Is Truth the standard for preaching in your church?
And is honesty concerning Christ a measure of your hospitality and love of other believers?
Walking in Truth and Love
Now that you are separated to holiness by the risen Jesus Christ,who must a saint believe?
NOT every Rabbi — not every Bishop, any Priest or supposed Prophet; not every emotional pastor or passing spirit-led performance; not the powerful preacher of visionary change.
Many would mislead you.
TheElder of Ephesus and nearby church gatherings of saints in first century Asia Minor had already heard of or encountered many false teachers and their heretical teachings concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
At the time of his final epistle (most likely in the A.D. 90’s), John is the only remaining Apostle. John’s Apostolic authority is unquestionable, as is the Elder’s dedication in witness of the Way, the Truth and the Life of Christ.
Jesus said to him [the Apostle Thomas],
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 ESV
John’s witness of the Truth of Christ Jesus becomes immediately evident in this — the Apostle’s final letter.
III John
The elder
πρεσβύτερος - presbyteros - elder
to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brothers came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.
3 John 1:2-3 NKJV
Γάϊος – Gaius
The Elder receives a letter from his dear friend [agapētos] Gaius responding positively that indeed John hopes to visit these believers personally soon after his response arrives.
Gaius is a common Greek name and he could be:
a Macedonian delegate from Derbe who earlier had accompanied Paul to Jerusalem [Acts 20:4] or
a Corinthian, one of two men baptized by Paul and/or
later, Paul’s host (the Elder or Bishop of Thessalonica) [Acts 18:7]
or possibly yet another Gaius with this common name
Referring to those Gaius leads in his local church John rejoices:
I have no greater joy than these things that I hear of my children walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4 – Darby Translation
Friendship Worthy of God
The Apostles Peter, Paul and others had been executed for their faith some twenty years ago in Rome. Many more Christians were constantly martyred in since then throughout the Empire.
The recipient of the Elder’s final epistle recognizes the witness of his hospitality to these evangelists — many who might soon die in witness to the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Now (sometime around the year of our Lord 90-95), John commends the faithful boldness of his dear (and probably long-time) friend Gaius.
Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church.You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.
3 John 1:5-7 ESV
The Elder is essentially putting his Apostolic seal of approval on the witness of these beloved, specific evangelists (missionaries).
Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
3 John 1:8
DO NOT MISS the lasting long relationship of more than twenty years between the Elder John and Elders of other churches throughout the Roman Empire.
I have written something to the church…
.. but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.
3 John 1:9 NKJV
This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words.
And he is not satisfied with that!
He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
3 Epistle of John 1:10 CSB
The Elder has an enemy opposed to Apostolic doctrine and authority.
True saints of Christ will recognize such evil gate-keepers of false faith as an antichrist! And John intends to correct their growing heresy in person with his beloved true Christian friend Gaius.
Yield to Good but Not Evil
Here the Apostle measures this heretical behavior of Diotrephes, who stands against the true gospel of Christ. John advises his faithful friend with this Apostolic standard:
Beloved [agapētos] follow not that which is evil [kakos ], but that which is good.
3 John 1:11a KJV
Before we go forward with John's Apostolic rule, let's make certain that WE the saints of the Church understand both GOOD and EVIL.
κακός, κακῇ, κακόν, the Sept. for רָע (from Homer down), bad (A. V. (almost uniformly) evil);
(morally, i. e.) of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting; base, wrong, wicked: of persons,
universally, of a bad nature; not such as it ought to be.
John applies this to this wicked gate-keeper of his hometown church, comparing his own standard of judging who belongs in the Church and who does not to the true hospitality of of the Truth of Christ as the Shepherd of flocks, with the Apostles of Jesus as true witness of the Gospel and teachings of our Lord.
A previous warning concurrently in circulation
Although the later canon of Scripture places Revelation after this epistle (and that of Jude), some historical scholarship suggests that the Apocalypse of John may have been written prior to this brief letter — the Elder’s third epistle. Perhaps you might recognize a type of Diotrephes in the message to the angel of Ephesus:
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
“and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake [that of the risen Lord Jesus Christ] and have not become weary.
a primary word; “good” (in any sense, often as noun):—benefit, good(-s, things), well.
This comparison between evil and good by the Lord Jesus calls believers to faithfulness imitating God our Father in heaven.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Gospel of Matthew 7:11 NKJV
John in his gospel also quotes Jesus concerning good.
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voiceand come out,
those who have done good to the resurrection of life,
and those who have done evil [φαῦλος phaûlos, “foul” or “flawy”, i.e. (figuratively) wicked:—evil]
to the resurrection of judgment.
Gospel of John 5:26-29 ESV, with a definition of evil
Deciding between Friends
John writes to a mutual brother faithful to the Lord Jesus and the teaching of the Apostles. But how does the Elder (and Apostle) advise his dear friend to lead?
