'Trickery' in the Bible
Now, summon unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with trickery, in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal.
“At the latter period of their reign,When the transgressors have finished,A king will ariseInsolent and skilled in intrigue and cunning.
“And through his shrewdnessHe will cause deceit to succeed by his hand (influence);He will magnify himself in his mind,He will corrupt and destroy many who enjoy a false sense of security.He will also stand up and oppose the Prince of princes,But he will be broken, and that by no human hand [but by the hand of God].
But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
But be that as it may, I did not burden you [with my support]. But [some say that] I was sly and took you by trickery.
So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit].
But continually encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “Today” [and there is an opportunity], so that none of you will be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [its cleverness, delusive glamour, and sophistication].