And many false prophets shall rise
Out of, from among the churches of Christ; at least under the
name of Christians; for false teachers are here meant, men of
heretical principles, pretending to a spirit of prophecy, and to
new revelations, and a better understanding of the Scriptures;
such as Simon Magus, Ebion, and Cerinthus, who denied the proper
deity, and real humanity of Christ; Carpocrates, and the Gnostics
his followers, the Nicolaitans, Hymcneus, Philetus, and others:
and shall deceive many:
as they all of them had their followers, and large numbers of
them, whose faith was subverted by them; and who followed their
pernicious ways, being imposed upon and seduced by their fair
words, specious pretences, and licentious practices.