Short answer: enroll a second brother in the Lord known to be true to the truth of the Gospel.
Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.
3 John 1:12 NIV
John writes briefly with all the Authorithy of Apostolic leading of the Church. He enlists allies grounded in truth. And most of all John emphasizes that he and others must confront this controversy in person (lest it get out of hand at the leading of this wicked so-called christian).
I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
The beloved Elder closes his final Apostolic Epistle with a seemingly common word of distant greeting; but it is indeed a peace that we do not understand and practice too little as the saints saved by the risen Christ Jesus.
is between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord; the Messiah’s peace, the way that leads to peace (salvation); the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is; the blessed state of devout and upright men after death — as well as: a state of national tranquillity; exemption from the rage and havoc of war
Do the saints of your church struggle with this?
The Ephesians, to whom John writes did!
And the Elder adds a call to reciprocal love as well:
Our friends [Philos] salute you.
Most certainly John would recall the words of Jesus from more than sixty years ago — again and again in correspondence as well as personal encounters with his fellow believers…
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.G5384 Ye are my friends,G5384 if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Gospel of John 15:13-14 KJV
.. I have called you friends;G5384 for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Gospel of John 15:15b – the words of JESUS to His Apostles
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
John 15:17
Philos, friend, obeys Christ’s commands of love and truth. Our salutation to each other is that of love and peace.
Greet the friends by name. Again, a mutual and personal greeting between beloved friends, this translation of ‘greet’ using the same Greek word as ‘salute.’
Certainly those receiving the Elder’s third epistle looked forward to Johns upcoming personal visit, God-willing. From the Apostle’s very lips they will receive the truth of Christ and follow The Way prescribed by John and the Apostles of JESUS.
Would your church welcome the Elder IF the Apostle John and his friends were coming to challenge an errant teacher or preacher of your local gathering?
It was a tragic punishment of the Jews to be exiled, it would become a tragic consequence for a church which would later abandon truth for control in a medieval world.
He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth.
I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth.
Gospel of John 19:35; Third Epistle of John 1:4 CSB
Today we are going to READ the New Testament’s shortest letter. It is written by the beloved Apostle John near the end of the first century A.D.
Once you have read it, we will then take a look at WHY the Elder wrote it and how to heed John’s warnings to those joined to Christ’s Church.
2 John
The ELDER,
unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; for the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments.
This is the commandment That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine,receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
John writes a brief note of less than 300 words in the common Greek of the first century Roman Empire on a single piece of papyrus sometime near the year of our Lord ninety-five (A.D. 90-95) in lieu of a personal visit the aging Apostle intends.
It appears that the great purpose of II John was to warn the believers not to give indiscriminate hospitality to strangers or traveling evangelist-teachers. Those who did not meet the sure test of sound doctrine were to be refused hastily.
King James Bible commentary 2-3 John p.1763
He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
– 2 John v.9
The URGENT WARNING of this last living Apostle of Jesus Christ is both clear and relevant to leaders of the Church up to this day.
The Second Epistle of John cautions against hospitality or the receiving of heretics.
As the Apostle emphasized in his earlier letter to the Church, the mystical approach of some antichrists, namely Gnostics, opposed the truth of Scripture and the incarnation of God in the Person of JESUS Christ, His suffering and crucifixion and especially the Lord’s resurrection IN THE BODY and ascension into heaven until Jesus’ return at the last day.
The Elder’s purpose in writing is to urge the faithful to REJECT false gospels, false philosophies cloaked in christian garments and especially to send away FALSE teachers.
Theologians may debate a small point of who ‘the elect lady’ is.
The “elect lady and her children,” addressed in verse 1, are taken by most interpreters to mean a church and her members.
There is.. deep concern for truth (vv. 4-6) and the warning against false doctrine (7-11) are there as in all John’s writings.
Authorized King James Version intro 2 JOHN
Lady (Gr kyria) is the same word as “Lord” in the New Testament, except that it is feminine here (and in vs. 5) and refers not to a literal “lady” but to the “congregation” or “church’ in a figurative sense.
King James Bible Commentary into 2 JOHN
“The children of thy elect sister greet thee” ( 2Jo 1:13 ).
the word “Church” comes from a Greek word (kyriake) cognate to the Greek for “lady” (kyria; “belonging to the Lord,” kyrios)
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Introduction to 2 John
John, an elder or bishop of churches would in person certainly apply his warning to the body of believers as a whole and especially to any pastor, host or hostess of a home church.
House Churches
Some theologians would point out that many early churches were ‘house churches’ and that the “lady” and “her children” may well have been an actual unnamed woman (such as John will name an addressee of his third and final epistle to “Gaius.”
