Ephesians 4:14

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Cross-reference

Ephesians 6:11 directly mentions the devil's 'schemes' — the same Greek term used in verse 14 for human deceit.

2 Timothy 2:17 describes false teachers spreading like gangrene, exemplifying the destructive deceit warned against.

2 Corinthians 11:3 cites the serpent's cunning deceiving Eve — same danger of being led astray from Christ as the winds of doctrine in Ephesians 4:14.

2 Corinthians 11:4 warns of false teachers preaching a different Jesus, spirit, or gospel — exactly the false doctrine causing instability in Ephesians 4:14.

In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, false apostles disguise themselves as servants of righteousness—a concrete example of the deceitful schemes that make believers unstable.

Galatians 1:6 shows believers quickly deserting to a different gospel — a concrete example of being carried about by false doctrine as in Ephesians 4:14.

Galatians 1:7 reveals false teachers distorting the gospel — the very craftiness and deceit that leads believers astray in Ephesians 4:14.

Galatians 3:1 rebukes the Galatians for being bewitched into false teaching — directly illustrating the being tossed to and fro by deceit in Ephesians 4:14.

2 Thessalonians 2:2-5 describes being deceived about Christ's coming, a specific example of being tossed by false doctrine.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 attributes false signs and wonders to Satan’s activity—revealing the spiritual source behind the deceptive winds of doctrine.

2 Thessalonians 2:10 links deception to refusal to love the truth—showing why some are easily carried about by every wind of false teaching.

1 Timothy 4:7 directly parallels by commanding rejection of silly myths and training in godliness instead of deceit.

Colossians 2:4-8 warns against deceptive philosophy and human traditions, mirroring the instability from cunning deceit in Ephesians.

2 Timothy 2:18 shows teachers swerving from truth and upsetting faith — a concrete case of being tossed by doctrine.

2 Timothy 3:6-9 depicts false teachers creeping into homes and opposing truth, matching the cunning and deception.

2 Timothy 3:13 describes deceivers going from bad to worse, directly paralleling the deceitful scheming in Ephesians.

2 Timothy 4:3 describes people with itching ears turning from sound teaching, the very instability warned against here.

Hebrews 5:12-14 describes believers needing milk, unable to handle solid food — directly paralleling the immaturity and instability warned against in Ephesians 4:14.

Hebrews 13:9 directly warns against being led away by diverse and strange teachings, echoing the call to stability.

2 Peter 2:1-3 details false teachers introducing destructive heresies, the source of the deceptive schemes warned against here.

1 John 2:26 Parallel

1 John 2:26 explicitly mentions those trying to deceive you, directly identifying the deceivers behind the crafty schemes here.

1 John 4:1 Parallel

1 John 4:1 commands testing the spirits because of false prophets, a practical response to the instability warned about here.

Revelation 13:11-14 depicts a beast performing deceptive signs to lead the earth astray—an ultimate fulfillment of the deceitful schemes that cause instability.

2 Corinthians 2:17 describes peddlers of God's word—those who corrupt the gospel for profit, a clear example of the craftiness that leads believers astray.

Matthew 18:3 commands becoming like children (humility), contrasting with Paul's warning against remaining infants (instability).

Matthew 18:4 elevates childlike humility, opposing the immature instability Paul warns against here — a direct contrast on childlikeness.

In Matthew 24:11, false prophets are the source of the 'every wind of doctrine' that tosses believers—showing the perpetrators behind the deceit.

Matthew 24:24 warns false prophets will perform great signs to deceive even the elect, intensifying the danger of being led astray by cunning schemes.

Acts 20:30 Parallel

Acts 20:30 warns of false teachers from within the church drawing disciples away — same danger of being led astray by deceitful schemes as in Ephesians 4:14.

Romans 16:17 instructs avoidance of those causing divisions contrary to sound doctrine — exactly the deceptive schemes that cause instability in Ephesians 4:14.

Romans 16:18 describes deceivers using smooth talk to exploit the naive — mirrors the cunning and craftiness that leads believers astray in Ephesians 4:14.

1 Corinthians 3:1 calls believers 'infants in Christ' — the same term Paul uses here for those still immature and easily deceived.

