322.从属灵之义来看，“作假见证”是指说服别人，信仰的虚假观念是真的，生活的邪恶是善的；或真实的观念是假的，生活的良善是恶的。但在这两种情况下，这种行为是故意的，而非出于无知。也就是说，是在知道何为善与真之后，而非之前做出的。因为主说：
你们若瞎了眼，就没有罪了；但如今你们说：“我们能看见，”所以你们的罪还在。（约翰福音9:41）
在圣言中，以“谎言”来表示这种虚假，以“诡诈”来表示这种意图，如：
我们与死亡立约；与阴间结盟。因我们以谎言为避所，在虚假以下藏身。（以赛亚书28:15）
他们是悖逆的百姓，说谎的儿女，不肯听从耶和华训诲的儿女。（以赛亚书30:9）
从先知到祭司，都行事虚谎。（耶利米书8:10）
城里的富户满行强暴，其中的居民也说谎言，口中的舌头是诡诈的。（弥迦书6:12）
说谎言的，你必灭绝；好流人血弄诡诈的，都为耶和华所憎恶。（诗篇5:6）
他们各人欺哄邻舍，说谎言；你的住处在诡诈的人中。（耶利米书9:5，6）
正因为“谎言”表示虚假，所以主说：“魔鬼说谎是出于自己”（约翰福音8:44）。在下列经文中，“谎言”还表示虚假与诡诈：耶利米书9:4；23:14，32；以西结书13:15－19；21:29；何西阿书7:1；12:1；那鸿书3:1；诗篇120:2，3。
322. 就屬靈意義而言, "作假見證"表示說服他人錯誤信仰為真信仰,邪惡生活為良善生活; 以及相反, 以假亂真, 視善為惡; 但只有在故意如此行時, 而非出於無知。故意, 是指知道何為真何為善之後還這樣做。因為主說:"你們若瞎了眼, 就沒有罪了; 但如今你們說:'我們能看見, '所以你們的罪還在"(約翰福音9:41)。
聖言中以"謊言"來表示如此的虛假, 有意行出虛假則用"詭詐"來表示, 參看:我們與死亡立約; 與陰間結盟。因我們以謊言為避所, 在虛假以下藏身(以賽亞書28:15)。他們是悖逆的百姓, 說謊的兒女, 不肯聽從耶和華訓誨的兒女(以賽亞書30:9)。從先知到祭司, 都行事虛謊(耶利米書8:10)。城裡的富戶滿行強暴, 其中的居民也說謊言, 口中的舌頭是詭詐的(彌迦書6:12)。說謊言的, 你必滅絕; 好流人血弄詭詐的, 都為耶和華所憎惡(詩篇5:6)。他們各人欺哄鄰舍, 說謊言; 你的住處在詭詐的人中(耶利米書9:5-6)。
因為"謊言"表示虛假, 因此主說:"魔鬼說謊是出於自己"(約翰福音8:44)。"謊言"在下列經文中也表示虛假與詭詐之意:耶利米書9:4; 23:14, 32;Ezekiel 13:15-19; 21:29;何西阿書7:1; 12:1;那鴻書3:1;詩篇120:2-3)。
322. In the spiritual meaning, testifying falsely refers to convincing people that a false belief is a true one and an evil life is a good one, and the reverse; but only if these things are done deliberately, not out of ignorance. Doing them deliberately is doing them after we know what truth and goodness are, not before. The Lord says, "If you were blind you would have no sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains" (John 9:41).
This falseness is what is meant in the Word by a lie and this deliberateness is what is meant by deceit in the following passages:
We are striking a pact with death; we are making an agreement with hell. We have put our trust in lying and have hidden ourselves with falsity. (Isaiah 28:15)
They are a people of rebellion, lying children. They do not want to hear the law of Jehovah. (Isaiah 30:9)
Everyone from prophet to priest is acting out a lie. (Jeremiah 8:10)
The inhabitants speak a lie, and as for their tongue, deceit is in their mouths. (Micah 6:12)
You are to destroy those who speak a lie. Jehovah loathes a man of deceit. (Psalms 5:6)
They taught their tongue to tell a lie, to dwell in the midst of their deceit. (Jeremiah 9:5-6)
Because "a lie" means a falsity, the Lord says, "The Devil speaks a lie from his own resources" (John 8:44). A lie also means falsity and deception in the following passages: Jeremiah 9:4; 23:14, 32; ; 21:29; Hosea 7:1; 12:1; Nahum 3:1; Psalms 120:2-3.
322. In the spiritual sense bearing false witness means persuading others that false ideas of faith are true and that evil ways of life are good, and that true ideas are false and good ways are evil. But in both cases it means doing so deliberately, and not out of ignorance; that is, after knowing what truth and goodness are, but not before. For the Lord says:
If you were blind, you would not be committing a sin; but now you say, We see, therefore your sin remains, John 9:41.
This falsity is meant in the Word by 'lie' and this intention by 'deceit', in these passages:
We have struck an agreement with death, we have made a vision with hell. We have turned a lie into trust, and hidden ourselves behind a falsehood, Isaiah 28:15.
A rebellious people are they, lying sons who are unwilling to hear the law of Jehovah, Isaiah 30:9.
From prophet to priest, everyone acts a lie, Jeremiah 8:10.
The inhabitants utter a lie, and as for their tongue, deceit is in their mouth, Micah 6:12.
You will destroy those who utter a lie, Jehovah abominates the man of deceit, Psalms 5:6.
They taught their tongue to utter a lie; their dwelling is in the midst of deceit, Jeremiah 9:5-6.
