"easily deceived"

[Helen]

Eve was deceived. The Bible says women are 'easily deceived.' I know that I can be. Scarlett asked what that meant.

For me, personally, it means I tend to take a person at his word. I'm a lot better now than I used to be. But with both my ex and my own children, if I suspected something and asked them about it and they denied it, I simply believed them! Maybe it was because I WANTED to believe them? I valued the relationships and didn't want problems.

I'm older and wiser now, but I still would prefer to believe someone who is my friend regarding what they say than double-check stuff even when I have my doubts. I've LEARNED to do that double checking a lot of times, but that was a very difficult lesson to learn.

I know that people prefer to have nice generalities here and that personal stuff is not always appreciated, but I can only tell my own story, not someone else's. I will say that I have seen the same in my daughters and girlfriends, however. We WANT to believe in the people we are around and will tend to do that even when the facts or intuitions seem to be mitigating against that belief and trust.

Men seem to be a little more skeptical. They will have to answer for that, though. (I read this to Barry and he nodded and smiled at me and said "Yeah, yeah.")

Barry talking now and I am typing his words: "I think that as Christians, also, we tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. I know we live in a suspicious world, but I want to be open and above that. So I try to live in a way that is transparent. But most of the world is not like that, and so we have to be a little more aware that those who are not Christian -- genuine Christian -- really need to be checked out if there is something that doesn't gel with what they are saying. Unfortunately, some Christians have to be checked out, too, when they are found to be not coming up to the standard.

"I think that girls, by and large, are more sensitive and more tender. And therefore more willing to believe what is told them than men are. Men tend to be more discerning. But then, I find some of that discernment can only come as a result of a close walk with the Lord. That is what I pray for daily -- that I be sensitive to the moving of the Spirit but in such a way that I don't fall prey to the deception of the enemy."

 

[donnA]

How about a verse that says women are easily decieved, not one specific woman, but women in general, all women. I'd like to be able to see what the bible says.

 

[webdog]

I would think what God said to Eve after eating of the fruit was not only intended for her, but all women. Same with Adam and all men.

 

[webdog]

While deception can be from a lack of intelligence, I think emotion, relationships and trust play into the eqation moreso. Take the atronaught who was recently arrested for conspiracy to commit murder. I'm pretty sure she is an intelligent human being, but let emotion and the relationship "deceive" her.

 

[Helen]

Donna, you are right, the 'woman' singular was deceived. However this passage follows the passage which refers to all women at all times. I think the implication is clear. It is in 1 Timothy 2.

 

[DeeJay]

I am speaking in generality but I have noticed.

Women tend to think with their feelings. That is not nessesaraly a bad thing.

Men tend to think with logic and work out problems without feelings involved. They may come to a conclusion that does not jive with feelings.

It is not nessesaraly a bad thing to think with your feelings but I think our feelings are more easy to deceive. The up side to this is that women tend to be more loving and considerate.

There are exceptions, but it is what I notice to be a general trend.

 

[Amy.G]

I am speaking in generality but I have noticed.

Women tend to think with their feelings. That is not nessesaraly a bad thing.

Men tend to think with logic and work out problems without feelings involved. They may come to a conclusion that does not jive with feelings.

It is not nessesaraly a bad thing to think with your feelings but I think our feelings are more easy to deceive. The up side to this is that women tend to be more loving and considerate.

There are exceptions, but it is what I notice to be a general trend.

Maybe God meant for men and women to compliment each other? Kinda like peanut butter and jelly. :laugh:

 

[DeeJay]

Maybe God meant for men and women to compliment each other? Kinda like peanut butter and jelly. :laugh:

I think your right.

 

[donnA]

1 Tim 2: 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

It says Eve was decieved, not women in general. You'll have to do better then that to prove women are easily decieved.

 

[gb93433]

Trust and verify will keep one out of a lot of trouble.

 

[Jon-Marc]

I don't think women are any more easily deceived than I am. A person who prizes integrity as highly as I do tends to trust what other people say. I've been wronged, lied to and deceived too many times to count, and yet I continue to believe what people say. Why? Because I am honest and know that what I say is the truth. I don't believe in lying to people. I don't believe in deceiving people. I don't believe in pretending to be what I'm not. Yet, many people see nothing wrong with any of that. Still, I expect people to be honest and get fooled nearly every time. I don't remember who it was that was looking for an honest man. Well, I'm nearly 61 and found very few honest people.

 

[EdSutton]

Eve was deceived. The Bible says women are 'easily deceived.' I know that I can be.

Helen, with all respect, whether you, me, or anyone else can be "'easily deceived'" is one question.

But where does the Bible ever say that about women, in particular? I just looked through the "Bible Gateway" search and found the phrase exactly one time in some ten versions, and that in Hosea 7:11 in the NIV referring to "Ephraim".
It is true the Scripture says something to the effect that 'the woman was deceived in the transgression' (didn't look up the exact words), but I think that 'strengthening' those words to 'easily deceived' is less than warranted, at least by Scripture, your husband notwithstanding. (My wife might suggest that I am 'easily deceived' more than she, and probably be correct, in that.) So, I'd suggest that just as many men as women are often 'easily deceived'.

