Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.^(A)

¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy^(A) when the body of elders^(B) laid their hands on you.^(C)

¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,^(A) as faithful^(B) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.^(C) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,^(D) so that in all things God may be praised^(E) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(F)

⁶ We have different gifts,^(A) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^(B) then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith;^{(C) 7} if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;^{(D) 8} if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;^(E) if it is giving, then give generously;^(F) if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit.^(A)

² Preach^(A) the word;^(B) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke^(C) and encourage^(D)—with great patience and careful instruction.

The Day of the Lord

3 Dear friends,^(A) this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders^(B) to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

Prophecy of Scripture

¹² So I will always remind you of these things,^(A) even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth^(B) you now have.

¹⁵ To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,^[a] each according to his ability.^(A) Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶ The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. ¹⁷ So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. ¹⁸ But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.^{(B) 20} The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

²¹ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.^(C) Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²² “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

²³ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.^(D) Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²⁴ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

²⁶ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷ Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

²⁸ “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. ²⁹ For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.^{(E) 30} And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’^(F)