² Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

⁷ A church leader^[a] is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker,^[b] violent, or dishonest with money.

⁸ In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money.

²⁶ I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault,^{[a] 27} for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.

²⁸ “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood^[b]—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.^[c]

Do What Is Good

3 Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.

³ He must not be a heavy drinker^[a] or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.

⁷ What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk?

³ In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

¹⁵ Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

³¹ You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”