Remind your people of this, and give them a solemn warning in God's presence not to fight over words. It does no good, but only ruins the people who listen.

But keep away from those godless legends, which are not worth telling. Keep yourself in training for a godly life.

Timothy, keep safe what has been entrusted to your care. Avoid the profane talk and foolish arguments of what some people wrongly call "Knowledge."

and no longer hold on to Jewish legends and to human commandments which come from people who have rejected the truth.

But avoid stupid arguments, long lists of ancestors, quarrels, and fights about the Law. They are useless and worthless.

and evil persons and impostors will keep on going from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.

Ezra the priest stood up and spoke to them. He said, "You have been faithless and have brought guilt on Israel by marrying foreign women.

Everything that the people of Israel do from morning to night is useless and destructive. Treachery and acts of violence increase among them. They make treaties with Assyria and do business with Egypt."

It is not right for you to be proud! You know the saying, "A little bit of yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise."

Do not be fooled. "Bad companions ruin good character."

The Mysterious Wickedness is already at work, but what is going to happen will not happen until the one who holds it back is taken out of the way.

Then the Wicked One will be revealed, but when the Lord Jesus comes, he will kill him with the breath from his mouth and destroy him with his dazzling presence.

It is necessary to stop their talk, because they are upsetting whole families by teaching what they should not, and all for the shameful purpose of making money.

Guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison.

Even so, many will follow their immoral ways; and because of what they do, others will speak evil of the Way of truth.

They make proud and stupid statements, and use immoral bodily lusts to trap those who are just beginning to escape from among people who live in error.

One of the heads of the beast seemed to have been fatally wounded, but the wound had healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast.

And it deceived all the people living on earth by means of the miracles which it was allowed to perform in the presence of the first beast. The beast told them to build an image in honor of the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived.