@JoChris
1 Peter 2:21-22
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Here Peter clearly says Christ is our example and there was found no guile in his mouth. It is clearly presented here that guile is sin.
Hebrew word translated as guile:
STRONGS NT 1388: δόλος
δόλος, δόλου, ὁ (from δέλω, to catch with a bait ((?); Latindolus, cf. Curtius, § 271); see δελεάζω above); properly, bait, Homer, Odyssey 12, 252; a lure, snare; hence,
craft, deceit, guile:
Matthew 26:4;
Mark 14:1;
Mark 7:22;
John 1:47 (48);
Acts 13:10;
2 Corinthians 12:16;
Romans 1:29;
1 Thessalonians 2:3 (οὐκ ἐστι ἐν δόλῳ, there is no deceit under it);
1 Peter 21), 22, and
Revelation 14:5 Rec., after
Isaiah 53:9; λαλεῖν δόλον
to speak deceitfully (
Psalm 33:14 (
Ps. 34:14)),
1 Peter 3:10.
2 Corinthians 12:16
But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
Clearly Paul admits using guile in dealing and winning over the Corinthians. The Strongs entry above confirms it is the exact same word that Peter used.
Philippians 1:18
What then? Only that in every way,
whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.” Philippians 1:18.
Commentary from The Infinite Truth"
Forgiving all his sins prior to his self-proclaimed conversion, let us ponder on the philosophy on which Paul preached. In Philippians Chapter 1, Verse 18: “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” Paul clearly
does not care if you go by evil means to spread the message of Christ, so long as people hear of Christ."
To make it clear the same word that is translated as pretense in Philippians is used by Jesus to describe the behavior he rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees for. Yet Paul says he will rejoice when pretense is used to preach his gospel.
Paul clearly taught there was no profit in circumciscion and clearly taught there was no benefit and being observant of Jewish traditions, yet to deceive Jewish believers and win them over he circumcised Timothy himself and shaved his own head.
"Oh...Paul...why then did you cause Timothy to be circumcised contrary to your own convictions?...I ask you again Paul, why did you shave your head? ....We have thus seen that for fear of the Jews...
Paul pretended that [he] observed the precepts of the Law." (Quoted in ,
The Concessions of the Apostle Paul, and the Claims of Truth (1854) at
57.)
I thought as Christians we were supposed to stand for truth and our own convictions. When according to Jesus are we ever supposed to lie, pretend, decieve or use guile in dealing with others, preaching the gospel and winning over others?