15 Bible Verses about Ministers

You are the light of the world. A city located on top of a hill cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and place it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines on all those in the house. In the [same] way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

to open their eyes [so that they] may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, [so that] they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

For [they] themselves report about us, what sort of welcome we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve [the] living and true God,

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted [to you]. Turn away from pointless empty talk and contradictions of [what is] falsely called knowledge,

and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause useless speculations rather than God's plan [that is] by faith.

In this case, moreover, it is sought in stewards that one be found faithful.

and [the things] which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these [things] to faithful people who will be competent to teach others also.

You are the light of the world. A city located on top of a hill cannot be hidden,

That one was the lamp [which was] burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice for an hour in his light.

and to esteem them beyond all measure in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Because of this, [since we] have this ministry, just as we have been shown mercy, we do not lose heart,

of which I became a servant, according to the gift of God's grace given to me, according to the working of his power.

if indeed you remain in the faith, established and steadfast and not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

who also makes us adequate [as] servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

for which I was appointed a proclaimer and an apostle and a teacher,

Because for this reason also the gospel was preached to those who are dead, so that they were judged {by human standards} in the flesh, but they may live in the spirit {by God's standards}.

proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the [things] concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.

And they went out [and] proclaimed everywhere, [while] the Lord was working together with [them] and confirming the message through the accompanying signs.]]

Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the Judean wilderness

And I saw another angel flying {directly overhead}, having an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who reside on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and language and people,

even because of the extraordinary degree of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, in order that it would torment me so that I would not exalt myself.

And I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening, and I did in the morning {just as} I was commanded.

Until the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty and poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless,

in beatings, in prisons, in disturbances, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in going hungry,

Are they servants of Christ?--I am speaking as though I were beside myself--I [am] more so, with far greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with beatings to a much greater degree, in [danger of] death many times.

Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day [for] three years I did not stop warning each one [of you] with tears.

Consequently, even if I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong or because of the one who had been wronged, but in order that your diligence {on our behalf} might be revealed to you before God.

Apart from these external things, [there is] the pressure on me every day of the anxiety about all the churches.

For I am afraid lest somehow [when I] arrive, I will not find you as I want, and I may be found by you as you do not want. [I am afraid] lest somehow [there will be] strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, pride, disorder.

I am afraid [for] you, lest perhaps I have labored for you in vain!

Its rulers judge for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money. But they lean on Yahweh, saying, "[Is] not Yahweh in our midst? Disaster will not come upon us."

"For from the smallest of them to the greatest of them, {everyone} makes profit for unlawful gain. And from the prophet to the priest, {everyone} practices deceit.

His watchmen [are] blind, none of them know. They [are] all dumb dogs; they are unable to bark, panting, lying down, loving to slumber.

"For both prophet as well as priest are godless, even in my temple I have found their wickedness," {declares} Yahweh.

Your prophets had a vision for you, false and worthless; they have not exposed your sin, to restore your fortune; they have seen oracles for you, false and misleading.

greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And Philip came down to the city of Samaria [and] began proclaiming the Christ to them.

So Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this scripture, proclaimed the good news to him [about] Jesus.

And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: "This one is the Son of God!"

[As for] the message that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ--this one is Lord of all--

greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And Philip came down to the city of Samaria [and] began proclaiming the Christ to them.

So Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this scripture, proclaimed the good news to him [about] Jesus.

And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: "This one is the Son of God!"

[As for] the message that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ--this one is Lord of all--

whom they stood before the apostles. And they prayed [and] placed [their] hands on them.

Do not neglect the gift [that is] in you, that was granted to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.

Lay hands on no one hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

for which reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom because Moses had placed his hands on him, and the {Israelites} listened to him, and they did as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

But the [ones] having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse, and [the ones] providing justice [for] the many [will be] like the stars {forever and ever}.

For God [is] not unjust, [so as] to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name [by] having served the saints, and continuing to serve [them].

So then, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, [because you] know that your labor is not [in] vain in the Lord.

But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [to do it], not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed {in what he does}.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in [my] name because you are Christ's, truly I say to you that he will never lose his reward.

And he said to them, "Go into all the world [and] preach the gospel to all creation.

What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear in your ear, proclaim on the housetops.

And [as you] are going, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near!'

preach the word, be ready in season [and] out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and instruction.

But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead! But you go [and] proclaim the kingdom of God."

And he said to them, "Go into all the world [and] preach the gospel to all creation.

