14 Then we will no longer be infants,(A) tossed back and forth by the waves,(B) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.(C)

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14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

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Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.(A) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened(B) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,(C) which is of no benefit to those who do so.(D)

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Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

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17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.(A) Keep away from them.(B) 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ,(C) but their own appetites.(D) By smooth talk and flattery they deceive(E) the minds of naive people.

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17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

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20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.(A) In regard to evil be infants,(B) but in your thinking be adults.

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20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

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On Denying the Incarnation

Dear friends,(A) do not believe every spirit,(B) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.(C)

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Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

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12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths(A) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!(B) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,(C) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature,(D) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.(E)

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12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

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17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.(A) On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity,(B) as those sent from God.(C)

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17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

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But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,(A) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

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But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

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I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.(A) For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit(B) and delight to see how disciplined(C) you are and how firm(D) your faith in Christ(E) is.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,(F) continue to live your lives in him, rooted(G) and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,(H) and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,(I) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world(J) rather than on Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:8 Or the basic principles; also in verse 20

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

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11 Put on the full armor of God,(A) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

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11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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False Teachers and Their Destruction

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. Many will follow their depraved conduct(E) and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed(F) these teachers will exploit you(G) with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

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But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

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If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith(A) and of the good teaching that you have followed.(B) Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;(C) rather, train yourself to be godly.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 4:6 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

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24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders(A) to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

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24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

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