15 Bible Verses about Ministers

"You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden. People don't light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people in such a way that they will see your good actions and glorify your Father in heaven."

You will help them understand and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan's control to God, so that their sins will be forgiven and they will receive a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

For people keep telling us what kind of welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve a living and true God

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the pointless discussions and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge.

and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These things promote controversies rather than God's ongoing purpose, which involves faith.

Now it is required of servant managers that each one should prove to be trustworthy.

What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.

"You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden.

That man John was a lamp that burns and brightly shines, and for a while you were willing to rejoice in his light.

Hold them in the highest regard, loving them because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown to us, we do not get discouraged.

I have become a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power.

However, you must remain firmly established and steadfast in the faith, without being moved from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

who has also qualified us to be ministers of a new covenant, which is not written but spiritual, because the written text brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

For the sake of this gospel I was appointed to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the gentiles.

Indeed, this is why the gospel was proclaimed even to those who have died, so that they could be judged in their mortal flesh like all humans and live in the spiritual realm like God.

He continued to preach about the kingdom of God and to teach boldly and freely about the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.

Then his disciples went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the signs that accompanied it.

About this time, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Judean wilderness,

Then I saw another angel flying overhead with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on earth to every nation, tribe, language, and people.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. It was Satan's messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited.

So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died that evening. The next morning, I did as I had been commanded.

We are hungry, thirsty, dressed in rags, brutally treated, and homeless, right up to the present.

in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger;

Are they the Messiah's servants? I am insane to talk like this, but I am a far better one! I have been involved in far greater efforts, far more imprisonments, countless beatings, and have faced death more than once.

So be alert! Remember that for three years, night and day, I never stopped tearfully warning each of you.

So, even though I wrote to you, it wasn't because of the man who did the wrong or because of the man who was hurt. Instead, I wrote to you so that your devotion to us might be made perfectly clear to you before God.

Besides everything else, I have a daily burden because of my anxiety about all the churches.

I am afraid that I may come and somehow find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct.

I am afraid for you! I don't want my work for you to have been wasted!

Her leaders judge for the money, her priests teach only when they're paid, and her prophets prophesy for cash. Even so, don't they all rely on the LORD as they ask, "The LORD is among us, is he not? Nothing bad can possibly happen to us!'

"Indeed, from the least important to the most important, they're all greedy for dishonest gain. From prophet to priest, they all act deceitfully.

His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge. They are all dumb dogs they cannot bark. They keep on dreaming and lying around, and they're lovers of sleep!

Indeed, both priest and prophet are ungodly. Even in my house I find evil," declares the LORD.

Your prophets look on your behalf; they see false and deceptive visions. They did not expose your sins in order to restore what had been captured. Instead, they crafted oracles for you that are false and misleading.

They were greatly disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people and announcing that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead.

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to preach the Messiah to the people.

Then Philip began to speak, and, starting from this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus.

He immediately started to preach about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "This is the Son of God."

He has sent his word to the descendants of Israel and brought them the good news of peace through Jesus the Messiah. This man is the Lord of everyone.

They were greatly disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people and announcing that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead.

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to preach the Messiah to the people.

Then Philip began to speak, and, starting from this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus.

He immediately started to preach about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "This is the Son of God."

He has sent his word to the descendants of Israel and brought them the good news of peace through Jesus the Messiah. This man is the Lord of everyone.

They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you.

Do not ordain anyone hastily. Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

For this reason, I am reminding you to fan into flames the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands.

Now Nun's son Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had placed his hands on him, so Israelis listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.

Those who manifest wisdom will shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever.

For God is not so unjust as to forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have ministered to the saints and continue to minister to them.

Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that the work that you do for the Lord isn't wasted.

But the one who looks at the perfect law of freedom and remains committed to it thereby demonstrating that he is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of what that law requires will be blessed in what he does.

I tell all of you with certainty, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to the Messiah will never lose his reward."

Then he told them, "As you go into the entire world, proclaim the gospel to everyone.

What I tell you in darkness you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered in your ear you must shout from the housetops.

As you go, make this announcement: "The kingdom from heaven is near!'

to proclaim the message. Be ready to do this whether or not the time is convenient. Refute, warn, and encourage with the utmost patience when you teach.

But he told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Then he told them, "As you go into the entire world, proclaim the gospel to everyone.

What I tell you in darkness you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered in your ear you must shout from the housetops.

As you go, make this announcement: "The kingdom from heaven is near!'

to proclaim the message. Be ready to do this whether or not the time is convenient. Refute, warn, and encourage with the utmost patience when you teach.

