Instructions to Those Who Minister

1 aAll who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so bthat the name of God and our doctrine will not be 1spoken against.

2 Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are abrethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who 1partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. bTeach and 2preach these principles.

3 If anyone aadvocates a different doctrine and does not 1agree with bsound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine cconforming to godliness,

4 he is aconceited and understands nothing; but he 1has a morbid interest in bcontroversial questions and cdisputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

5 and constant friction between amen of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who bsuppose that 1godliness is a means of gain.

6 aBut godliness actually is a means of bgreat gain when accompanied by ccontentment.

7 For awe have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

8 If we ahave food and covering, with these we shall be content.

9 aBut those who want to get rich fall into temptation and ba snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 For athe love of money is a root of all 1sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have bwandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.