1 Corinthians 3:2 continues the milk metaphor for immaturity, reinforcing Paul's warning here about not remaining spiritual infants.

1 Corinthians 14:20 urges thinking like adults (mature), not children — directly parallels Paul's call here to no longer be infants tossed by teaching.

2 Corinthians 4:2 renounces cunning and tampering with God's word—the very deceitful schemes that Ephesians warns against, offering the opposite approach.

Deuteronomy 13:6 warns against secret enticement to worship other gods — same theme of hidden deception leading away from true faith.

Deuteronomy 13:3 warns against listening to false prophets who test your love for God — directly parallel to the warning about deceptive doctrine in Ephesians.

Revelation 2:2 commends testing false apostles — the opposite of being gullible and tossed by cunning, showing the maturity Ephesians 4:14 calls for.

Proverbs 14:15 contrasts the simple who believes everything with the prudent who considers — echoing the discernment needed to avoid being tossed by false teaching.

2 Peter 3:17 explicitly warns against being 'carried away' and losing 'stability' — a direct restatement of the instability described in Ephesians 4:14.

2 Peter 2:17 uses storm imagery ('mists driven by a storm') — echoing the 'waves and wind' metaphor for being carried away by false teaching in Ephesians 4:14.

2 Peter 1:16 contrasts 'cleverly devised myths' with apostolic eyewitness testimony — the same human cunning that Ephesians 4:14 warns against.

Jeremiah 29:8 warns against being deceived by false prophets — the very source of the 'wind of doctrine' that tosses believers.

Hebrews 5:13 uses the same 'child' metaphor for spiritual immaturity — this shows why believers are tossed, lacking the discernment of solid food.

Titus 1:10 Parallel

Titus 1:10 identifies the 'empty talkers and deceivers' who cause the instability — these are exactly the cunning teachers that Ephesians 4:14 warns about.

Matthew 7:15 warns of false prophets in sheep's clothing — the very 'cunning and deceitful schemes' that toss believers.

In 2 Timothy 3:8, Jannes and Jambres oppose the truth — same kind of false teachers who use deceit, directly matching the 'craftiness' in Ephesians 4:14.

2 Timothy 3:7 describes people always learning but never knowing truth — the tragic outcome of being carried away by false teachings.

2 Timothy 3:5 warns of those with form of godliness but denying its power — a specific crafty scheme that deceives.

1 Timothy 1:3 commands Timothy to stop false teachers — directly addressing the 'different doctrine' that threatens believers.

Matthew 24:4 is Jesus' warning against being led astray — exactly the danger of being tossed by false teaching.

1 Timothy 4:2 describes liars with seared consciences — the very type of deceitful teachers that lead believers astray.

2 Timothy 3:10 presents Paul's faithful example as the opposite of being tossed — a model of stability against the false teaching described in Ephesians 4:14.

Isaiah 28:9 Allusion

Isaiah 28:9 uses infant milk imagery for those needing basic teaching — similar to the 'infants' here who are easily swayed by false teaching.

In 2 Peter 2:18, false teachers entice with sensual passions—a specific form of deceitful scheming that can toss believers from sound doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:16 exhorts watchfulness over teaching to save oneself and hearers — the remedy for the instability described.

1 Corinthians 12:2 recalls how pagans were led astray to mute idols, illustrating the former state of being carried away.

Ezekiel 13:18 condemns those who hunt souls with deceptive magic — parallel to the crafty schemes that ensnare believers.

1 John 2:19 Parallel

1 John 2:19 shows that those who depart were never truly part of the community, revealing the outcome of being swayed from truth.

Proverbs 19:27 warns that ceasing to hear instruction leads to straying — a cause of the spiritual immaturity described here.

Galatians 2:13 recounts Barnabas being led astray by hypocrisy — a case of the cunning that causes believers to waver.

1 Corinthians 2:15 describes the spiritual person who discerns all things — the opposite of being tossed by every wind of doctrine.

1 Thessalonians 3:5 expresses fear the tempter may have led them astray — a similar concern to being deceived by crafty schemes.