2 Timothy 2:14-26

New International Version

Dealing With False Teachers

¹⁴Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words;^(A) it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. ¹⁵Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.^(B) ¹⁶Avoid godless chatter,^(C) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ¹⁷Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus^(D) and Philetus, ¹⁸who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,^(E) and they destroy the faith of some.^(F) ¹⁹Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,^(G) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”^(H) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord^(I) must turn away from wickedness.”

²⁰In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.^(J) ²¹Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.^(K)

²²Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love^(L) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord^(M) out of a pure heart.^(N) ²³Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.^(O) ²⁴And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.^(P) ²⁵Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,^(Q) ²⁶and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,^(R) who has taken them captive to do his will.

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Romans 8:4-6

New International Version

⁴in order that the righteous requirement^(A) of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.^(B)

⁵Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;^(C) but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.^(D) ⁶The mind governed by the flesh is death,^(E) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life^(F) and peace.

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Proverbs 2:5-20

New International Version

⁵then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.^(A)
⁶For the Lord gives wisdom;^(B)
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.^(C)
⁷He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield^(D) to those whose walk is blameless,^(E)
⁸for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.^(F)

⁹Then you will understand^(G) what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
¹⁰For wisdom will enter your heart,^(H)
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.^(I)

¹²Wisdom will save^(J) you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
¹³who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,^(K)
¹⁴who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,^(L)
¹⁵whose paths are crooked^(M)
    and who are devious in their ways.^(N)

¹⁶Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,^(O)
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
¹⁷who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.^[a]^(P)
¹⁸Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.^(Q)
¹⁹None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.^(R)