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False witness and lying

Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia

- sins against the ninth commandment (Exod 20:16). False witness is of two kinds: judicial, when a person gives false testimony, accusation, or complaint in court; and extrajudicial, when one slanders another behind his back or unjustly reproaches him to his face. Paul speaks generally of lying: 'Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another' (Eph 4:25).

Scripture cited

Exodus 20:16 Ephesians 4:25

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