⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.^[a](A)

The Guilt of Humankind

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and injustice of those who by their injustice suppress the truth.^(A)

⁴ Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray.^(A)

⁸ Watch out that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental principles^[a] of the world, and not according to Christ.^(A)

Testing the Spirits

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.^(A)

¹⁰ and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^{(A) 11} For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false,^{(B) 12} so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.^(C)

⁶ On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.^[a](A)

⁵ Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray.^(A)

⁷ Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.^{(A) 8} If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.^(B)

² in which you once walked, following the course of this world,^[a] following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.^{[b](A) 3} All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, doing the will of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else,^(B)