¹⁷ Let the elders ^(A)who rule well be considered worthy of ^(B)double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, ^(C)“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, ^(D)“The laborer deserves his wages.” ¹⁹ Do not admit a charge against an elder except ^(E)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁰ As for those who persist in sin, ^(F)rebuke them in the presence of all, ^(G)so that the rest may stand in fear. ²¹ In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels ^(H)I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, ^(I)doing nothing from partiality. ^22 (J)Do not be hasty in the ^(K)laying on of hands, nor ^(L)take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. ²³ (No longer drink only water, but ^(M)use a little wine ^(N)for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) ²⁴ The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. ²⁵ So also good works are conspicuous, and ^(O)even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

6 ^(P)Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants^[a] regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, ^(Q)so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. ² Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are ^(R)brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

False Teachers and True Contentment

^(S)Teach and urge these things. ³ If anyone ^(T)teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with ^(U)the sound^[b] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching ^(V)that accords with godliness, ^4 (W)he is puffed up with conceit and ^(X)understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for ^(Y)controversy and for ^(Z)quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction among people ^(AA)who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, ^(AB)imagining that godliness is a means of gain. ⁶ But ^(AC)godliness ^(AD)with contentment is great gain, ⁷ for ^(AE)we brought nothing into the world, and^[c] we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸ But ^(AF)if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹ But ^(AG)those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, ^(AH)into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that ^(AI)plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of ^(AJ)all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.