You therefore,beloved,knowing this beforehand,be on your guardsothat you are not carried awayby the errorof unprincipled menand fallfrom your ownsteadfastness,
Indeed,it is uselessto spreadthe [baited] netIn the sightof anybird;
"Howis it that you do not understandthat I did not speakto you concerningbread?But bewareof the leavenof the Phariseesand Sadducees."
And Jesussaidto them, "Watchout and bewareof the leavenof the Phariseesand Sadducees."
"Bewareof the false prophets,whocometo you in sheep'sclothing,but inwardlyare ravenouswolves.
"But these thingsI have spokento you, sothat whentheir hourcomes,you may rememberthat I toldyou of them. These thingsI did not sayto you at the beginning,becauseI was with you.
They were continually devoting themselvesto the apostles'teachingand to fellowship,to the breakingof breadand to prayer.
For such menare slaves,not of our LordChristbut of their ownappetites;and by their smoothand flattering speechthey deceivethe heartsof the unsuspecting.
Thereforelet him who thinkshe standstake heedthat he does not fall.
Therefore,my belovedbrethren,be steadfast,immovable,alwaysaboundingin the workof the Lord,knowingthat your toilis not [in] vainin the Lord.
But I am afraidthat, as the serpentdeceivedEveby his craftiness,your mindswill be led astrayfrom the simplicityand purity[of devotion] to Christ.
You have been severedfrom Christ,you whoare seeking to be justifiedby law;you have fallenfrom grace.
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;
Bewareof the dogs,bewareof the evilworkers,bewareof the false circumcision;
For eventhoughI am absentin body,neverthelessI amwith you in spirit,rejoicingto seeyour good disciplineand the stabilityof your faithin Christ.
Seeto it that noonetakes you captivethroughphilosophyand emptydeception,accordingto the traditionof men,accordingto the elementary principlesof the world,ratherthanaccordingto Christ.
Be on guardagainst him yourself,for he vigorouslyopposedour teaching.
For we have becomepartakersof Christ,ifwe hold fastthe beginningof our assurancefirmuntilthe end,
But resisthim, firmin [your] faith,knowingthat the sameexperiencesof sufferingare being accomplishedby your brethrenwho are in the world.
and [if] He rescuedrighteousLot,oppressedby the sensualconductof unprincipled men
Thisis now,beloved,the secondletterI am writingto you in whichI am stirringup your sinceremindby wayof reminder,
Thereforerememberfrom whereyou have fallen,and repentand dothe deedsyou did at first;orelseI am comingto you and will removeyour lampstandout of its place--unlessyou repent.
