Instructions for the Church

5 ^(A)Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, ^(B)younger men as brothers,

^32 (A)“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall ^(B)fear your God: I am the Lord.

⁵ Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. ^(A)Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ^(B)“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

^6 (C)Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

⁶ Likewise, urge ^(A)the younger men to be self-controlled.

² Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, ^(A)sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.

¹⁹ Do not admit a charge against an elder except ^(A)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁰ As for those who persist in sin, ^(B)rebuke them in the presence of all, ^(C)so that the rest may stand in fear.

Shepherd the Flock of God

5 So I exhort the elders among you, ^(A)as a fellow elder and ^(B)a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:

¹⁷ Let the elders ^(A)who rule well be considered worthy of ^(B)double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Bear One Another's Burdens

6 Brothers,^{[a] (A)}if anyone is caught in any transgression, ^(B)you who are spiritual should restore him in ^(C)a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Qualifications for Elders

^5 (A)This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and ^(B)appoint elders in every town as I directed you— ^6 (C)if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,^[a] and his children are believers^[b] and not open to the charge of ^(D)debauchery or insubordination.