¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek ^(A)the fruit that abounds to your account.

¹⁴ And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

¹⁰ For ^(A)God is not unjust to forget ^(B)your work and ^[a]labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ^(C)ministered to the saints, and do minister.

⁹ As it is written:

¹⁰ Now ^[a]may He who ^(B)supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, ^[b]supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your ^(C)righteousness, ¹¹ while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, ^(D)which causes thanksgiving through us to God. ¹² For the administration of this service not only ^(E)supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, ¹³ while, through the proof of this ministry, they ^(F)glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal ^(G)sharing with them and all men,

^8 (A)By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; ^(B)so you will be My disciples.

⁷ For a ^[a]bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, ^(A)not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, ^(A)to be content:

¹² Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a feast, invite ^(A)the poor, the ^[a]maimed, the lame, the blind. ¹⁴ And you will be ^(B)blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

^2 (A)Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, ^(B)not by compulsion but ^[a]willingly, ^(C)not for dishonest gain but eagerly;