²³ Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant ^(A)controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴ And ^(B)the Lord's servant^[a] must not be quarrelsome but ^(C)kind to everyone, ^(D)able to teach, patiently enduring evil, ²⁵ correcting his opponents ^(E)with gentleness. God ^(F)may perhaps grant them repentance ^(G)leading to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from ^(H)the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

¹⁶ But ^(A)avoid ^(B)irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

²¹ Therefore, ^(A)if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,^[a] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ^(B)ready for every good work.

²² So ^(A)flee ^(B)youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with ^(C)those who call on the Lord ^(D)from a pure heart.

²³ Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant ^(A)controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

The Temple of the Living God

^14 (A)Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For ^(B)what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or ^(C)what fellowship has light with darkness? ^15 (D)What accord has Christ with Belial?^[a] Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ^(E)we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

^30 (A)So keep my charge never to practice ^(B)any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: ^(C)I am the Lord your God.”

Warning Against Idolatry

²⁹ “When ^(A)the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, ³⁰ take care ^(B)that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ ^31 (C)You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every ^(D)abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for ^(E)they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.

¹³ For such men are ^(A)false apostles, ^(B)deceitful workmen, ^(C)disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as ^(D)an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as ^(E)servants of righteousness. ^(F)Their end will correspond to their deeds.