False Prophets and Teachers

1 But ^mfalse prophets also arose among the people, ⁿjust as there will be false teachers among you, who will ^osecretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master ^pwho bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth ^qwill be blasphemed. 3 And ^rin their greed they will exploit you ^swith false words. ^tTheir condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

1 “If a prophet or ^qa dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and ^rthe sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God ^sis testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall ^twalk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and ^uhold fast to him. 5 But ^vthat prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. ^wSo you shall purge the evil¹ from your midst.