False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 But there were also false prophets^(A) among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.^(B) They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord^(C) who bought them^(D)—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience^(A) means salvation,^(B) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.^{(C) 16} He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable^(D) people distort,^(E) as they do the other Scriptures,^(F) to their own destruction.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard^(G) so that you may not be carried away by the error^(H) of the lawless^(I) and fall from your secure position.^{(J) 18} But grow in the grace^(K) and knowledge^(L) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(M) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.^(N)

True and False Prophets

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets.^(A) They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.^(B)

¹² And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. ¹³ For such people are false apostles,^(A) deceitful^(B) workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.^{(C) 14} And no wonder, for Satan^(D) himself masquerades as an angel of light.