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.

A Tree and Its Fruit

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

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.

13 “If a prophet or ^(A)a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, ² and ^(B)the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ ³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God ^(C)is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

³ And ^(A)in their greed they will exploit you ^(B)with false words. ^(C)Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

^3 (A)For the time is coming when people will not endure ^(B)sound^[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

¹¹ And many ^(A)false prophets will arise ^(B)and lead many astray.

^4 (A)Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who ^(B)slipped in to spy out ^(C)our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, ^(D)so that they might bring us into slavery—

¹⁹ for ^(A)there must be factions among you in order ^(B)that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.