Diotrephes and Demetrius

⁹ I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not welcome us.

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) 8} but he must be hospitable,^[b] a lover of goodness, self-controlled, upright, devout, and restrained, ⁹ holding tightly to the trustworthy word of the teaching, so that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to refute those who contradict it.

¹⁰ There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision;^{(B) 11} they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach.^{(C) 12} It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said,

¹³ That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith,^{(D) 14} not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth.^{(E) 15} To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corrupted.^{(F) 16} They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions; they are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.^(G)

The Dispute about Greatness

²⁴ A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest.^{(A) 25} But he said to them, “The kings of the gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.^{(B) 26} But not so with you; rather, the greatest among you must become like the youngest and the leader like one who serves.^{(C) 27} For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.^(D)

⁴⁸ and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the least among all of you is the greatest.”^(A)

³⁴ But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.^(A)

⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,^[a] and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.^{(A) 5} They do all their deeds to be seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.^{(B) 6} They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues^{(C) 7} and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them rabbi. ⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.^(D)

Rewards

⁴⁰ “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.^{(A) 41} Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, ⁴² and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”^(B)

⁸ Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become coworkers with the truth.

³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.^{(A) 4} Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.^{(B) 5} Let the same mind be in you that was^[a] in Christ Jesus,^(C)