Abandonment of Faith

4 But ^(A)the Spirit explicitly says that ^(B)in later times some will ^[a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to ^(C)deceitful spirits and ^(D)teachings of demons, ² by means of the hypocrisy of liars ^(E)seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,

³ For ^(A)the time will come when they will not tolerate ^(B)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, ⁴ and they ^(C)will turn their ears away from the truth and ^(D)will turn aside to myths.

¹³ For such men are ^(A)false apostles, ^(B)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ No wonder, for even ^(C)Satan disguises himself as an ^(D)angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, ^(E)whose end will be according to their deeds.

²⁹ I know that after my departure ^(A)savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing ^(B)the flock; ³⁰ and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away ^(C)the disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of ^(D)three years I did not cease to admonish each one ^(E)with tears.

¹⁸ For such people are ^(A)slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of ^(B)their own ^[a]appetites; and by their ^(C)smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.