Honor the Elders

¹⁷ Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

^17 (A)Obey those who ^[a]rule over you, and be submissive, for ^(B)they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Various Exhortations

¹² And we urge you, brethren, ^(A)to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and ^[a]admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. ^(B)Be at peace among yourselves.

Be Generous and Do Good

^6 (A)Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

Concluding Religious Directions

⁷ Remember those who ^[a]rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

²⁹ Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;

^8 (A)he who exhorts, in exhortation; ^(B)he who gives, with liberality; ^(C)he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, ^(D)with cheerfulness.

^7 (A)And remain in the same house, ^(B)eating and drinking such things as they give, for ^(C)the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.

⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.

⁵ Do we have no right to take along ^[a]a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, ^(A)the brothers of the Lord, and ^(B)Cephas? ⁶ Or is it only Barnabas and I ^(C)who have no right to refrain from working? ⁷ Who ever ^(D)goes to war at his own expense? Who ^(E)plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who ^(F)tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

⁸ Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? ⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, ^(G)“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? ¹⁰ Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that ^(H)he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. ^11 (I)If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? ¹² If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?