The word apate refers to deceit and deceitfulness. One of the remarkable things about Scripture’s use of this word is that the majority use concerns the deceitfulness of sin, and not deceitfulness as sin. There is of course Christ’s reference to the deceitfulness of riches in His parable. “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful” (Matt. 13:22; cf. Mark 4:19). And in Hebrews, we read this: “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13).
Paul explains to us that our lusts are deceitful, and not just wrong. “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Eph. 4:22). And he lumps vain deceit in with the pursuit of philosophy. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8)
Unrighteousness generally is the same way. “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thess. 2:10)..
“And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you” (2 Pet. 2:13). When people give way to this kind of dissipation, they are not rebelling — they are also telling themselves lies the entire time.