¹⁶ But shun profane and ^[a]idle babblings, for they will ^[b]increase to more ungodliness.

Avoid Dissension

⁹ But ^(A)avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

Guard the Faith

²⁰ O Timothy! ^(A)Guard what was committed to your trust, ^(B)avoiding the profane and ^[a]idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—

⁷ For ^(A)the ^[a]mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^[b]He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, ^(B)whom the Lord will consume ^(C)with the breath of His mouth and destroy ^(D)with the brightness of His coming.

¹⁴ not giving heed to Jewish fables and ^(A)commandments of men who turn from the truth.

Ephraim’s Sins Rebuked by God

¹⁰ Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have ^[a]transgressed and ^[b]have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel.

³ And I saw one of his heads ^(A)as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And ^(B)all the world marveled and followed the beast.

Deceptions of False Teachers

¹⁸ For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who ^[a]have actually escaped from those who live in error.