X.

And the apostles, who speak of God,30 θεηγόροι. Codex B gives θεολόγοι. in establishing the truth of the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, have each of them indicated the appearing of these abominable and ruin-working men, and have openly announced their lawless deeds. First of all Peter, the rock of the faith, whom Christ our God called blessed, the teacher of the Church, the first disciple, he who has the keys of the kingdom, has instructed us to this effect: “Know this first, children, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.31 2 Pet. iii. 3. And there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies.”32 2 Pet. ii. 1. After him, John the theologian,33 θεολόγος. and the beloved of Christ, in harmony with him, cries, “The children of the devil are manifest;34 1 John iii. 10. and even now are there many antichrists;35 1 John ii. 18. but go not after them.36 Luke xxi. 8. Believe not every spirit, because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”37 1 John iv. 1. And then Jude, the brother of James, speaks in like manner: “In the last times there shall be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts. There be they who, without fear, feed38 οἱ ἀφόβως ἑαυτοὺς ποιμαίνοντες, instead of the received οἱ ἀποδιορίζοντες ἑαυτούς. themselves.”39 Jude 18, 19. You have observed the concord of the theologians and apostles, and the harmony of their doctrine.