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 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come ^(A)in the last days with scoffing, ^(B)following their own sinful desires.

⁴ For ^(A)certain people ^(B)have crept in unnoticed ^(C)who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert ^(D)the grace of our God into sensuality and ^(E)deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

^10 (A)But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. ¹¹ Woe to them! For they walked in ^(B)the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain ^(C)to Balaam's error and ^(D)perished in Korah's rebellion. ¹² These are hidden reefs^{[a] (E)}at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, ^(F)shepherds feeding themselves; ^(G)waterless clouds, ^(H)swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, ^(I)uprooted;

¹⁶ These are grumblers, malcontents, ^(A)following their own sinful desires; ^(B)they are loud-mouthed boasters, ^(C)showing favoritism to gain advantage.