ψεῦδος (Strong’s 5579) names the deliberate replacement of what is true with what is false. In the New Testament its ten appearances cluster around four themes: satanic origin, human complicity, eschatological deception, and eternal separation from God.

Satanic Origin (John 8:44)

Jesus locates all lying in the devil: “When he lies, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Falsehood is therefore never value-neutral; it is rebellion that mirrors its original author.

Human Complicity (Romans 1:25; Ephesians 4:25; 1 John 2:21, 27)

• “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (Romans 1:25). Idolatry is rooted in embracing ψεῦδος over God’s self-revelation.
• “Put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25). Salvation produces a community in which honesty replaces deceit.
• “No lie comes from the truth” (1 John 2:21) and the Spirit’s anointing “is real, not counterfeit” (1 John 2:27). Genuine conversion disables duplicity and empowers truthfulness.

Eschatological Deception (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11)

The climactic expression of ψεῦδος appears in the rise of the lawless one: “The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by … false wonder … so that they will believe the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11). End-time delusion will mimic authenticity through miracles, signs, and persuasive doctrine, exposing those who refused “the love of the truth.”

Eternal Consequences (Revelation 14:5; 21:27; 22:15)

• The redeemed: “No lie was found in their mouths” (Revelation 14:5).
• The excluded: “Nothing unclean … nor anyone who practices … deceit” (Revelation 21:27); “everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15). Truth marks those inside the New Jerusalem; ψεῦδος brands those outside.

Pastoral and Ethical Significance

1. Worship: True worship demands doctrinal accuracy; error is idolatry in another form.
2. Community: Honest speech sustains unity (“members of one another,” Ephesians 4:25).
3. Discipleship: The Spirit of truth cultivates integrity that resists cultural and digital misinformation.
4. Apologetics: Believers expose “false wonder” by proclaiming the historic, verifiable resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Historical Reflection

Patristic writers treated lying as soul-threatening. Augustine ranked lies in nine degrees, all requiring repentance. Reformers battled ecclesial ψεῦδος with the cry ad fontes—back to the scriptural truth.

Contemporary Application

In an era of counterfeit news, manipulated images, and doctrinal relativism, the church must be a bastion of veracity—fact-checking before forwarding, preaching without embellishment, reporting finances transparently, and living convincingly.

Conclusion

Strong’s 5579 confronts every disciple with a choice: embrace the God of truth or side with the father of lies. Scripture promises victory and vindication for all who, by grace, “walk in the truth” (3 John 3).