As Paul rounds out his letter with considerations for his fellow workers in Christ, he gives one more appeal to reason. This is that believers should stay away from those who preach false and contrary doctrine. We must remember that the context of the previous thought was an appeal to cohesiveness amongst the body of Christ. There he begged believers to not separate over something like food. He urged us to make allowances for minor differences of conviction. Here Paul cements his meaning by making it clear that this freedom does not extend to those who violate clear and established teaching. His reason is simple. Those people are not seeking to glorify God in their convictions. Rather, they seek to satiate their own desires. This is couched between a list of glowing endorsements. Today’s Christians seem unprepared to make the same statements about doctrines or believers. We seem distinctly worried about endorsing the people, less something in their past or some hidden information arise. Here we see clearly that Paul’s endorsement is always predicated on apparent purpose and stated doctrine. This is where his endorsement lies. We ought to have the same boldness and premise about who we follow and of whom we stear clear.