Definition and Nature:
Fraudulent behavior is characterized by deceit, trickery, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage. In the biblical context, fraudulent actions are condemned as they violate the principles of honesty, integrity, and justice that are foundational to God's law.

Biblical References:

1. Old Testament:
· Leviticus 19:11 : "You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another." This verse explicitly prohibits deceitful behavior, underscoring the importance of honesty among God's people.
· Proverbs 11:1 : "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight." This proverb highlights God's disdain for fraudulent practices in commerce, emphasizing the need for fairness and integrity.

2. New Testament:
· Mark 7:21-22 : "For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness." Here, deceit is listed among the evils that originate from the human heart, indicating its corrupt nature.
· 1 Thessalonians 4:6 : "In this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of his brother. The Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you." This passage warns against exploiting others, which includes fraudulent actions, and assures that God will hold such individuals accountable.

Moral and Ethical Implications:
Fraudulent behavior is fundamentally opposed to the character of God, who is truth (John 14:6) and calls His followers to live in truth and righteousness. Engaging in fraud not only harms others but also damages one's relationship with God. The Bible consistently calls for honesty and transparency in all dealings, reflecting God's justice and holiness.

Consequences of Fraud:
The Bible warns of both temporal and eternal consequences for those who engage in fraudulent practices. In the temporal realm, fraud can lead to broken relationships, loss of trust, and legal repercussions. Spiritually, it separates individuals from God and, if unrepented, can lead to eternal judgment (Revelation 21:8).

Examples of Fraud in the Bible:
· Jacob and Esau (Genesis 27): Jacob's deceit in obtaining his brother Esau's blessing is a classic example of fraudulent behavior, resulting in family discord and personal consequences.
· Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11): This couple's attempt to deceive the early church about their donation led to their sudden deaths, serving as a stark warning against deceit within the community of believers.

Call to Righteousness:
Believers are called to reject fraudulent behavior and instead pursue righteousness and integrity. Ephesians 4:25 exhorts, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another." This call to truthfulness is integral to the Christian life, reflecting the transformative power of the Gospel.1. (a.) Deceitful; dishonest; counterfeit.

2. (a.) Characterized by,, founded on, or proceeding from, fraud; as, a fraudulent bargain.

3. (a.) Obtained or performed by artifice; as, fraudulent conquest.

1386. dolios -- deceitful
... Adjective Transliteration: dolios Phonetic Spelling: (dol'-ee-os) Short Definition:
treacherous, deceitful Definition: treacherous, deceitful, fraudulent. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1386.htm - 6k6121. aqob -- insidious, deceitful, tracked by footprints
... From aqab; in the original sense, a knoll (as swelling up); in the denominative
sense (transitive) fraudulent or (intransitive) tracked -- crooked, deceitful ...
/hebrew/6121.htm - 5k

Fraudulent Practices Pursued by Pelagius in his Report of the ...
... A work on the proceedings of pelagius, Chapter 57 [XXXII.]"Fraudulent Practices
Pursued by Pelagius in His Report of the Proceedings in Palestine, in the ...
/.../anti-pelagian writings/chapter 57 xxxii fraudulent practices pursued.htm

Pelagius' Fraudulent and Crafty Excuses.
... Book II. On Original Sin. Chapter 16 [XV.]"Pelagius' Fraudulent and Crafty
Excuses. For what is the significance to the matter ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 16 xv pelagius fraudulent and.htm

The Natural Good of Marriage. All Society Naturally Repudiates a ...
... Book I. Chapter 5 [IV.]"The Natural Good of Marriage. All Society Naturally
Repudiates a Fraudulent Companion. What is True Conjugal Purity? ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 5 iv the natural good.htm

Whether a Sale is Rendered Unlawful through a Fault in the Thing ...
... One, in respect of the thing's substance: and if the seller be aware of a fault
in the thing he is selling, he is guilty of a fraudulent sale, so that the sale ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a sale is rendered.htm

My Brother Eusebius Writes to Me That, when He was at a Meeting of ...
... for him, accomplished as he was, to copy any style and manner of writing, whatever
their value may be; amidst all his tricks and his fraudulent assumption of ...
/.../24 my brother eusebius writes.htm

The Tables Turned Upon Marcion, by Contrasts, in Favour of the ...
... Our God you say commanded a fraudulent act, but in a matter of gold and
silver. Now, inasmuch as man is more precious than gold ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxviii the tables turned upon.htm

Whether the Seller is Bound to State the Defects of the Thing Sold ...
... and unless the seller make them known, although the buyer has already acquired a
right to them, the contract is voided on account of the fraudulent action.". ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the seller is bound.htm

Whether the Prohibitive Precepts Relating to the vices Opposed to ...
... huckster shall not be justified from the sins of the lips": and it is for this reason
that the Law contained a special precept forbidding fraudulent buying and ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the prohibitive precepts relating.htm

Delivered on the Lord's Day, on that which is Written in the ...
... Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" If I had taken from any one what did not
belong to me, rightly I might be blamed, as fraudulent and unjust: if I had not ...
/.../sermon xxxvii delivered on the.htm

Contention Over the Man Born Blind.
... The man's advocacy of Jesus as prophet suggested to those cunning diplomats that
there was collusion between Jesus and the man, and that the cure was fraudulent ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxi contention over the man.htm

Fraudulent (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Characterized by,, founded on, or proceeding from, fraud; as, a fraudulent
bargain. 3. (a.) Obtained or performed by artifice; as, fraudulent conquest. ...
/f/fraudulent.htm - 7k

Fraudulently (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a fraudulent manner. Multi-Version
Concordance Fraudulently (2 Occurrences). James 5:4 lo, the ...
/f/fraudulently.htm - 7k

Utter (111 Occurrences)
... put off, as currency; to cause to pass in trade; -- often used, specifically, of
the issue of counterfeit notes or coins, forged or fraudulent documents, and ...
/u/utter.htm - 35k

Unlike (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 2:17 We are; for, unlike most teachers, we are not fraudulent hucksters
of God's Message; but with transparent motives, as commissioned by God ...
/u/unlike.htm - 10k

Gravel (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Gravel (3 Occurrences). Proverbs 20:17 Fraudulent food
is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel. ...
/g/gravel.htm - 9k

Imitation (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) That which is made or produced as a copy; that which is made to resemble
something else, whether for laudable or for fraudulent purposes; likeness ...
/i/imitation.htm - 8k

Frauds (2 Occurrences)

/f/frauds.htm - 7k

Fraud (15 Occurrences)
... increased. (See NAS). Proverbs 20:17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but
afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel. (Root in WEB NIV). ...
/f/fraud.htm - 11k

Transparent (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 2:17 We are; for, unlike most teachers, we are not fraudulent hucksters
of God's Message; but with transparent motives, as commissioned by God ...
/t/transparent.htm - 8k

Dishonest (33 Occurrences)
... 4. (a.) Characterized by fraud; indicating a want of probity; knavish; fraudulent;
unjust. 5. (vt) To disgrace; to dishonor; as, to dishonest a maid. ...
/d/dishonest.htm - 16k

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