Six Schemes of Satan to Guard Against According to St. Paul

“…so that we might not be taken advantage of by Satan, for we are not unaware of his purposes” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

The word for “purposes” comes from the Greeknoema and is usually rendered “device”, “scheme”, or “purpose”. According to St. Paul these “schemes” are well-known. Digging into Paul’s epistles we can uncover six, as well as the strategy he offers for dealing with them.

1. He veils the truth from unbelievers:

And even though our gospel is veiled, it is veiled for those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

2. He infiltrates the Church with false shepherds:

For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, who masquerade as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. So it is not strange that his ministers also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

3. He deceives the faithful with lies as he did Eve:

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted from a sincere [and pure] commitment to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Continued below.
Six Schemes of Satan to Guard Against According to St. Paul