It is because 'lie' means falsehood that the Lord says that the devil utters a lie of his own (John 8:44). 'A lie' also means falsity and untruth in these places: Jeremiah 23:14, 32; Ezekiel 13:6-9; 21:29; Hosea 7:1; 12:1; Nahum 3:1; Psalms 120:2-3.
322. In the spiritual sense, "bearing false witness" means to persuade that falsity of belief is true belief and evil of life is good of life, and the reverse, doing this from purpose, not from ignorance; that is, doing this after one has learned what is true and good, not before; for the Lord says:
If ye were blind, ye would have no sin; but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth (John 9:41).
In the Word this kind of falsehood is called a "lie" and the intent is called "deceit," as in the following passages:
We have made a covenant with death, and with hell we have made vision, for we have made a lie our trust, and in falsehood have we hid ourselves (Isaiah 28:15).
This is a rebellious people, lying sons, they will not hear the law of Jehovah (Isaiah 30:9).
From the prophet even unto the priest everyone worketh a lie (Jeremiah 8:10).
The inhabitants speak a lie, their tongue is deceitful in their mouth (Micah 6:12).
Thou wilt destroy them that speak a lie; Jehovah abhorreth the man of deceit (Psalms 5:6).
They have taught their tongue to speak a lie; their habitation is in the midst of deceit (Jeremiah 9:5, 6).
Because a "lie" means what is false, the Lord says:
That when the devil speaketh a lie, he speaketh from his own (John 8:44).
("A lie" signifies what is false, and false speaking, in the following places also:Jeremiah 23:14, 32; Ezekiel 13:6-9; 21:29; Hosea 7:1; 12:1; Nahum 3:1; Psalms 120:2, 3).
322. In the spiritual sense, to bear false witness means to persuade people that what is false in faith is true, and that the evil of life is the good of life, and the reverse; but to do this purposely, and not from ignorance, that is, to do so after one knows what is true and good, not before; for the Lord says:
"If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth" John 9:41.
In the Word this kind of falsity is meant by a lie, and falsity from intention is meant by deceit, as in the following passages:
"We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement... we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves" Isaiah 28:15.
"This is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of JEHOVAH" Isaiah 30:9.
"From the prophet even unto the priest every one maketh a lie." (A.V., dealeth falsely). Jeremiah 8:10.
"The inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and as for their tongue, deceit is in their mouth." (A.V., their tongue is deceitful in their mouth). Micah 6:12.
"Thou shalt destroy them that speak a lie." (A.V., leasing): JEHOVAH will abhor... the deceitful man" Psalms 5:6.
"They have taught their tongue to speak a lie... their (A.V., thine) habitation is in the midst of deceit." 1 Jeremiah 9:5-6.
Since falsity is meant by a lie, therefore the Lord says when the devil "speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own" John 8:44.
A lie signifies falsity and false speaking also in these passages:
Jeremiah 23:14, 32; Ezekiel 13:6-9; 21:29; Hosea 7:1; 12:1; Nahum 3:1; Psalms 120:2-3.
Footnotes:
1. habitare illorum in medio doli. Jeremiah 9:15 (A.V. 5-6). Note that in Apocalypse Revealed 624, where this text is quoted, illorum is replaced by tuum, in conformity with the Hebrew text.
322. In SENSU SPIRITUALI per false testari, intelligitur persuadere, quod falsum fidei sit verum fidei, et quod malum vitae sit bonum vitae, et vicissim; sed hoc et illud facere ex proposito, non autem ex ignorantia, ita illa facere postquam scit quid verum et bonum, non autem antea, nam Dominus dicit, Si caeci essetis non haberetis peccatum, jam vero dicitis, quod videmus, ideo peccatum vestrum manet, Johannes 9:41. Hoc Falsum in Verbo intelligitur per Mendacium, et Propositum per Dolum in his locis, Excidimus foedus cum morte, et cum inferno fecimus 1 visionem; posuimus mendacium fiduciam, 2 et in falsitate latuimus, Esaias 28:15. Populus rebellionis illi, filii mendaces, non volunt audire legem Jehovae, Esaias 30:9. A 3 Propheta usque ad Sacerdotem, quivis facit mendacium, Jeremias 8:10. Habitatores loquuntur mendacium, et quoad linguam dolus in ore illorum, Micham 6:12. 4 Perdes loquentes mendacium, virum doli abominatur Jehovah, Psalm 5:7. 5 Docuerunt linguam suam loqui mendacium, habitare illorum in medio doli, Jeremias 9:4-5. 6 Quia per Mendacium intelligitur Falsum, idea Dominus dicit, quod Diabolus loquatur Mendacium ex propriis suis, Johannes 8:44, 7 Mendacium significat falsum, et falsiloquium, etiam in his locis, Jeremias 9:4; 23:14, 32; Ezechiel 13:6-9, 8 21:34, 9 Hoschea 7:1; 12:1; Nahum 3:1, Psalm 120:2-3.
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: facimus.
2. Prima editio: mendacium in fiduciam.
3. Prima editio: a.
4. Prima editio: 5:12.
5. Sic Schmidt et Biblia Hebraica, sed 5:6 apud Biblia Anglica.
6. Sic Schmidt et Biblia Hebraica, sed 9:5-6 apud Biblia Anglica. Prima editio: 9:15.
7. Prima editio: 14.
8. Prima editio: 15-19.
9. Sic Schmidt et Biblia Hebraica, sed 21:29 apud Biblia Anglica. Prima editio: Cap. 21:24.