Since inns in the first century were notoriously flea-infested and rapacious, where would a Christian stay while traveling? The answer was in the home of another Christian.
KJ Bible Commentary ibid.
I had to look up this definition and it is culturally worth noting for Christians of the first century or 21st. Some synonyms for Rapacious - greedy, insatiable, gluttonous, materialistic selfish, devouring, savage, preying... Get the idea?
So some theologians believe that John wrote to warn a woman hosting a house church against welcoming such heretical predators, let alone let any teaching of such men or women be heard by the saints she welcomes into her home for worship.
Think of these as evangelists of the antichrist. John also calls them antichrists. The danger of false teaching became so prevalent that by the second century AD other Elders (Bishops) wrote about them.
Elder Successors to John
Without digging into early writings of the early church, note one well-documented warning from the 2nd century AD.
Irenaeus of Lyons, born in Asia Minor ~AD 125 and ‘mentioned as a hearer of Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, who in turn was traditionally associated with the Apostle John’ writes a major theological book:
“Against Heresies” (Adversus Haereses), composed around AD 180.
He systematically refuted Gnostic teachings, which challenged the reliability of Scripture and the nature of Christ’s Incarnation. By reinforcing the unity of God as Creator, as well as the integral unity of Scripture, Irenaeus defended fundamental Christian doctrines, including the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
Christians (especially women) can be ‘too nice’ — we’ve all witnessed that. But the Elder John and others caution against it (until the true character of one is tested).
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA (A.D. 192) [Miscellanies, 2.66].. says, “John’s Second Epistle which was written to the virgins (Greek, “parthenous”; perhaps Parthos is what was meant) is the simplest; but it was written to a certain Babylonian named the Elect lady.”
John MacArthur also suggests that John writes to an individual lady and that the whole purpose of the Elder’s brief epistle is focused on truth.
Truth
John writes of her and her children (whether specific individuals or all those of a house church he plans to visit):
“whom I love in the truth” —agapaōen alētheia—
.. but also all they that have known the truth;
Pretty inclusive of true believers already established as part of her household of saints separated to Christ.
for the truth’s sake… — again, alētheia
AND then John adds to his greeting:
which abides in us [NKJV] or
which lives in us [NIV and others]
because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever. [CSB]
2 John 1:2
Is the Apostle reminding here of the Holy Spirit whom we may consult in our discernment of truth — ἀλήθεια – alētheia?
A reminder from John's introduction in his Gospel:
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 LSB
MacArthur’s commentary outlines this brief second epistle of John as follows:
The Basis of Christian Hospitality
vs 1-3, with truth mentioned 4X
The Behavior of Christian Hospitality
vs 4-6, with truth mentioned in v.4
The Bounds of Christian Hospitality
vs 7-11, with a test of truth in v. 9
The Blessings of Christian Hospitality
vs. 12-13, the Elder will come to her in person
Recognizing that all the readers of his letter faced and always would face a world of lies and deceit, he wrote to call them to live in God’s truth… John reveals four features of living in the truth: the truth unites, indwells, blesses and controls believers.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.
1 John 5:1 ESV
MacArthur applies the Apostle’s test specifically to John’s second letter.
John’s statement encapsulates the main theme of this brief epistle, that truth must always govern the exercise of love. Christians’ deep, mutual affection flows out of their shared commitment to the truth.
ibid. p.217
John emphasized Christ’s identity as God’s Son because the false teachers were denying that truth.
ibid. p. 220
MANY deceivers have gone out into the world.
WATCH YOURSELVES!
2 John v.7a,8a
Do you, beloved lady of this 21st century of the common era, imagine that anything in the life of a Christian has changed one iota?
The word apostasy is rarely found in the Eng. Bible.. But the reality expressed by the word is found frequently. Israel’s history was one of continual apostasy as the people deliberately turned away form the God who had redeemed them out of Egypt, and followed false gods and sinful ways… In the NT apostasy occurs when men turn aside from following Jesus and deny Him after having previously confessed Him as Lord.
The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, p.216
Why is the Apostle Paul so concerned for some small misleading by men within the church?
How do some teachers oppose the true worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
Who are they?
But Mark This:
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
perhaps from G5465 through the idea of reducing the strength; difficult, i.e. dangerous, or (by implication) furious:—fierce, perilous.
The Apostle Paul continues in his second epistle to pastors, beginning a central section we label, 2 TIMOTHY 3, with a reminder of danger announced in the NIV, “But mark this: ..”
Paul’s WARNING from his previous epistle
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will [aphistēmi] fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by the hypocrisy of liars, who have been seared in their own conscience, ..
1 Timothy 4:1-2 LSB
The great enemy of God is not Nation or Ruler who turns upon God’s people from without, but the strong-speaking leader weakening the Lord’s elect from within.
