A Tree and Its Fruit

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

²⁴ For false Christs and ^(A)false prophets will arise and will ^[a]show great ^[b](B)signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even ^(C)the ^[c]elect.

³ As I urged you ^[a]upon my departure for ^(A)Macedonia, ^[b]remain on at ^(B)Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to ^(C)teach strange doctrines, ⁴ nor to ^[c]pay attention to ^(D)myths and endless ^(E)genealogies, which give rise to mere ^(F)speculation rather than ^(G)furthering ^[d]the administration of God which is by faith. ⁵ But the goal of our ^[e](H)instruction is love ^(I)from a pure heart and a ^(J)good conscience and a sincere ^(K)faith.

Apostasy

4 But ^(A)the Spirit explicitly says that ^(B)in later times some will ^[a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to ^(C)deceitful spirits and ^(D)doctrines of demons,

³ If anyone ^(A)advocates a different doctrine and does not ^[a]agree with ^(B)sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine ^(C)conforming to godliness, ⁴ he is ^(D)conceited and understands nothing; but he ^[b]has a morbid interest in ^(E)controversial questions and ^(F)disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction between ^(G)men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who ^(H)suppose that ^[c]godliness is a means of gain.

“Difficult Times Will Come”

3 But realize this, that ^(A)in the last days difficult times will come. ² For men will be ^(B)lovers of self, ^(C)lovers of money, ^(D)boastful, ^(E)arrogant, ^(F)revilers, ^(G)disobedient to parents, ^(H)ungrateful, ^(I)unholy, ^3 (J)unloving, irreconcilable, ^(K)malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, ^[a](L)haters of good, ^4 (M)treacherous, ^(N)reckless, ^(O)conceited, ^(P)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ holding to a form of ^[b](Q)godliness, although they have ^(R)denied its power; ^(S)Avoid such men as these.

^3 (A)Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the ^[a](B)apostasy comes first, and the ^(C)man of lawlessness is revealed, the ^(D)son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above ^[b](E)every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, ^(F)displaying himself as being God. ⁵ Do you not remember that ^(G)while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? ⁶ And you know ^(H)what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. ⁷ For ^(I)the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only ^(J)he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. ⁸ Then that lawless one ^(K)will be revealed whom the Lord will slay ^(L)with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the ^(M)appearance of His ^[c]coming; ⁹ that is, the one whose ^[d]coming is in accord with the activity of ^(N)Satan, with all power and ^[e](O)signs and false wonders, ¹⁰ and with ^[f]all the deception of wickedness for ^(P)those who perish, because they did not receive the love of ^(Q)the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ For this reason ^(R)God ^[g]will send upon them ^[h]a ^(S)deluding influence so that they will believe ^[i]what is false, ¹² in order that they all may be ^[j]judged who ^(T)did not believe the truth, but ^[k](U)took pleasure in wickedness.

^13 (V)But we should always give thanks to God for you, ^(W)brethren beloved by the Lord, because ^(X)God has chosen you ^[l]from the beginning ^(Y)for salvation ^[m](Z)through sanctification ^[n]by the Spirit and faith in the truth. ¹⁴ It was for this He ^(AA)called you through ^(AB)our gospel, ^[o]that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brethren, ^(AC)stand firm and ^(AD)hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether ^(AE)by word of mouth or ^(AF)by letter ^[p]from us.

^16 (AG)Now may our Lord Jesus Christ ^(AH)Himself and God our Father, who has ^(AI)loved us and given us eternal comfort and ^(AJ)good hope by grace, ^17 (AK)comfort and ^(AL)strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

The Rise of False Prophets

2 But ^(A)false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be ^(B)false teachers ^(C)among you, who will ^(D)secretly introduce ^(E)destructive heresies, even ^(F)denying the ^(G)Master who ^(H)bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

⁸ But even if we, or ^(A)an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel ^[a]contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be ^[b](B)accursed!