1. As there were false prophets in the past history of our people, so you too will have your false teachers, who will insinuate their own disruptive views and, by disowning the Lord who bought them freedom, will bring upon themselves speedy destruction.

2. Many will copy their debauched behaviour, and the Way of Truth will be brought into disrepute on their account.

3. In their greed they will try to make a profit out of you with untrue tales. But the judgement made upon them long ago is not idle, and the destruction awaiting them is for ever on the watch.

4. When angels sinned, God did not spare them: he sent them down into the underworld and consigned them to the dark abyss to be held there until the Judgement.

5. He did not spare the world in ancient times: he saved only Noah, the preacher of uprightness, along with seven others, when he sent the Flood over a world of sinners.

6. He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by reducing them to ashes as a warning to future sinners;

7. but rescued Lot, an upright man who had been sickened by the debauched way in which these vile people behaved-

8. for that upright man, living among them, was outraged in his upright soul by the crimes that he saw and heard every day.

9. All this shows that the Lord is well able to rescue the good from their trials, and hold the wicked for their punishment until the Day of Judgement,

10. especially those who follow the desires of their corrupt human nature and have no respect for the Lord's authority. Such self-willed people with no reverence are not afraid of offending against the glorious ones,