Duplicity, in a biblical context, refers to the act of being deceitful or double-minded, often involving the concealment of one's true intentions or feelings. It is characterized by hypocrisy, insincerity, and a lack of integrity, which are contrary to the teachings of Scripture. The Bible consistently warns against duplicity and encourages believers to live lives marked by honesty and transparency.

Biblical References:

1. James 1:8 · "He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." This verse highlights the instability and unreliability of a person who is double-minded, or duplicitous. Such a person is inconsistent and cannot be trusted to remain steadfast in their commitments or beliefs.

2. Proverbs 11:3 · "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them." Here, the contrast is drawn between the integrity of the upright and the destructive nature of treachery, which often involves duplicity. Integrity is presented as a guiding principle that leads to stability and righteousness.

3. Matthew 6:24 · "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." This teaching of Jesus underscores the impossibility of living a duplicitous life, serving two opposing masters. It calls for single-minded devotion to God, free from the deceit of divided loyalties.

4. Psalm 12:2 · "They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart." This verse describes the deceitful nature of those who engage in duplicity, using flattering words and harboring a double heart. Such behavior is condemned as it undermines trust and community.

5. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 · "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness." Paul warns against those who practice duplicity by pretending to be righteous while serving their own deceitful purposes. This passage highlights the danger of being led astray by those who appear godly but are inwardly corrupt.

Theological Implications:

Duplicity is fundamentally at odds with the character of God, who is described as truthful and faithful. In John 14:6, Jesus declares, "I am the way and the truth and the life." As followers of Christ, believers are called to emulate His truthfulness and integrity. Duplicity not only damages personal relationships but also hinders one's relationship with God, as it involves a divided heart and mind.

Practical Applications:

Believers are encouraged to examine their hearts and motives, ensuring that their actions align with their professed beliefs. In Ephesians 4:25, Paul instructs, "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 and transparency is essential for maintaining unity and trust within the Christian community.

In summary, duplicity is a serious issue addressed throughout Scripture, with a clear call for believers to reject deceit and embrace a life of integrity and truthfulness.1. (n.) Double-dealing; deliberate deceptiveness; a twofold state.

2. (n.) Doubleness of heart or speech; insincerity; a sustained form of deception which consists in entertaining or pretending to entertain one of feelings, and acting as if influenced by another; bad faith.

3. (n.) The use of two or more distinct allegations or answers, where one is sufficient.

4. (n.) In indictments, the union of two incompatible offenses.

55. hagnos -- purely, with pure motives
... honestly. Cognate: 55 (an adverb) -- sincerely, without inner contamination
(duplicity). It only occurs in Phil 1:17. See 53 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/55.htm - 6k

How the Simple and the Crafty are to be Admonished.
... But, on the other hand, the insincere are to be admonished to learn how heavy
is the labour of duplicity, which with guilt they endure. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xi how the simple.htm

Whether the Aforesaid vices Arise from Lust?
... Objection 2: Further, it is written (James 1:8): "A double-minded man is inconstant
in all his ways." Now duplicity does not seem to pertain to lust, but ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the aforesaid vices arise.htm

Whether Folly is a Daughter of Lust?
... x, 29) "the wisdom of this world consists in covering the heart with crafty
devices;" and this savors of duplicity. Therefore folly ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether folly is a daughter.htm

Whether Truth is a Special virtue?
... Reply to Objection 4: Simplicity is so called from its opposition to duplicity,
whereby, to wit, a man shows one thing outwardly while having another in his ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether truth is a special.htm

The Mind which was in Christ Jesus. Rev. George Wood.
... With what authority did He rebuke their selfishness, their duplicity, their sin;
and yet how confidently could He appeal to His bitterest opponents as to the ...
/.../king/the wesleyan methodist pulpit in malvern/the mind which was in.htm

Psalm V.
... with it some kindly intention. And to say truth, that which has no duplicity,
cannot even be called a lie. As if, for example, a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm v.htm

Eastern Wise-Men, or Magi, visit Jesus, the New-Born King.
... He was a man of fine executive ability and dauntless courage, but was full of suspicion
and duplicity, and his reign was stained by acts of inhuman cruelty. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xiii eastern wise-men or magi.htm

The Two Sons.
... As they gained nothing by their duplicity on that occasion, they may have been
unwilling to try the same policy again; and, accordingly, they give frankly the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/x the two sons.htm

The Way of Fellowship
... Sin always involves us in being unreal, pretending, duplicity, window dressing,
excusing ourselves and blaming others"and we can do all that as much by our ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter 3 the way of.htm

Fragment ii. Therefore You Ought to Strive to the Utmost of Your ...
... of Christ. [1291] No filthy lucre, no duplicity, can befit the Christian
who embraces the simple and unadorned [1292] Christ. Let ...
/.../theonas/epistle of phileas/fragment ii therefore you ought.htm

Duplicity (1 Occurrence)
... sufficient. 4. (n.) In indictments, the union of two incompatible offenses.
Multi-Version Concordance Duplicity (1 Occurrence). Proverbs ...
/d/duplicity.htm - 7k

Dura (1 Occurrence)

/d/dura.htm - 8k

Joram (26 Occurrences)
... Apparently the fierce fanaticism of Jezebel and the boldness of Ahab reappear
in the son in the form of duplicity and superstition. ...
/j/joram.htm - 27k

Guile (21 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Craft; deceitful cunning; artifice; duplicity;
wile; deceit; treachery. 2. (n.) To disguise or conceal; to deceive or delude. ...
/g/guile.htm - 15k

Gehazi (14 Occurrences)
... On this latter occasion he was guilty of duplicity and dishonesty of conduct, causing
Elisha to denounce his crime with righteous sternness, and pass on him ...
/g/gehazi.htm - 19k

Intrigue (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To carry on a secret and illicit love or amour. 3. (vt) To fill
with artifice and duplicity; to complicate; to embarrass. ...
/i/intrigue.htm - 7k

Rebekah (31 Occurrences)
... is ready to leave her father's house for ever at an hour's notice; and her future
life showed not only a full share of her brother Laban's duplicity, but the ...
/r/rebekah.htm - 21k

Duplicates (1 Occurrence)

/d/duplicates.htm - 6k

Singleness (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Freedom from duplicity, or secondary and selfish ends; purity of mind or
purpose; simplicity; sincerity; as, singleness of purpose; singleness of heart ...
/s/singleness.htm - 7k

Simple-minded (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Artless; guileless; simple-hearted; undesigning;
unsuspecting; devoid of duplicity. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/simple-minded.htm - 7k

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