But he told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out grain," and, "A worker deserves his pay."

or a traveling bag for the trip, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or a walking stick, because a worker deserves his food.

In the same way, the Lord has ordered that those who proclaim the gospel should make their living from the gospel.

The person who is taught the word should share all his goods with his teacher.

Nevertheless, it was kind of you to share my troubles.

For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out grain," and, "A worker deserves his pay."

or a traveling bag for the trip, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or a walking stick, because a worker deserves his food.

In the same way, the Lord has ordered that those who proclaim the gospel should make their living from the gospel.

The person who is taught the word should share all his goods with his teacher.

Nevertheless, it was kind of you to share my troubles.

She must be well known for her good actions as a woman who has raised children, welcomed strangers, washed the saints' feet, helped the suffering, and devoted herself to doing good in every way.

Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable.

Supply the needs of the saints. Extend hospitality to strangers.

Instead, he must be hospitable to strangers, must appreciate what is good, and be sensible, honest, moral, and self-controlled.

Stop neglecting to show hospitality to strangers, for by showing hospitality some have had angels as their guests without being aware of it.

Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to be shepherds of God's church, which he acquired with his own blood.

Jesus told him, "Take care of my sheep." He asked him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was deeply hurt that he had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" So he told him, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!"

I'll give you shepherds after my own heart, and they'll shepherd you with knowledge and good sense."

""Then I'll install one shepherd for them my servant David and he will feed them, will be there for them, and will serve as their shepherd.

I'll raise up shepherds over them, and they'll shepherd them. My flock will no longer be afraid or terrified, and none will be missing," declares the LORD.

Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to be shepherds of God's church, which he acquired with his own blood.

Jesus told him, "Take care of my sheep." He asked him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was deeply hurt that he had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" So he told him, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!"

I'll give you shepherds after my own heart, and they'll shepherd you with knowledge and good sense."

""Then I'll install one shepherd for them my servant David and he will feed them, will be there for them, and will serve as their shepherd.

I'll raise up shepherds over them, and they'll shepherd them. My flock will no longer be afraid or terrified, and none will be missing," declares the LORD.

At least we are not commercializing God's word like so many others. Instead, we speak with sincerity in the Messiah's name, like people who are sent from God and are accountable to God.

As you know, we did not come with flattering words or with a scheme to make money. God is our witness!

Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not use trickery or pervert God's word. By clear statements of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience before God.

For our appeal to you does not spring from deceit, impure motives, or trickery.

teaching them to obey everything that I've commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age."

Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable.

Moreover, those who have believing masters should be respectful to them, because they are fellow believers. In fact, they must serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dear to them. These are the things you must teach and exhort.

These are the things you must insist on and teach.

and gentle when refuting opponents. After all, maybe God will allow them to repent and to come to a full knowledge of the truth,

teaching them to obey everything that I've commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age."

Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable.

Moreover, those who have believing masters should be respectful to them, because they are fellow believers. In fact, they must serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dear to them. These are the things you must teach and exhort.

These are the things you must insist on and teach.

and gentle when refuting opponents. After all, maybe God will allow them to repent and to come to a full knowledge of the truth,

Continue to follow and be submissive to your leaders, since they are watching over your souls as those who will have to give a word of explanation. By doing this, you will be letting them carry out their duties joyfully, and not with grief, for that would be harmful for you.

If that sentinel notices that violence is approaching, but does not sound an alarm, then because the nation does not take warning and the sword arrives and destroys their lives because of their guilt, I'll seek retribution for their shed blood from the one who was acting as sentinel.'"

Then he told me, "Son of Man, eat! Eat what you see this scroll and then go talk to the house of Israel." So I opened my mouth and he fed me the scroll. Then he told me, "Son of Man, fill your stomach and digest this scroll that I'm giving you." So I ate it, and it was like sweet honey in my mouth. read more.
Then he told me, "Son of Man, go to the house of Israel and tell them what I have to say to them, because you're not going to a people whose speech you cannot understand or whose language is difficult to speak. Instead, you're going to the house of Israel. This isn't a large group of people whose speech is unintelligible to you or whose language is difficult for you to comprehend. Frankly, if I had sent you to that kind of people, they would certainly have listened to you! But the house of Israel won't listen to you, since they weren't willing to listen to me. That's because the entire house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted. So pay attention! I'm going to make you just as obstinate and unyielding as they are. I'm making you harder than flint like diamond! So you are not to fear them or be intimidated by how they look at you, since they're a rebellious group." Next, he told me, "Son of Man, take to heart every word that I'm telling you. Listen carefully, then go immediately to the exiles; that is, to your people's descendants, and tell them, "This is what the Lord GOD says"' whether they listen or not." Then the Spirit lifted me up and I heard a great earthquake behind me and the glory of the LORD arose from his place, accompanied by the sound of the wings of the living creatures gently touching each other and with the sound of the wheels emanating from the front, accompanied by a great earthquake. Then the Spirit lifted me up and carried me away. I went bitterly with an angry attitude as the hand of the LORD rested on me. I came to the exiles at Tel-abib by the Chebar River and sat down among them for seven days, appalled. At the end of the seven days, this message from the LORD came to me: "Son of Man," he said, "I've appointed you to be a watchman over the house of Israel. Therefore when you hear a message that comes from me, you are to warn them for me.

