¹³ For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.^(A)

² “I know your works, your toil and your endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them to be false.^(A)

² Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!^[a](A)

⁴ But because of false brothers and sisters secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us^(A)—

⁷ not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.^(A)

Testing the Spirits

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.^(A)

¹⁵ So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds.^(A)

³⁰ Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them.

²⁰ And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the brand of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

⁸ Watch out that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental principles^[a] of the world, and not according to Christ.^(A)