For I am afraid that perhaps, when I come, I may find that you are not what I want you to be, and, on the other hand, that you may find that I am what you do not want me to be. I am afraid that I may find quarreling, jealousy, ill-feeling, rivalry, slandering, back-biting, self-assertion, and disorder.

Idolatry, sorcery, quarrels, strife, jealousy, outbursts of passion, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

You, however, must now lay aside all such things--anger, passion, malice, slander, abuse.

Shun foolish and ignorant discussions, for you know that they only breed quarrels;

For a Presiding-Officer, as God's steward, ought to be a man of irreproachable character; not self-willed or quick-tempered, nor addicted to drink or to brawling or to questionable money-making.

Mark this, my dear Brothers--Let every one be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry;

But, while you harbor envy and bitterness and a spirit of rivalry in your hearts, do not boast or lie to the detriment of the Truth.

What is the cause of the fighting and quarreling that goes on among you? Is not it to be found in the desires which are always at war within you?

Clamour

When they heard this, the men were greatly enraged, and began shouting--"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

The whole city was stirred, and the people quickly collected, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple, when the doors were immediately shut.

Up to this point the people had been listening to Paul, but at these words they called out: "Kill him! A fellow like this ought not to have been allowed to live!"

not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money;

is puffed up with conceit, not really knowing anything, but having a morbid craving for discussions and arguments. Such things only give rise to envy, quarreling, recriminations, base suspicions,

Evil speaking

They reveled in every form of wickedness, evil, greed, vice. Their lives were full of envy, murder, quarreling, treachery, malice.

It should be the same with the women. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects.

And not only that, but they learn to be idle as they go about from house to house. Nor are they merely idle, but they also become gossips and busy-bodies, and talk of what they ought not.

incapable of affection, merciless, slanderous, wanting in self-control, brutal, careless of the right,

So, too, that the older women should be reverent in their demeanor, and that they should avoid scandal, and beware of becoming slaves to drink;

to be forbearing, and under all circumstances to show a gentle spirit in dealing with others, whoever they may be.

Do not disparage one another, Brothers. He who disparages his Brother, or passes judgment on his Brother, disparages the Law and passes judgment on the Law. But, if you pass judgment on the Law, you are not obeying it, but judging it.

Now that you have done with all malice, all deceitfulness, insincerity, jealous feelings, and all back-biting,

especially those who, following the promptings of their lower nature, indulge their polluting passions and despise all control. Audacious and self-willed, they feel no awe of the Mighty, maligning them,

Yet in the very same way these men, too, cherishing vain dreams, pollute our human nature, reject control, and malign the Mighty.

And I heard a loud voice in Heaven which said-- 'Now has begun the day of the Salvation, and Power, and Dominion of our God, and the Rule of his Christ; for the Accuser of our Brothers has been hurled down, he who has been accusing them before our God day and night.

With

They reveled in every form of wickedness, evil, greed, vice. Their lives were full of envy, murder, quarreling, treachery, malice.

Therefore let us keep our festival, not with the leaven of former days, nor with the leaven of vice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Brothers, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves men.

You, however, must now lay aside all such things--anger, passion, malice, slander, abuse.

There was, you remember, a time when we ourselves were foolish, disobedient, misled, slaves to all kinds of passions and vices, living in a spirit of malice and envy, detested ourselves and hating one another.

We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the Evil One and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? It was because his life was bad while his brother's was good.

General references

Learn to be merciful--even as your Father is merciful.

Dear friends, since God loved us thus, we, surely, ought to love one another.