The Apostle has already cautioned in his second epistle to beware of men like Jannes and Jambres who betrayed Moses. Now Paul reminds Timothy and others of his personal example to them from the time he first witnessed to them.
You, however, know all about my teaching,
my way of life,
my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—
Second pastoral Epistle of Paul to Timothy 3:10-11a NIV
And Paul then outlines some life-threatening events many of them witnessed which proved his faith through several persecutions and many injuries suffered:
—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured.
The last days — eschatos hēmera, difficult times — chalepos kairos...
kai toutous apotrepō – from such turn away.
Avoid such people!
YES, they may be prominent members, even Elders, leaders, priests or pastors in Christ’s church where you worship.
They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.
2 Timothy 3:5 New English Translation
Knowing What You Know
The Apostle compares his own life to a different life promised by false teachers.
(For these are only the beginning of the last days before Christ’s return).
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 NIV
So how does a pastor like Timothy, or Elder, or simply a humble saint know who to believe?
Questions for a Common Era christian church
Have any priestly men of your parrish repented of the calf replaced by idols of a woman worshiped?
Did episkopois above bishops elevate hagios long passed as ancient intercessors worshiped?
Do spotlights illuminate your idols on stage for a multitude little different than what Moses witnessed on descent from Sinai?
Does your vaulting cathedral show wooden pillars of pastoral vision as the calf gathering those led by Jannes and Jambres into the worship of a new King?
Has worldly refreshment replaced Scripture in the house of the Lord?
Is the Christ of true Scripture rejected in place of some other calf-like JESUS proclaimed king without taking up a Cross?
But they won’t get away with this for long.
Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.
2 Timothy 3:9 NLT
Recognizing Apostasy from Scripture
As mentioned earlier we will not find the word “apostasy” frequently in the Bible, but Scripture reveals apostate acts of turning against God and Christ throughout.
Follow the meaning and connection of some of these related root words from both the Greek and Hebrew of the Bible:
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it has not come unless the [apostasia] apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the sanctuary of God, exhibiting himself as being God.
Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians 2:2-3 LSB – regarding letters from false teachers
ἀποστασία apostasía, ap-os-tas-ee'-ah; feminine of the same as G647; defection from truth
And they said, “Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE G647 [apostasion] AND [apolyō] SEND her AWAY.”
But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote for you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE…”
Gospel of Mark 10:4-6 LSB
ἀποστάσιον apostásion, ap-os-tas'-ee-on; neuter of a (presumed) adjective from a derivative of G868; properly, something separative, i.e. (specially) divorce:—(writing of) divorcement.
“And those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, and these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fallG868awayG868.
Gospel of Luke 8:13 LSB — Strong’s G868 – aphistēmi – to remove, i.e. (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.:—depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self.
LXX – Septuagint – O.T. translations from the Greek
Old Testament
The Septuagint, often abbreviated as LXX, is the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, traditionally said to have been translated by seventy or seventy-two Jewish scholars in the 3rd century BC.
The translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek was necessitated by the dispersion of the Jewish people throughout the Hellenistic world, particularly in Egypt, where many Jews had lost their Hebrew language skills.
The Septuagint holds particular significance in early Christianity, as it was the version of the Old Testament most frequently quoted by the New Testament authors.
The use of the Septuagint by the early Church Fathers further solidified its role in Christian theology and exegesis.
Strong’s Number G868 matches the Greek ἀφίστημι (aphistēmi), which occurs 150 times in 138 verses in the LXX Greek.
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
Exodus 23:7 KJV
For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
Deuteronomy 7:4 KJV
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.
2 Kings 15: (4X)
Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
Psalm 6;8
Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
- Isaiah 33:14-15 KJV
more Apostasy from the Hebrew Bible [O.T.]
Various Hebrew words could be translated into English as ‘apostasy.’
If you read more books of the Prophets, such as Isaiah {above}, you will see their turning against God repeatedly.
Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.
The entire book of Hosea essentially outlines the faithlessness of God’s ‘chosen people.’
Historical Context [8th century B.C.]: Hosea’s prophetic career spanned the reigns of several kings of Israel, including Jeroboam II, and possibly extended into the early years of the Assyrian conquest. This period was marked by political instability, social injustice, and rampant idolatry. The Northern Kingdom was prosperous but spiritually bankrupt, having turned away from Yahweh to worship Baal and other Canaanite deities.
source: BibleHub.com
.. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.
Hosea 1:2a KJV
Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
Hosea 4:15
For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind:
it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
Hosea 8:7-8
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt…
And my people are bent to backsliding [mᵊšûḇâ – מְשׁוּבָה ] from me:
though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.
Hosea 11:1,7 KJV
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
I will heal their apostasy [mᵊšûḇâ]; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.
Hosea 14:1,4 KJV
live a godly life in Christ Jesus
But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.
But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.
