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Connecting Statement:
Paul gives one last warning to the believers about unity and living for God.
brothers
Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.
to think about
"to watch out for"
who are causing the divisions and stumbling
This refers to those who argue and cause others to stop trusting in Jesus. AT: "who are causing believers to argue with one another and to stop having faith in God" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)
They are going beyond the teaching that you have learned
"They teach things that do not agree with the truth you have already learned"
Turn away from them
"Turn away" here is an metaphor for "refuse to listen." AT: "Do not listen to them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
but their own stomach
The words "they serve" are understood from the previous phrase. This can be expressed as a separate sentence. AT: "Rather, they serve their own stomach" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis)
but their own stomach
Here "stomach" is a metonym that refers to physical desires. Serving there stomach represents satisfying their desires. AT: "but they only want to satisfy their own selfish desires" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
By their smooth and flattering speech
The words "smooth" and "flattering" mean basically the same thing. Paul is emphasizing how these people are deceiving believers. AT: "By saying things that seem to be good and true" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet)
they deceive the hearts of the innocent
Here "hearts" is a metonym for a person's mind or inner being. AT: "they deceive the innocent believers" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)
innocent
This refers to those who are simple, inexperienced, and naive. AT: "those who innocently trust them" or "those who do not know these teachers are fooling them"