What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear in your ear, proclaim on the housetops.

And [as you] are going, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near!'

preach the word, be ready in season [and] out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and instruction.

But he said to him, "Leave the dead to 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 threshing," and "The worker [is] worthy of his wages."

Do not [take] a traveler's bag for the road, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff, for the worker [is] deserving of his provisions.

In the [same] way also the Lord ordered those who proclaim the gospel to live from the gospel.

Now the one who is taught the word must share in all good [things] with the one who teaches.

Nevertheless you have done well by sharing with me in my affliction.

For the scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox [while it] is threshing," and "The worker [is] worthy of his wages."

Do not [take] a traveler's bag for the road, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff, for the worker [is] deserving of his provisions.

In the [same] way also the Lord ordered those who proclaim the gospel to live from the gospel.

Now the one who is taught the word must share in all good [things] with the one who teaches.

Nevertheless you have done well by sharing with me in my affliction.

being well-attested by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped those who are oppressed, if she has devoted herself to every good work.

Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,

contributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.

but hospitable, loving what is good, prudent, just, devout, self-controlled,

Do not neglect hospitality, because through this some have received angels as guests without knowing [it].

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has appointed you [as] overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he obtained through the blood of his own [Son].

He said to him a third [time], "Simon [son] of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed because he said to him a third [time], "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you!" Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep!

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart and they will feed you knowledge and insight.

And I will set up over them one shepherd, and he will feed them; [that is], my servant David. He will feed them, and he will be for them as a shepherd.

And I will raise up over them shepherds, and they will shepherd them, and they will no longer fear, and they will not be dismayed, and they will not be missing," {declares} Yahweh.

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has appointed you [as] overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he obtained through the blood of his own [Son].

He said to him a third [time], "Simon [son] of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed because he said to him a third [time], "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you!" Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep!

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart and they will feed you knowledge and insight.

And I will set up over them one shepherd, and he will feed them; [that is], my servant David. He will feed them, and he will be for them as a shepherd.

And I will raise up over them shepherds, and they will shepherd them, and they will no longer fear, and they will not be dismayed, and they will not be missing," {declares} Yahweh.

For we are not like the majority who peddle the word of God, but as from pure motives--but as from God--we speak before God in Christ.

{For never} did we come with a word of flattery, just as you know, nor with a pretext of greediness (God [is] witness),

but we have renounced shameful hidden things, not behaving with craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but with the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person's conscience before God.

For our exhortation [is] not from error or from impurity or with deceit,

teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age."

Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,

And those who have believing masters must not look down on [them] because they are brothers, but rather they must serve, because those who benefit by their service are believers and dearly loved.

Command these [things] and teach [them].

correcting those who are opposed with gentleness, [seeing] whether perhaps God may grant them repentance to a knowledge of the truth,

teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the age."

Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,

And those who have believing masters must not look down on [them] because they are brothers, but rather they must serve, because those who benefit by their service are believers and dearly loved.

Command these [things] and teach [them].

correcting those who are opposed with gentleness, [seeing] whether perhaps God may grant them repentance to a knowledge of the truth,

Obey your leaders and submit [to them], for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not [with] groaning, for this [would be] unprofitable for you.

And [as for] the watchman, if he sees the sword coming and {he does not blow} the horn, and the people [are] not warned, and [the] sword comes and it takes {their lives}, he will be taken through his guilt, but his blood from the hand of the watchman I will seek.'

And he said to me, "Son of man, what you find, eat! Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." And I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat, and he said to me, "Son of man, you must give your stomach [this] to eat, and you must fill your belly [with] this scroll that I [am] giving to you." And I ate, and it became {like sweet honey} in my mouth. read more.
And he said to me, "Son of man, come! Go to the house of Israel, and you must speak to them with my words. For you are sent to the house of Israel, not to a people {of obscure speech} and {of a difficult language}, [and] not to many nations {of obscure speech} and {a difficult language} {whose words} you do not understand, [for] if I had sent you to them they would have listened to you. And the house of Israel, they are not willing to listen to you, for they [are] not willing to listen to me, for all of the house of Israel is hard of forehead, and they [are] hard of heart. [But] look, I have made your face hard {against} their faces and your forehead hard {against} their forehead. Like a diamond {harder than flint} I have made your forehead; you must not fear them, and you must not be dismayed {on account of them}, for they {are a rebellious house}. And he said to me, "Son of man, all of my words that I shall speak to you, receive into your heart and hear with your ears. And come, go to the exiles, to the children of your people, and you must speak to them, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh!' whether they listen or whether they fail [to listen]." And the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the sound of a great earthquake when the glory of Yahweh rose from its place. And [it was] the sound of the wings of the living creatures touching lightly {one against the other}, and the sound of the wheels beside them and [the] sound of a great earthquake. And [the] Spirit lifted me and took me, and I went [in] bitterness in the heat of my spirit, and the hand of Yahweh [was] strong on me. And I went to the exiles [at] Tel Abib, who [were] dwelling near the {Kebar River}, and I sat [where] they [were] dwelling. I sat there seven days in the midst of them, stunned. And then it happened at [the] end of seven days, {the word of Yahweh came} to me, saying, "Son of man, I have appointed you [as] a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, then you must warn them from me.

