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