Christ had foretold that deceivers would arise, through whose influence "iniquity" should "abound," and "the love of many" should "wax cold." Matthew 24:12. He had warned the disciples that the church would be in more danger from this evil than from the persecution of her enemies. Again and again Paul warned the believers against these false teachers. This peril, above all others, they must guard 474 against; for by receiving false teachers, they would open the door to errors by which the enemy would dim the spiritual perceptions and shake the confidence of those newly come to the faith of the gospel. Christ was the standard by which they were to test the doctrines presented. All that was not in harmony with His teachings they were to reject. Christ crucified for sin, Christ risen from the dead, Christ ascended on high--this was the science of salvation that they were to learn and teach.

Kristus havde forudsagt, at der ville fremstå bedragere, ved hvis indflydelse "lovløsheden" skulle "få overhånd." Han havde også sagt, at "kærligheden ville blive kold hos de fleste." Matt. 24,12. Han havde advaret disciplene om, at menigheden havde mere at frygte fra dette onde end fra fjendernes forfølgelse. Atter og atter advarede Paulus de troende mod disse falske lærere. frem for alt måtte de vogte sig for denne dødsfare; thi ved at tage imod falske lærere ville de bane vej for vildfarelser, ved hvilke fjenden ville omtåge åndens erkendelse og svække tilliden hos dem, der nylig var kommet til tro på evangeliet. Kristus var den rettesnor, hvorefter de kunne prøve de forkyndte lærdomme. Alt, hvad der ikke stemte overens med hans lære, burde de forkaste. Kristus, der var korsfæstet for syndens skyld, Kristus, der var opstået fra de døde, Kristus, der var optaget til Himmelen, dette var frelsens visdom, som de selv skulle lære og lære til andre.