To some people we are a deadly fragrance, while to others we are a living fragrance. Who is qualified for this?

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more severely than others.

Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the victor's crown of glory that will never fade away.

If what a person has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

I tell all of you with certainty, he will put him in charge of all his property.

For if I preach voluntarily, I get a reward, but if I am unwilling to do it, I am still entrusted with that obligation. What, then, is my reward? It is to be able to preach the gospel free of charge, and so I never resort to demanding my rights when I'm preaching the gospel.

So joyfully welcome him in the Lord and make sure you honor such people highly,

Elders who handle their duties well should be considered worthy of double compensation, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God's word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith.

Hold them in the highest regard, loving them because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

Join together in imitating me, brothers, and pay close attention to those who live by the example we have set for you.

It is not as though we did not have that right, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness, and purity.

Do not lord it over the people entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.

as you also help us by your prayers for us. Then many people will thank God on our behalf because of the favor shown us through the prayers of many.

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

Pray also for me, so that, when I begin to speak, the right words will come to me. Then I will boldly make known the secret of the gospel,

Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and by the love that the Spirit produces, to join me in my struggle, earnestly praying to God for me

We cared so deeply for you that we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but our very lives. That is how dear you were to us.

For it is only right for me to think this way about all of you, because you're constantly on my mind. Both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, all of you are partners with me in this privilege.

You know very well that we treated each of you the way a father treats his children.

For the Messiah did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom, so the cross of the Messiah won't be emptied of its power.

My message and my preaching were not accompanied by clever, wise words, but by a display of the Spirit's power,

When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come and tell you about God's secret with rhetorical language or wisdom.

Continue to follow and be submissive to your leaders, since they are watching over your souls as those who will have to give a word of explanation. By doing this, you will be letting them carry out their duties joyfully, and not with grief, for that would be harmful for you.

"Upon your walls, Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; all day and all night they won't remain silent. You who make mention of the LORD, take no rest,

"Son of Man," he said, "I've appointed you to be a watchman over the house of Israel. Therefore when you hear a message that comes from me, you are to warn them for me.

I appointed watchmen over you. Listen for the sound of the trumpet. But they said, "We won't listen!'

I thank my God every time I remember you,

I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given you by the Messiah Jesus.

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we have in God's presence because of you?

So joyfully welcome him in the Lord and make sure you honor such people highly,

Elders who handle their duties well should be considered worthy of double compensation, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

Hold them in the highest regard, loving them because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

The person who is taught the word should share all his goods with his teacher.

Hezekiah also directed the people who lived in Jerusalem to give what was due to the priests and descendants of Levi, so they could be strengthened in the LORD's Law.

Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its grapes? Or who takes care of a flock and does not drink any of its milk? I am not saying this on human authority, am I? The Law says the same thing, doesn't it? For in the Law of Moses it is written, "You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." God is not only concerned about oxen, is he? read more.
Isn't he really speaking for our benefit? Yes, this was written for our benefit, because the one who plows should plow in hope, and the one who threshes should thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you?

Be shepherds of God's flock that is among you, watching over it, not because you must but because you want to, and not greedily but eagerly, as God desires.

Ministers, too, must be serious. They must not be two-faced, addicted to wine, or greedy for money.

I never desired anyone's silver, gold, or clothes.

He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or love money.

Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to be shepherds of God's church, which he acquired with his own blood.

I'll give you shepherds after my own heart, and they'll shepherd you with knowledge and good sense."

Be shepherds of God's flock that is among you, watching over it, not because you must but because you want to, and not greedily but eagerly, as God desires.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Peter told him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus told him, "Feed my lambs." Then he asked him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter told him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus told him, "Take care of my sheep." He asked him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was deeply hurt that he had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" So he told him, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!"

After all, who is our hope, joy, or reason for rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? It is you, isn't it?

But Timothy has just now returned from visiting you and has told us the good news about your faith and love. He also told us that you always have fond memories of us and want to see us, just as we want to see you. That's why, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you by your faith. For now we can go on living, as long as you continue to stand firm in the Lord. read more.
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we have in God's presence because of you?

