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. ¹⁹ Everyone has heard^(F) about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.^(G)

²⁰ The God of peace^(H) will soon crush^(I) Satan^(J) under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.^(K)

¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise^(A) by the standards of this age,^(B) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(C) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^[a];^{(D) 20} and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^{[b](E) 21} So then, no more boasting about human leaders!^(F) All things are yours,^{(G) 22} whether Paul or Apollos^(H) or Cephas^[c](I) or the world or life or death or the present or the future^(J)—all are yours, ²³ and you are of Christ,^(K) and Christ is of God.

² I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband,^(A) to Christ, so that I might present you^(B) as a pure virgin to him. ³ But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,^(C) your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴ For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached,^(D) or if you receive a different spirit^(E) from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel^(F) from the one you accepted, you put up with it^(G) easily enough.

³ If anyone thinks they are something^(A) when they are not, they deceive themselves.^(B)

5 ¹ Follow God’s example,^(A) therefore, as dearly loved children^{(B) 2} and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us^(C) and gave himself up for us^(D) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(E)

³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,^(F) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,^(G) because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk^(H) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.^{(I) 5} For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater^(J)—has any inheritance^(K) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^{[a](L) 6} Let no one deceive you^(M) with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath^(N) comes on those who are disobedient.^{(O) 7} Therefore do not be partners with them.

⁸ For you were once^(P) darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light^{(Q) 9} (for the fruit^(R) of the light consists in all goodness,^(S) righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord.^{(T) 11} Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,^(U) but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light^(V) becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live^(Z)—not as unwise but as wise,