^28 (A)Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit ^(B)has made you overseers, to shepherd the church ^[a]of God ^(C)which He purchased ^(D)with His own blood. ²⁹ For I know this, that after my departure ^(E)savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Also ^(F)from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking ^[b]perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. ³¹ Therefore watch, and remember that ^(G)for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

⁹ holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

The Elders’ Task

¹⁰ For there are many insubordinate, both idle ^(A)talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, ^(B)for the sake of dishonest gain. ^12 (C)One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This testimony is true. ^(D)Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴ not giving heed to Jewish fables and ^(E)commandments of men who turn from the truth. ^15 (F)To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to ^(G)know God, but ^(H)in works they deny Him, being ^[a]abominable, disobedient, ^(I)and disqualified for every good work.

¹¹ And have ^(A)no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather ^[a]expose them.

Contend for the Faith

³ Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you ^(A)concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting ^(B)you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. ⁴ For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord ^[a]God and our Lord Jesus Christ.