^19 (A)holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have ^(B)made shipwreck of their faith,

⁹ They must ^(A)hold the mystery of the faith with ^(B)a clear conscience.

^10 (A)Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try ^(B)those who dwell on the earth.

¹⁵ but ^(A)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(B)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ^(C)respect, ^16 (D)having a good conscience, so that, ^(E)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

⁹ He must ^(A)hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in ^(B)sound^[a] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

⁹ But ^(A)those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, ^(B)into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that ^(C)plunge people into ruin and destruction.

⁸ “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you ^(A)an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

False Prophets and Teachers

2 But ^(A)false prophets also arose among the people, ^(B)just as there will be false teachers among you, who will ^(C)secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master ^(D)who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth ^(E)will be blasphemed. ³ And ^(F)in their greed they will exploit you ^(G)with false words. ^(H)Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

⁴ For it is impossible, in the case of those ^(A)who have once been enlightened, who have tasted ^(B)the heavenly gift, and ^(C)have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and ^(D)have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and ^(E)then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since ^(F)they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.