THEOSISGregory the Great
As long as there is breath within me and the Spirit of God is in my nostrils, my mouth will not utter falsehood nor will my tongue devise deceit (Job 27:3-4). Initially referring to his words as ‘iniquity,’ Job later characterizes them as ‘lies.’ This highlights the connection between ‘falsehood’ and ‘iniquity’; all that is false is indeed lawless, for it stands in opposition to the truth. However, there is a significant distinction between what one verbally expresses and what one intends. Often, it may be more grievous to ‘intend’ a falsehood than to merely state one. To ‘speak’ can sometimes stem from a lack of restraint, whereas to ‘intend’ reflects deliberate malice. It is evident that there is a disparity between lying unintentionally and lying with intent.
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The righteous individual, aiming to uphold the truth, vows not to lie, whether knowingly or unintentionally. Every form of falsehood must be treated with utmost caution, although there may be instances where a lie appears less severe if it aims for a benevolent outcome. It is written, "They that slander the mouth kill the soul" (Prov. 1:11), and "thou shalt destroy them that speak lies" (Ps. 5:7). This type of falsehood, along with others, must be approached with careful vigilance to avoid causing harm to our own souls while engaging with others. This offense, while serious, is often believed to be easily forgiven; if any sin can be purified by virtuous actions, how readily can the sin that arises from regret, the root of good deeds, be reconciled?
Some attempt to rationalize certain lies—such as those told by midwives—arguing they do not constitute sin, citing the Lord establishing their households (Ex. 1:21). Yet, this narrative teaches that the consequence of their deceit led to temporal benefits, thereby merging their gains with a sin that could otherwise diminish their reward in the afterlife. Should they have received recompense for their goodness in eternity, it is now tainted by their untruths. When carefully considered, they lied for the sake of preserving life; an act of compassion aimed at saving infants, yet simultaneously shielding themselves through deception.
While instances of such lies can be found in the Old Testament, an astute reader will rarely identify them among those deemed righteous, despite any appearances of truth. This may reflect the leniencies of the Old Covenant, where sacrifices of bulls and goats were offered—not as truth itself, but as mere shadows thereof. In contrast, the New Testament reveals Truth incarnate, elevating us to a more stringent set of commandments. It is both noble and just that we aspire to greater integrity than those who existed under mere shadows of Truth. If one justifies Old Testament lies on the grounds that they might have been less harmful in that era, he must accept that the thievery and recompense permitted then cannot be deemed harmless now. It is clear to all that the commandments became more rigid following the manifestation of Truth. Thus, a holy individual commits not to ‘speak’ nor ‘conspire’ in falsehood, but to embrace only what is true.