Final Instructions and Greetings

¹⁷ I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles ^(A)contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; ^(B)avoid them. ¹⁸ For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but ^(C)their own appetites,^[a] and ^(D)by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

¹⁰ As for a person who stirs up division, ^(A)after warning him once and then twice, ^(B)have nothing more to do with him,

Divisions in the Church

¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers,^[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no ^(A)divisions among you, but that you be united ^(B)in the same mind and the same judgment. ¹¹ For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is ^(C)quarreling among you, my brothers. ¹² What I mean is that ^(D)each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow ^(E)Apollos,” or “I follow ^(F)Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” ^13 (G)Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you ^(H)baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you except ^(I)Crispus and ^(J)Gaius, ¹⁵ so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.

³ If anyone ^(A)teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with ^(B)the sound^[a] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching ^(C)that accords with godliness, ^4 (D)he is puffed up with conceit and ^(E)understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for ^(F)controversy and for ^(G)quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction among people ^(H)who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, ^(I)imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Warning Concerning Antichrists

¹⁸ Children, ^(A)it is the last hour, and as you have heard that ^(B)antichrist is coming, so now ^(C)many antichrists have come. ^(D)Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

²¹ I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. ²² Who is the liar but ^(A)he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is ^(B)the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

² By this you know the Spirit of God: ^(A)every spirit that confesses that ^(B)Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

⁷ For ^(A)many deceivers ^(B)have gone out into the world, ^(C)those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. ⁸ Watch yourselves, ^(D)so that you may not lose what we^[a] have worked for, but ^(E)may win a full reward. ⁹ Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, ^(F)does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching ^(G)has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, ^(H)do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, ¹¹ for whoever greets him ^(I)takes part in his wicked works.