²⁹ I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

¹³ For such people are false apostles,^(A) deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny^[a] will be according to their works.^(B)

⁴ This issue arose because of false brothers^(A) smuggled in, who came in secretly to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.

Demonic Influence

4 Now the Spirit^(A) explicitly says that in later times^(B) some will depart from the faith,^(C) paying attention to deceitful spirits^(D) and the teachings of demons,^(E)

³ For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine,^(A) but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.^[a]