Lexical Summary apaté: Deception, deceit, delusion Original Word: ἀπάτη Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deceitful, deceiving. From apatao; delusion -- deceit(-ful, -fulness), deceivableness(-ving). see GREEK apatao HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 539 apátē – a false impression, made to deceive or cheat – i.e. deceit motivated by guile and treachery (trickery, fraud). See 538 (apataō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition deceit NASB Translation deceit (1), deceitfulness (3), deception (2), deceptions (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 539: ἀπάτηἀπάτη, ἀπάτης, ἡ (from Homer down), deceit, deceitfulness: Colossians 2:8; τοῦ πλούτου, Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19; τῆς ἀδικίας, 2 Thessalonians 2:10; τῆς ἁμαρτίας, Hebrews 3:13; αἱ ἐπιθυμίαι τῆς ἀπάτης the lusts excited by deceit, i. e. by deceitful influences seducing to sin, Ephesians 4:22 (others, 'deceitful lusts'; but cf. Meyer at the passage). Plural, ἀπαται: 2 Peter 2:13 (where L Tr text WH marginal reading ἐν ἀγάπαις), by a paragram (or verbal play) applied to the agapae or love-feasts (cf. ἀγάπη, 2), because these were transformed by base men into seductive revels. Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 539 describes the spiritual and moral phenomenon of deception—an intentional leading astray that blinds the heart to truth and thus opposes the redemptive purposes of God. Throughout Scripture this activity is attributed to Satan (Genesis 3:13; Revelation 12:9), embedded in fallen human desires, and manifested through false teaching, worldly allurements, and sin’s own internal power. Occurrences in the New Testament In the Parable of the Sower, deception appears as “the deceitfulness of wealth” that chokes the word, rendering it fruitless. Wealth promises security and satisfaction, yet proves illusory, diverting attention from the kingdom. The warning is pastoral: affluence can quietly strangle spiritual vitality while appearing benign. Believers are exhorted to “put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.” Here deceit operates internally through the craving-driven self. Conversion therefore demands a decisive renunciation of lies embedded in one’s own heart, followed by renewal “in the spirit of your minds.” Paul cautions against being “taken captive through philosophy and empty deception.” False worldviews enslave by presenting sophisticated yet Christ-less answers to ultimate questions. The church must evaluate every intellectual system by the revelation of Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). “Encourage one another daily … so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Sin misrepresents itself, promising pleasure while producing bondage. Continuous mutual exhortation in the body safeguards against gradual spiritual calcification. During the eschatological rebellion, the man of lawlessness advances “every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.” The passage underscores a judicial element: those who spurn truth become vulnerable to delusion, illustrating the moral accountability that underlies intellectual deception. False teachers “revel in their deceptions as they feast with you.” Deception here is not merely doctrinal error but a lifestyle of moral compromise under a veneer of orthodoxy. Such duplicity threatens the purity and witness of the church from within. Historical and Theological Significance 1. Continuity with Old Testament Themes: The word echoes LXX passages where deception destroys covenantal fidelity (e.g., Jeremiah 9:6). New Testament usage reaffirms that lying and seduction are antithetical to God’s character of truth. Ministry Implications • Expository Teaching: Regular, context-honoring exposition of Scripture counteracts doctrinal and ethical deceit. Practical Questions for Reflection 1. Where might wealth or success be choking the word’s fruitfulness in my life or congregation? Conclusion Every appearance of ἀπάτη in the New Testament exposes the peril of trading divine truth for attractive falsehoods. The antidote is wholehearted devotion to Christ, immersion in His Word, and mutual exhortation within His body until the final unveiling of all things when deception will be banished forever. Forms and Transliterations απαταις απάταις ἀπάταις απατη απάτη ἀπάτη ἀπάτῃ απατης απάτης ἀπάτης apatais apátais apate apatē apáte apátē apátei apátēi apates apatēs apátes apátēsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 13:22 N-NFSGRK: καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου NAS: of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth KJV: and the deceitfulness of riches, INT: and the deceit of riches Mark 4:19 N-NFS Ephesians 4:22 N-GFS Colossians 2:8 N-GFS 2 Thessalonians 2:10 N-DFS Hebrews 3:13 N-DFS 2 Peter 2:13 N-DFP Strong's Greek 539 |
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