to those on the one hand an odor from death to death, [and] to those on the other hand a fragrance from life to life. And who [is] qualified for these [things]?

Not many should become teachers, my brothers, [because you] know that we will receive a greater judgment.

And [when] the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

If anyone's work that he has built upon [it] remains, he will receive a reward.

Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward, but if [I do so] unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That [when I] proclaim the gospel, I may offer the gospel free of charge, in order not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Therefore welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and consider such [people] highly honored,

The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor by speaking and teaching.

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; {considering the outcome of their way of life}, imitate their faith.

and to esteem them beyond all measure in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Become fellow imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who walk in this way, just as you have us [as] an example.

not that we do not have the right, but so that we may give ourselves [as] an example to you, so that [you] may imitate us.

Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

and not as lording it over {those under your care}, but being examples for the flock.

[while] you also join in helping {on our behalf} by prayer, so that thanks may be given {on our behalf} by many persons for this gracious gift [given] to us through [the help] of many.

Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, [and] want to conduct ourselves commendably in every [way].

and for me, that a word may be given to me at the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

Now I exhort you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to contend along with me in your prayers on my behalf to God,

Longing for you in this way, we determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you had become dear to us.

just as it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, [since] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you are sharers of grace with me.

just as you know how [we treated] each one of you, like a father his own children,

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel, not with {clever speech}, lest the cross of Christ be emptied.

and my speech and my preaching [were] not with the persuasiveness of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power,

And I, [when I] came to you, brothers, did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

Obey your leaders and submit [to them], for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not [with] groaning, for this [would be] unprofitable for you.

I have appointed watchmen upon your walls, Jerusalem; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who profess Yahweh have no rest.

"Son of man, I have appointed you [as] a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, then you must warn them from me.

And I raised up watchmen over you: 'Listen attentively to [the] sound of a horn.' But they said, 'We will not listen attentively.'

I give thanks to my God upon my every remembrance of you,

I give thanks to my God always concerning you, because of the grace of God which was given to you in Christ Jesus,

For what thanks can we repay to God concerning you, because of all the joy [with] which we rejoice because of you before our God,

Therefore welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and consider such [people] highly honored,

The elders who lead well must be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor by speaking and teaching.

and to esteem them beyond all measure in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Now the one who is taught the word must share in all good [things] with the one who teaches.

Then he said to the people, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to give a gift for the priests and the Levites, so that they might be strong in the law of Yahweh.

Who ever serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Who shepherds a flock and does not drink from the milk of the flock? I am not saying these [things] according to a human perspective. Or does the law not also say these [things]? For in the law of Moses it is written, "You must not muzzle an ox [while it] is threshing." It is not about oxen God is concerned, is it? read more.
Or doubtless does he speak {for our sake}? For it is written {for our sake}, because the one who plows ought to plow in hope and the one who threshes [ought to do so] in hope of a share. If we have sown spiritual [things] among you, [is it too] great [a thing] if we reap material [things] from you?

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion but willingly, in accordance with God, and not greedily but eagerly,

Deacons likewise [must be] dignified, not insincere, not devoted to much wine, not fond of dishonest gain,

I have desired no one's silver or gold or clothing!

not addicted to wine, not a violent person, but gentle, peaceable, not loving money,

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has appointed you [as] overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he obtained through the blood of his own [Son].

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart and they will feed you knowledge and insight.

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion but willingly, in accordance with God, and not greedily but eagerly,

Now when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon [son] of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs!" He said to him again a second time, "Simon [son] of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Shepherd my sheep!" He said to him a third [time], "Simon [son] of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed because he said to him a third [time], "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you!" Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep!