"Shout aloud! Don't hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Declare to my people their rebellions, and to the house of Jacob their sins.

"Now as for you, Son of Man, never be afraid of them or of anything they have to say, because being with them will be like settling down to live among briers, thorn bushes, and scorpions! Don't be afraid of anything they have to say, and don't be awed by their appearance, since they are a rebellious group.

What I tell you in darkness you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered in your ear you must shout from the housetops. Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but can't kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

We do not put an obstacle in anyone's way. Otherwise, fault may be found with our ministry.

Don't become a stumbling block to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, just as I myself try to please everybody in every way. I don't look out for my own benefit, but rather for the benefit of many people, so that they might be saved.

Now I'm ready to visit you for a third time, and I will not bother you for help. I do not want your things, but rather you yourselves. Children should not have to support their parents, but parents their children.

We did not seek praise from people from you or from anyone else

Brothers, you remember our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not become a burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you.

What, then, is my reward? It is to be able to preach the gospel free of charge, and so I never resort to demanding my rights when I'm preaching the gospel.

They are to be holy to their God. They are not to defile the name of their God, because they're the ones who bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire the food of their God so they are to be holy.

"You are to make a medallion of pure gold, and engrave on it "Holy to the LORD,' like the engravings of a signet.

Instead, he must be hospitable to strangers, must appreciate what is good, and be sensible, honest, moral, and self-controlled.

So if I boast a little too much about our authority, which the Lord gave us to build you up and not to tear you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

For this reason I am writing this while I am away from you: When I come I do not want to be severe in using the authority the Lord gave me to build you up and not to tear you down.

So if I boast a little too much about our authority, which the Lord gave us to build you up and not to tear you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

For this reason I am writing this while I am away from you: When I come I do not want to be severe in using the authority the Lord gave me to build you up and not to tear you down.

Indeed, the more your faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love for us increase, the more we want you to be rich in this work of kindness.

But Timothy has just now returned from visiting you and has told us the good news about your faith and love. He also told us that you always have fond memories of us and want to see us, just as we want to see you.

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began to preach the Messiah to the people.

Then Philip began to speak, and, starting from this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus.

For while I was with you I resolved to know nothing except Jesus the Messiah, and him crucified.

But by God's grace I am what I am, and his grace shown to me was not wasted. Instead, I worked harder than all the others not I, of course, but God's grace that was with me.

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is significant, but God, who keeps everything growing, is the one who matters.

just as you have already understood us partially, so that on the Day of our Lord Jesus we can be your reason to boast, even as you are ours.

This is the very reason I wrote you, so that when I did come I might not be made sad by those who should have made me happy. For I had confidence that all of you would share the joy that I have.

In every way we're troubled but not crushed, frustrated but not in despair,

as sorrowful and yet always rejoicing, as poor and yet enriching many, as having nothing and yet possessing everything.

Join together in imitating me, brothers, and pay close attention to those who live by the example we have set for you.

Imitate me, as I do the Messiah.

to equip the saints, to do the work of ministry, and to build up the body of the Messiah

Have you been thinking all along that we are trying to defend ourselves before you? We are speaking before God in the authority of the Messiah, and everything, dear friends, is meant to build you up.

Am I now trying to win the approval of people or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be the Messiah's servant.

Rather, because we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, we speak as we do, not trying to please people but God, who tests our motives.

A servant of the Lord must not argue. Instead, he must be kind to everyone, teachable, willing to suffer wrong,

even though as apostles of the Messiah we might have made such demands. Instead, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother tenderly caring for her own children.

Continue to follow and be submissive to your leaders, since they are watching over your souls as those who will have to give a word of explanation. By doing this, you will be letting them carry out their duties joyfully, and not with grief, for that would be harmful for you.

to submit yourselves to people like these and to anyone else who shares their labor and hard work.

Even though my condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, or as if I were the Messiah Jesus.

Think of us as servants of the Messiah and as servant managers entrusted with God's secrets.

because I never shrank from telling you the whole plan of God.

I never shrank from telling you anything that would help you nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house.

"Go, stand in the Temple, and keep on telling the people the whole message about this life they can have."

Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are God's servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities;

A servant of the Lord must not argue. Instead, he must be kind to everyone, teachable, willing to suffer wrong,

"How terrible it will be for me!" I cried, "because I am ruined! I'm a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips! And my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of the Heavenly Armies!" Then one of the seraphim flew to me, carrying a burning coal in his hand that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth and said, "Look! Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt is taken away, and your sins atoned for."

