Then after breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the others do?" "Why, Lord," he said, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," said Jesus.

Now, all over Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria, the church enjoyed peace; it was consolidated, inspired by reverence for the Lord and by its invocation of the holy Spirit, and so increased in numbers.

When he came and saw the grace of God he rejoiced, and encouraged them all to hold by the Lord with heartfelt purpose

strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to hold by the faith, and telling them that "we have to get into the Realm of God through many a trouble."

Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you guardians; shepherd the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his own blood.

Personally I am quite certain, my brothers, that even as it is you have ample goodness of heart, you are filled with knowledge of every kind, and you are well able to give advice to one another.

Each receives his manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

As these great promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates either flesh or spirit; let us be fully consecrated by reverence for God].

I am sure it is, and so I know I shall remain alive and serve you all by forwarding your progress and fostering the joy of your faith.

Not that I have already attained this or am already perfect, but I press forward to appropriate it, because I have been appropriated myself by Christ Jesus.

This is the Christ we proclaim; we train everyone and teach everyone the full scope of this knowledge, in order to set everyone before God mature in Christ;

Encourage one another, therefore, and let each edify the other ??as indeed you are doing.

Let us pass on then to what is mature, leaving elementary Christian doctrine behind, instead of laying the foundation over again with repentance from dead works, with faith in God,

Obey your leaders, submit to them; for they are alive to the interests of your souls, as men who will have to account for their trust. Let their work be a joy to them and not a grief ??which would be a loss to yourselves.

The work

Judas did enter our number, he did get his allotted share of this our ministry.

But then, I set no value on my own life as compared with the joy of finishing my course and fulfilling the commission I received from the Lord Jesus to attest the gospel of the grace of God.

if it is practical service, let us mind our service; the teacher must mind his teaching,

This is how you are to look upon us, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's secret truths.

surely the administration of the Spirit must be invested with still greater glory.

Hence, as I hold this ministry by God's mercy to me, I never lose heart in it;

It is all the doing of the God who has reconciled me to himself through Christ and has permitted me to be a minister of his reconciliation.

I put no obstacle in the path of any, so that my ministry may not be discredited;

And tell Archippus, 'Attend to the ministry you have received in the Lord; see that you fulfil it.'

I render thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has made me able for this; he considered me trustworthy and appointed me to the ministry,

Whatever happens, be self-possessed, flinch from no suffering, do your work as an evangelist, and discharge all your duties as a minister.

The edifying

as the entire Body is welded together and compacted by every joint with which it is supplied, the due activity of each part enables the Body to grow and build itself up in love.

Peace, then, and the building up of each other, these are what we must aim at.

Each of us must please his neighbour, doing him good by building up his faith.

He who speaks in a 'tongue' edifies himself, whereas he who prophesies edifies the church.

You think all this time I am defending myself to you? No, I am speaking in Christ before the presence of God, and speaking every word, beloved, in order to build you up.

Encourage one another, therefore, and let each edify the other ??as indeed you are doing.

The body

For there is one Body and one Spirit ??as you were called for the one hope that belongs to your call ??5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

the church which is his Body, filled by him who fills the universe entirely.

I am suffering now on your behalf, but I rejoice in that; I would make up the full sum of all that Christ has to suffer in my person on behalf of the church, his Body;

General references

they will not follow a stranger, they will run from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."

Each receives his manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

never disdain prophetic revelations