Deceiver (5423) (phrenapates from phren = mind + apatáo = lead astray, deceive) is literally "a mind deceiver" or one who leads one's mind astray! Instead of leading men to the truth they led them away from it. The deliberately cause someone to believe something that is not true. They cause others to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. In the church, deceivers disguise themselves as believers and as teachers of truth. They typically disguise their deceit in ''Biblese'' language, for they are familiar with all the Christian buzz words. Paul wrote to Timothy that "evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2Ti 3:13-note) Unfortunately these men have seldom had difficulty attracting an audience. In Paul's last known communication, he warned Timothy that the time would come when men would “not endure sound doctrine but wanting to have their ears tickled, they (would) accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and (would) turn away their ears from the truth, and (would) turn aside to myths.” (see note 2 Timothy 4:3; 4:4). In his first epistle to Timothy Paul warned that "in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons." (1Ti 4:1). ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE CIRCUMCISION: malista hoi ek peritomes: (Acts 15:1; 15:24; Gal 1:6, 7, 8; Gal 2:4; 3:1; 4:17, 18, 19, 21; 5:1; 5:2, 5:3, 5:4; Php 3:2; 3) especially those with Jewish connections (NET) of the circumcision group (NIV) this is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation (NLT) I am talking mostly about those who say that all non-Jews must be circumcised (ICB) particularly those who have come over from Judaism (Moffatt)