For such menare false apostles,deceitfulworkers,disguisingthemselves as apostlesof Christ.
Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Do not listento the wordsof the prophetswho are prophesyingto you. They are leadingyou into futility;They speaka visionof their own imagination,Not from the mouthof the LORD.
"So do not listento the wordsof the prophetswho speakto you, saying,'You will not servethe kingof Babylon,'for they prophesya lieto you;
"And the one alsowho had receivedthe onetalentcameup and said,'Master,I knewyou to be a hardman,reapingwhereyou did not sowand gatheringwhereyou scatteredno[seed].
Some mencame downfrom Judeaand [began] teachingthe brethren,"Unlessyou are circumcisedaccording to the customof Moses,you cannotbe saved."
"Sincewe have heardthat someof our numberto whomwe gavenoinstructionhave disturbedyou with [their] words,unsettlingyour souls,
and from amongyour own selvesmenwill arise,speakingperverse things,to draw awaythe disciplesafterthem.
For such menare slaves,not of our LordChristbut of their ownappetites;and by their smoothand flattering speechthey deceivethe heartsof the unsuspecting.
Thereforeit is not surprisingifhis servantsalsodisguisethemselves as servantsof righteousness,whoseendwill be accordingto their deeds.
For we are not likemany,peddlingthe wordof God,but as from sincerity,but as from God,we speakin Christin the sightof God.
but we have renouncedthe things hiddenbecause of shame,not walkingin craftinessoradulteratingthe wordof God,but by the manifestationof truthcommendingourselvesto everyman'sconsciencein the sightof God.
whichis [really] not another;onlythere are somewho are disturbingyou and wantto distortthe gospelof Christ.
But [it was] becauseof the false brethrensecretly brought in, who had sneakedin to spyout our libertywhichwe havein ChristJesus,in orderto bring us into bondage.
They eagerlyseekyou, not commendably,but they wishto shutyou out sothat you will seekthem.
Those whodesireto make a good showingin the fleshtry to compelyou to be circumcised,simplysothat they will not be persecutedfor the crossof Christ.
As a result,we are no longerto be children,tossed here and there by wavesand carried aboutby everywindof doctrine,by the trickeryof men,by craftinessin deceitfulscheming;
For manywalk,of whomI oftentoldyou, and nowtellyou evenweeping,[that they are] enemiesof the crossof Christ,
Bewareof the dogs,bewareof the evilworkers,bewareof the false circumcision;
I saythissothat no onewill deludeyou with persuasive argument.
Seeto it that noonetakes you captivethroughphilosophyand emptydeception,accordingto the traditionof men,accordingto the elementary principlesof the world,ratherthanaccordingto Christ.
Children,it is the lasthour;and justas you heardthat antichristis coming,evennowmanyantichristshave appeared;from thiswe knowthat it is the lasthour.
Beloved,do not believeeveryspirit,but testthe spiritsto see whetherthey are from God,becausemanyfalse prophetshave goneout into the world.
For certainpersonshave crept in unnoticed,thosewho were longbeforehand markedout for thiscondemnation,ungodly personswho turnthe graceof our Godinto licentiousnessand denyour onlyMasterand Lord,JesusChrist.
And the beastwas seized,and with him the false prophetwho performedthe signsin his presence,by whichhe deceivedthosewho had receivedthe markof the beastand thosewho worshipedhis image;thesetwowere thrownaliveinto the lakeof firewhich burnswith brimstone.
I knowyour deedsand your toiland perseverance,and that you cannottolerateevil men,and you put to the testthosewho callthemselvesapostles,and they are not, and you foundthem [to be] false;
But I have[this] againstyou, that you toleratethe womanJezebel,who callsherselfa prophetess,and she teachesand leadsMy bond-servantsastrayso that they commit [acts of] immoralityand eatthings sacrificed to idols.
I knowyour tribulationand your poverty(but you are rich),and the blasphemyby thosewho saythey are Jewsand are not, but are a synagogueof Satan.