Ed

 

[donnA]

I think being easily decieved has nothing to do with ones sex, but rather with personality.

 

[Helen]

Helen, with all respect, whether you, me, or anyone else can be "'easily deceived'" is one question.

But where does the Bible ever say that about women, in particular? I just looked through the "Bible Gateway" search and found the phrase exactly one time in some ten versions, and that in Hosea 7:11 in the NIV referring to "Ephraim".
It is true the Scripture says something to the effect that 'the woman was deceived in the transgression' (didn't look up the exact words), but I think that 'strengthening' those words to 'easily deceived' is less than warranted, at least by Scripture, your husband notwithstanding. (My wife might suggest that I am 'easily deceived' more than she, and probably be correct, in that.) So, I'd suggest that just as many men as women are often 'easily deceived'.

Ed

Ed, I think the reason so many of us in general consider that to be the meaning is because of the passage it comes at the end of. The directions are concerning the behavior of women at ALL times and EVERYWHERE, as Paul specifically states. Verse 13 starts with "For..." meaning, "this is the reason, or this is the cause of the material just stated":
"For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner."

So it appears to me, anyway, that there are two reasons why a woman is to submit to a man's authority and behave modestly -- because the man was made first and because Eve, who was representing all women as Adam represented all men, was deceived. So just as Adam was to be the head of Eve, as all husbands are to be the heads of their wives, the woman Eve, who was deceived, represents the (to me) fact that all women are more easily deceived and for this reason as well should submit to the husband's authority.

In short, although the passage references Adam and Eve as individuals, it does so in the context of them representing all men and all women.

 

[donnA]

so theres no direct scripture? not surprised.

 

[donnA]

In looking at scripture about being decieved, I found everyone can and will be decieved, even men, even christian men. This list does not include verese specifically about Israel.
Mt 24: 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
v.11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many
v. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect
Mk 13: 6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many
v. 22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect
Ro 16: 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord £Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
1 Cor 3: 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise
Eph. 5: 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Col 2: 4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words
2 Thes 2: 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of £sin is revealed, the son of perdition
1 Jn 1: 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us
2: 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.
3: 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
1Cor 6: 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.
15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."
2Ti 3: 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Ti 3:3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
Ja 1: 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren

 

[skypair]

Helen,

I believe it is a "right brain - left brain" thing. In fact, if Eve hadn't come along, Adam would not have cared for himself as he should have IMO. She knew what love was -- Adam knew what goals and purposes were.

Men can compartmentalize -- women generalize. I like Paul's admonition on this account -- "women ask your husbands" A woman will see something as good but a man are more analytical, don't you think?

Plus, as to the case at hand, I don't think Adam communicated effectively with Eve the message about the fruit that God had given him alone.

skypair

 

[av1611jim]

We all know that Satan is a wise and cunning adversary. I mean he WAS the covering cherub after all. He was created with a much greater intelligence than we were.

Knowing this then I would have to wonder why it was he chose a woman rather than a man to decieve if women are not more readily decieved than men.

All women get their propensities from Eve just as all men get theirs from Adam. God created us that way. We are to compliment what is lacking in the other. Men are more logical than women while women are more intuitive than men. Hence we need each other.

Scripture shows that the woman was decieved but the man chose to transgress. While there will be various degrees of this principle among individuals, I think the principle is valid. Women can be deceived more easily than men. They lead with there heart while we lead with our mind.

They get deceived by overly trusting and we make stupid decisions.

 

[donnA]

Helen,

I believe it is a "right brain - left brain" thing. In fact, if Eve hadn't come along, Adam would not have cared for himself as he should have IMO. She knew what love was -- Adam knew what goals and purposes were.

Men can compartmentalize -- women generalize. I like Paul's admonition on this account -- "women ask your husbands" A woman will see something as good but a man are more analytical, don't you think?

with Eve the message about the fruit that God had given him alone.

skypair

with me and my husband it is completely the opposite.

 

[dwmoeller1]

So just as Adam was to be the head of Eve, as all husbands are to be the heads of their wives, the woman Eve, who was deceived, represents the (to me) fact that all women are more easily deceived and for this reason as well should submit to the husband's authority.

Why that connection? And how does that tie in with the verse that follows?

That Paul is a making a two-part argument against women teaching in church is clear. You read it as
reason 1: man was created first
reason 2: Eve was deceived and Adam wasn't, thus women, in general, are more easily deceived.

However, it seems that a better view of the verse might be more along these lines:
reason 2: Eve was deceived and Adam wasn't, thus women labor under the curse in their own unique way (ie. and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee).

Now, consider vs. 15 and see if maybe that verse makes more sense in light of Paul speaking of the curse being the second reason as opposed to Paul speaking of women's tendency to being deceived.