A Tree and Its Fruit

^15 (A)“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ^(B)ravenous wolves.

Test the Spirits

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

False Prophets and Teachers

2 But ^(A)false prophets also arose among the people, ^(B)just as there will be false teachers among you, who will ^(C)secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master ^(D)who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth ^(E)will be blasphemed. ³ And ^(F)in their greed they will exploit you ^(G)with false words. ^(H)Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

¹¹ And many ^(A)false prophets will arise ^(B)and lead many astray.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by ^(A)philosophy and ^(B)empty deceit, according to ^(C)human tradition, according to the ^(D)elemental spirits^[a] of the world, and not according to Christ.

²⁹ I ^(A)know that after my departure ^(B)fierce wolves will come in among you, ^(C)not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and ^(D)from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore ^(E)be alert, remembering that ^(F)for three years I did not cease night or day ^(G)to admonish every one ^(H)with tears.

13 “If a prophet or ^(A)a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, ² and ^(B)the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ ³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God ^(C)is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

^22 (A)For false christs and false prophets will arise and ^(B)perform signs and wonders, ^(C)to lead astray, if possible, ^(D)the elect. ²³ But ^(E)be on guard; ^(F)I have told you all things beforehand.

²⁰ And the beast was captured, and with it ^(A)the false prophet ^(B)who in its presence^[a] had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who ^(C)worshiped its image. These two were ^(D)thrown alive into the lake of ^(E)fire that burns with sulfur.