The Ministry of the Apostles

4 Think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.^(A)

¹⁰ Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.^(A)

⁷ For a bishop,^[a] as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain,^(A)

⁹ they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

⁵ For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’s sake.^(A)

²⁵ I became its minister according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,^{(A) 26} the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints.^{(B) 27} To them God chose to make known how great among the gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.^(C)

¹⁹ Pray also for me, so that when I speak a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,^[a](A)

² I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ,^[a](A)

¹⁶ If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this of my own will, I have a wage, but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.^{(A) 18} What then is my wage? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

Final Doxology

²⁵ Now to God^[a] who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages^(A)