Honoring the Elders

¹⁷ The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor,^[a] especially those who work hard^(A) at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,^[b](B) and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”^(C)

¹⁹ Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.^{(D) 20} Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid. ²¹ I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe^(E) these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. ²² Don’t be too quick to appoint^[c](F) anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.^{(G) 23} Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. ²⁴ Some people’s sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment,^(H) but the sins of others surface^[d] later. ²⁵ Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.

Honoring Masters

6 All who are under the yoke as slaves should regard their own masters^[e] as worthy of all respect, so that God’s name^(I) and his teaching will not be blasphemed. ² Let those who have believing masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but serve them even better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.^[f](J)

False Doctrine and Human Greed

Teach and encourage these things.

⁴ “Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain.^(A)

⁴ Let each person examine his own work,^(A) and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. ⁵ For each person will have to carry his own load.

⁶ Let the one who is taught the word share^(B) all his good things with the teacher. ⁷ Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, ⁸ because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit^(C) will reap eternal life^(D) from the Spirit. ⁹ Let us not get tired^(E) of doing good,^(F) for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work^(G) for the good^(H) of all, especially for those who belong to the household^(I) of faith.^(J)

⁷ Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.^{(A) 8} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.^{(B) 9} Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.^{(C) 10} We have an altar from which those who worship at the tabernacle do not have a right to eat.^{(D) 11} For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest^(E) as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.^{(F) 12} Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate,^(G) so that he might sanctify^[a] the people by his own blood. ¹³ Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing his disgrace.^{(H) 14} For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come.^{(I) 15} Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.^{(J) 16} Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.^{(K) 17} Obey your leaders^[b] and submit to them, since they keep watch^(L) over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.