⁸ Beware lest anyone ^[a]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to ^(A)the tradition of men, according to the ^(B)basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Guard the Faith

²⁰ O Timothy! ^(A)Guard what was committed to your trust, ^(B)avoiding the profane and ^[a]idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

^20 [a]Therefore, if you ^(A)died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, ^(B)why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits^(A)

^15 (B)“Beware of false prophets, ^(C)who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

⁹ But now ^(A)after you have known God, or rather are known by God, ^(B)how is it that you turn again to ^(C)the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

Avoid Worldly Wisdom

^18 (A)Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ^(B)“He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;

²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but ^(A)became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ^22 (B)Professing to be wise, they became fools,

¹⁸ Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has ^[a]not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

³ Even so we, when we were children, ^(A)were in bondage under the elements of the world.