Seeto it that noonetakes you captivethroughphilosophyand emptydeception,accordingto the traditionof men,accordingto the elementary principlesof the world,ratherthanaccordingto Christ.
OTimothy,guardwhat has been entrustedto you, avoidingworldly[and] empty chatter[and] the opposing argumentsof what is falsely called"knowledge"--
Let no onedeceiveyou with emptywords,for becauseof these thingsthe wrathof Godcomesupon the sonsof disobedience.
"Bewareof the false prophets,whocometo you in sheep'sclothing,but inwardlyare ravenouswolves.
But nowthat you have come to knowGod,orratherto be knownby God,howis it that you turn backagainto the weakand worthlesselemental things,to whichyou desireto be enslavedall overagain?
Ifyou have diedwith Christto the elementary principlesof the world,why,as ifyou were livingin the world,do you submit yourself to decrees,such as,
But evilmenand impostorswill proceed[from bad] to worse,deceivingand being deceived.
"For thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,Do not let your prophetswhoare in your midstand your divinersdeceiveyou, and do not listento the dreamswhichthey dream.
You therefore,beloved,knowing this beforehand,be on your guardsothat you are not carried awayby the errorof unprincipled menand fallfrom your ownsteadfastness,
Do not be carried awayby variedand strangeteachings;for it is goodfor the heartto be strengthenedby grace,not by foods,throughwhichthosewho were so occupiedwere not benefited.
Watchyourselves,that you do not losewhatwe have accomplished,but that you may receivea fullreward.
Soalsowe, whilewe were children,were held in bondageunderthe elemental thingsof the world.
[We are] destroyingspeculationsand everylofty thingraisedup againstthe knowledgeof God,and [we are] takingeverythoughtcaptiveto the obedienceof Christ,
Let no onekeep defrauding you of your prizeby delightingin self-abasementand the worshipof the angels,taking his standon [visions] he has seen,inflatedwithout causeby his fleshlymind,
knowingthat you were not redeemedwith perishable thingslike silverorgoldfrom your futileway of lifeinherited from your forefathers,
NowI urgeyou, brethren,keep your eyeon thosewho causedissensionsand hindrancescontraryto the teachingwhichyou learned,and turn awayfrom them.
But you did not learnChristin this way,
and I was advancingin Judaismbeyondmanyof my contemporariesamongmy countrymen,beingmore extremelyzealousfor my ancestraltraditions.
Bewareof the dogs,bewareof the evilworkers,bewareof the false circumcision;
then watchyourself, that you do not forgetthe LORDwhobroughtyou from the landof Egypt,out of the houseof slavery.
And Jesussaidto them, "Watchout and bewareof the leavenof the Phariseesand Sadducees."
"But bewareof men,for they will handyou over to [the] courtsand scourgeyou in their synagogues;
(whichall[refer] [to] things destined to perishwith use)--in accordancewith the commandmentsand teachingsof men?
in whichyou formerlywalkedaccordingto the courseof thisworld,accordingto the princeof the powerof the air,of the spiritthat is nowworkingin the sonsof disobedience.
And alsosomeof the Epicureanand Stoicphilosopherswere conversingwith him. Somewere saying,"Whatwould thisidle babblerwishto say?"Others,"He seemsto be a proclaimerof strangedeities,"--becausehe was preachingJesusand the resurrection.
Nowwhen they heardof the resurrectionof the dead,some[began] to sneer,but otherssaid,"We shall hearyou againconcerningthis."
"Catchthe foxesfor us, The littlefoxesthat are ruiningthe vineyards,While our vineyardsare in blossom."
But take carethat thislibertyof yoursdoes not somehowbecomea stumbling blockto the weak.
Thereforelet him who thinkshe standstake heedthat he does not fall.
But ifyou biteand devouroneanother,take carethat you are not consumedby one another.
Theseare matterswhichhave,to be sure,the appearanceof wisdomin self-made religionand self-abasementand severe treatmentof the body,[but are] of novalueagainstfleshlyindulgence.
Take care,brethren,that there not be in any oneof you an evil,unbelievingheartthat falls awayfrom the livingGod.
