A Warning against Apostasy

1But the Spirit says positively, that in the last times certain ones will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and to the teachings of demons, 2speaking lies in hypocrisy, having been cauterized as to their own conscience, 3forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from meats, which God created for reception with thanksgiving to the faithful and to those perfectly knowing the truth. 4Because every creature of God is good, and nothing rejected, being received with thanksgiving: 5for it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ

6Submitting these things to the brethren, you will be a beautiful minister of Jesus Christ, being nourished by the words of faith, and the beautiful teaching which you have followed; 7but reject the unsanctified and silly stories: but exercise yourself unto godliness. 8For bodily exercise is profitable unto little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. 10For unto this we toil and agonize, because we have hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful.

11Command and teach these things. 12Let no one look with contempt upon your youth; but be you an example of the faithful, in word, in deportment, in divine love, in faith, in purity. 13Until I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift which is in you, which was given unto you through prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15Be diligent in these things; give yourself wholly unto them; in order that your progress may be manifest to all. 16Take heed to yourself and the teaching: continue in these things; for doing this you will indeed save yourself and those who hear you.