For who [is] our hope or joy or crown of boasting? [Is it] not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming?

But now, [because] Timothy has come to us from you and has brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that {you always think kindly of us}, desiring to see us just as also we [desire to see] you, because of this, brothers, we have been comforted because of you in all our distress and affliction through your faith, because now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. read more.
For what thanks can we repay to God concerning you, because of all the joy [with] which we rejoice because of you before our God,

"Call with [the] throat; you must not keep back! lift up your voice like trumpet, and declare to my people their rebellion, and to the house of Jacob their sins.

And you, son of man, you must not be afraid of them, and you must not be afraid of their words, because briers and thorns [are] with you, and you [are] sitting among scorpions. You must not be afraid of their words, and you must not be dismayed because of their {looks}, for they [are] a rebellious house.

What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but instead be afraid of the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

[We are] giving no one an occasion for taking offense in anything, in order that our ministry will not have fault found [with it],

{Give no offense} both to Jews and to Greeks and to the church of God, just as I also please all [people] in all [things], not seeking my own benefit, but the [benefit] of the many, in order that they may be saved.

Behold, this third [time] I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden [to you]. For I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

nor seeking glory from people, neither from you nor from others.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: working by night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

What then is my reward? That [when I] proclaim the gospel, I may offer the gospel free of charge, in order not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

They shall be holy to their God, and they shall not profane the name of their God, because they are bringing near the offerings made by fire to Yahweh--their God's food--and they shall be holy.

"And you will make a pure gold rosette, and you will engrave on it with seal engravings: "A holy object for Yahweh."

but hospitable, loving what is good, prudent, just, devout, self-controlled,

For even if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave [us] {for building you up and not for tearing you down}, I will not be put to shame,

Because of this, I am writing these [things] [although I] am absent, in order that [when I] am present I may not have to act severely according to the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

For even if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave [us] {for building you up and not for tearing you down}, I will not be put to shame,

Because of this, I am writing these [things] [although I] am absent, in order that [when I] am present I may not have to act severely according to the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

But just as you excel in everything--in faith and in speaking and in knowledge and with all diligence and in the love from us [that is] in you--so may you excel in this grace also.

But now, [because] Timothy has come to us from you and has brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that {you always think kindly of us}, desiring to see us just as also we [desire to see] you,

And Philip came down to the city of Samaria [and] began proclaiming the Christ to them.

So Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this scripture, proclaimed the good news to him [about] Jesus.

For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain, but I labored even more than all of them, and not I, but the grace of God with me.

So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who is causing [it] to grow.

just as you have also understood us in part, that we are your reason for boasting, just as you [are] also ours in the day of our Lord Jesus.

And I wrote this very [thing] in order that [when I] came, I would not experience sorrow from those who ought to have made me glad, [because I] have confidence about you all, that my joy {belongs to all of you}.

We are afflicted in every [way], but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;

as grieving, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and possessing everything.

Become fellow imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who walk in this way, just as you have us [as] an example.

Become imitators of me, just as I also [am] of Christ.

for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Have you been thinking all this time that we are defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and all [these things], dear friends, [are] for your edification.

For am I now making an appeal to people or [to] God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, thus we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who examines our hearts.

And the slave of the Lord must not quarrel, but be kind toward everyone, skillful in teaching, tolerant,

{Although we could have insisted on our own importance} as apostles of Christ, yet we became infants in your midst, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

Obey your leaders and submit [to them], for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not [with] groaning, for this [would be] unprofitable for you.

that you also be subject to such people, and to all those who work together and labor.

And you did not despise or disdain [what was] a trial for you in my flesh, but you welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus.

Thus let a person consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries.

for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the whole purpose of God.

how I did not shrink from proclaiming to you anything that would be profitable, and [from] teaching you in public and from house [to house],

"Go and stand in the temple [courts] [and] proclaim to the people all the words of this life."

but commending ourselves as servants of God in every [way], in much endurance, in afflictions, in distresses, in difficulties,

And the slave of the Lord must not quarrel, but be kind toward everyone, skillful in teaching, tolerant,

And I said, "Woe to me! For I am destroyed! For I [am] a man {of unclean lips}, and I [am] living among a people {of unclean lips}, for my eyes have seen the king, Yahweh of hosts!" Then one of the seraphs flew to me, and in his hand [was] a hot coal he had taken from the altar with tongs. And he touched my mouth, and he said, "Look! This has touched your lips and has removed your guilt, and your sin is annulled."

Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as from ourselves, but our adequacy [is] from God, who also makes us adequate [as] servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

But if that evil slave should say {to himself}, 'My master is staying away for a long time,' and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know, read more.
and will cut him in two and assign his place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

And [as for] the watchman, if he sees the sword coming and {he does not blow} the horn, and the people [are] not warned, and [the] sword comes and it takes {their lives}, he will be taken through his guilt, but his blood from the hand of the watchman I will seek.' "And you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; if you hear a word from my mouth, then you must warn them from me. {When I say} to the wicked, 'Wicked [one], you will certainly die,' and you {did not speak} to warn [the] wicked from his way, he, [the] wicked, will die by his guilt, but his blood I will seek from your hand.

[By] teaching these [things] to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed faithfully.

The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction in my imprisonment.

But I consider [my] life [as] worth {nothing} to myself, in order to finish my mission and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify [to] the gospel of the grace of God.

according to my eager expectation and hope, that I will be put to shame in nothing, but with all boldness, even now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether through life or through death. For to me to live [is] Christ and to die [is] gain.

On account of this, I bend my knees before the Father,

always in my every prayer for all of you, making the prayer with joy,

His watchmen [are] blind, none of them know. They [are] all dumb dogs; they are unable to bark, panting, lying down, loving to slumber. And the dogs {have a greedy appetite}; they {are never satisfied}. And they are [the] shepherds! They do not have understanding. They all turn to their [own] way, each one for his [own] gain, {every one of them}. "Come, let me take wine, and let us carouse [with] intoxicating drink, and tomorrow will be like today, {very great indeed}."

For there are many rebellious [people], idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whom it is necessary to silence, whoever are ruining whole families [by] teaching [things] which must not be [taught] for the sake of dishonest gain.

The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who refuses to believe will be condemned.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel, not with {clever speech}, lest the cross of Christ be emptied.

Until I come, pay attention to the [public] reading, to exhortation, to teaching.

Practice these [things]. Be [diligent] in these [things], in order that your progress may be evident to everyone.

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

I am setting before you this instruction, Timothy [my] child, in accordance with the prophecies spoken long ago about you, in order that by them you may fight the good fight,

managing his own household well, having children in submission with all dignity

Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing [their] children and their own households well.

Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,

And the slave of the Lord must not quarrel, but be kind toward everyone, skillful in teaching, tolerant,

Yes, I ask also you, true yokefellow, help them, who struggled along with me in the gospel with both Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names [are] in the book of life.

Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear [friend] Stachys.

Let them! They are blind guides of the blind. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."

And they have treated the wound of my people lightly, {saying}, 'Peace, peace,' but there is no peace.

Depart, depart, go out from there! You must not touch any unclean thing. Go out from the midst of it, keep clean, you who carry the vessels of Yahweh.

holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience,

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

Let no one look down on your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

For the lips of [the] priest should guard knowledge, and they should seek instruction from his mouth, for he [is] the messenger of Yahweh of hosts.

Therefore do and observe everything that they tell you, but do not do as {they do}, for they tell [others to do something] and do not do [it themselves].

Between the colonnade and the altar, let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep. And let them say, "Take pity, Yahweh, on your people. Do not make your inheritance a reproach, a byword among [the] nations. Why should they say among the nations, 'Where [is] their God?'"

Because of this also we, from the day we heard about [it], did not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled [with] the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual insight,

"You and your sons with you may not drink wine or strong drink when you come to [the] tent of assembly, so that you will not die--[it is] a lasting statute for your generations--

but hospitable, loving what is good, prudent, just, devout, self-controlled,

No one who serves as a soldier is entangled in the activities of [everyday] life, so that he may please the one who enlisted [him].

But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead! But you go [and] proclaim the kingdom of God."

For it is necessary [for] the overseer to be blameless as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain,

not addicted to wine, not a violent person, but gentle, peaceable, not loving money,

For it is necessary [for] the overseer to be blameless as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain,

Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,

Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,

but hospitable, loving what is good, prudent, just, devout, self-controlled,

For it is necessary [for] the overseer to be blameless as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain,

not addicted to wine, not a violent person, but gentle, peaceable, not loving money,

"And bring near to you Aaron, your brother, and his sons with him from the midst of the {Israelites} to serve as priests for me--Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron.

And someone does not take for himself the honor, but is called by God, just as Aaron also [was].

And in greediness they will exploit you with false words, whose condemnation [from] long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.