¹⁸ Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has ^[a]not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

⁸ Beware lest anyone ^[a]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to ^(A)the tradition of men, according to the ^(B)basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Love for God and One Another

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but ^(A)test the spirits, whether they are of God; because ^(B)many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: ^(C)Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

^23 (A)These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and ^[a]neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

⁸ Now I, John, ^[a]saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, ^(A)I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.

⁹ Then he said to me, ^(B)“See that you do not do that. ^[b]For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

The Great Apostasy

4 Now the Spirit ^[a]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed ^(A)to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

Beware of Antichrist Deceivers

⁷ For ^(A)many deceivers have gone out into the world ^(B)who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. ^(C)This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ^8 (D)Look to yourselves, ^(E)that ^[a]we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

^9 (F)Whoever ^[b]transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and ^(G)does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; ¹¹ for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

¹⁴ But if you have ^(A)bitter envy and ^[a]self-seeking in your hearts, ^(B)do not boast and lie against the truth. ^15 (C)This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For ^(D)where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.