. Chapter XII."Professing Rhetoric at Rome, He Discovers theFraud
of His Scholars. 22. Then began I assiduously to practise...
Whether the Prohibitive Precepts Relating to the vices Opposed to...
... Objection 2: Further, there is room forfraud in other things than in
buying and selling. Therefore the Law unfittingly forbade...
Having Adduced Examples of Certain Frauds Found in a Few Passages...
... For why did he show himself so eager for luxuries and delicacies as to allow afraud
of this character? 71.... [673] For this he perished as guilty offraud....
Thesaurus
Fraud (15 Occurrences)...Fraud (15 Occurrences).
... 1 Thessalonians 2:3 For our preaching was not grounded on
a delusion, nor prompted by mingled motives, nor was there
fraud in it. (WEY).
...Guile (21 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GUILE. gil (mirmah; dolos): "Guile" is twice the
translation of mirmah, "fraud," "deceit" (Psalm 34:13, "Keep....
Cheat (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) An act of deception orfraud; that which is the
means offraud or deception; afraud; a trick; imposition; imposture....
Sham (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) That which deceives expectation; any trick,fraud, or device that deludes
and disappoint; a make-believe; delusion; imposture, humbug....
Balance (12 Occurrences)
... 3. The System of Weighing Liable toFraud: Though the "balances" in ancient times
were rudely constructed, the weighing could be done quite accurately, as may...
Vanity (100 Occurrences)
... Selah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Psalms 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit
andfraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. (KJV WBS)....
Knavery (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Dishonesty; deceitfulness; petty tricks;fraud;
trickery; as, a knavish action. 2. (n.) Roguish or mischievous tricks....
Labourers (11 Occurrences)
... James 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which
is of you kept back byfraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have...
Laborers (19 Occurrences)
... James 5:4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you have
kept back byfraud, cry out, and the cries of those who reaped have entered...
Gouge (4 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Imposition; cheat;fraud; also, an impostor; a cheat; a trickish
person. Multi-Version Concordance Gouge (4 Occurrences)....
Resources
What does the Bible teach about human trafficking? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible have to say to victims of human trafficking? | GotQuestions.orgWhy are so many evangelical Christian leaders caught in scandals? | GotQuestions.orgFraud: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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