By ourselves we are not qualified to claim that anything comes from us. Rather, our credentials come from God, who has also qualified us to be ministers of a new covenant, which is not written but spiritual, because the written text brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

"But if that wicked servant says to himself, "My master has been delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunks, that servant's master will come on a day when he doesn't expect him and at an hour that he doesn't know. read more.
Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

If that sentinel notices that violence is approaching, but does not sound an alarm, then because the nation does not take warning and the sword arrives and destroys their lives because of their guilt, I'll seek retribution for their shed blood from the one who was acting as sentinel.'" "Now as for you, Son of Man, I've established you as a sentinel for the house of Israel. So whenever you hear a message from me, you are to warn the people from me. If I should say to a certain wicked person, "You wicked man, you're certainly about to die,' but you don't warn him to turn from his wicked behavior, he'll die in his guilt, but I'll seek retribution for his bloodshed from you.

If you continue to point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of the Messiah Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the healthy teaching that you have followed closely.

The former proclaim the Messiah because they are selfishly ambitious and insincere, thinking that they will stir up trouble for me during my imprisonment.

But I don't place any value on my life, if only I can finish my race and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

I rejoice because I eagerly expect and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of, because through my boldness the Messiah will be exalted through me, now as always, whether I live or die. For to me, to go on living is the Messiah, and to die is gain.

This is the reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,

always praying joyfully in every one of my prayers for all of you

His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge. They are all dumb dogs they cannot bark. They keep on dreaming and lying around, and they're lovers of sleep! Meanwhile, the dogs have a mighty appetite they can never get enough. And as for them, they are the shepherds who lack understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, each and every one. ""Come!' they say, "let's have some wine, and let's fill ourselves with strong drink! Then, tomorrow will be like today, or even much better!'"

For there are many people who are rebellious, especially those who are converts from Judaism. They speak utter nonsense and deceive people. They must be silenced, because they are the kind of people who ruin whole families by teaching what they should not teach in order to make money in a shameful way.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever doesn't believe will be condemned.

For the Messiah did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom, so the cross of the Messiah won't be emptied of its power.

Until I arrive, give your full concentration to the public reading of Scripture, to exhorting, and to teaching.

Think on these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.

I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith.

Timothy, my child, I am instructing you in keeping with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may continue to fight the good fight

He must manage his own family well and have children who are submissive and respectful in every way.

Ministers must be husbands of one wife and must manage their children and their families well.

Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable.

A servant of the Lord must not argue. Instead, he must be kind to everyone, teachable, willing to suffer wrong,

Yes, I also ask you, my true partner, to help these women. They have worked hard with me to advance the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in the Messiah, and my dear friend Stachys.

Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If one blind person leads another blind person, both will fall into a ditch."

They treated my people's wound superficially, telling them, "Peace, peace,' but there is no peace.

"Depart! Depart! Go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

They must hold firmly to the secret of the faith with clear consciences.

The person who listens to you listens to me, and the person who rejects you rejects me. The person who rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness, and purity.

For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he's the messenger of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.

so do whatever they tell you and follow it, but stop doing what they do, because they don't do what they say.

As they serve between the porch and the altar, let the priests and ministers of the LORD weep and pray: "Spare your people, LORD, and do not make your heritage a disgrace so that nations ridicule them. Why should they say among the people, "Where is their God?"'"

For this reason, since the day we heard about this, we have not stopped praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the full knowledge of God's will with respect to all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

"You and your sons with you are not to drink wine that is, any intoxicating drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting. That way, you won't die. This is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations.

Instead, he must be hospitable to strangers, must appreciate what is good, and be sensible, honest, moral, and self-controlled.

No one serving in the military gets mixed up in civilian matters, for his aim is to please his commanding officer.

But he told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Because an overseer is God's servant manager, he must be blameless. He must not be arrogant or irritable. He must not drink too much, be a violent person, or make money in shameful ways.

He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or love money.

Because an overseer is God's servant manager, he must be blameless. He must not be arrogant or irritable. He must not drink too much, be a violent person, or make money in shameful ways.

Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable.

Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable.

Instead, he must be hospitable to strangers, must appreciate what is good, and be sensible, honest, moral, and self-controlled.

Because an overseer is God's servant manager, he must be blameless. He must not be arrogant or irritable. He must not drink too much, be a violent person, or make money in shameful ways.

He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or love money.

"You are to bring your brother Aaron, along with his sons, from among the Israelis so they can serve as priests for me: that is, Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

No one takes this honor upon himself but he is called to it by God, just as Aaron was.

In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. The ancient verdict against them is still in force, and their destruction is not delayed.