¹⁷The elders who do good work as leaders should be considered worthy of receiving double pay, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸^*For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox when you are using it to thresh corn” and “Workers should be given their pay.” ¹⁹^*Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or more witnesses. ²⁰Rebuke publicly all those who commit sins, so that the rest may be afraid.

²¹In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the holy angels I solemnly call upon you to obey these instructions without showing any prejudice or favour to anyone in anything you do. ²²Be in no hurry to lay hands on anyone in dedication to the Lord’s service. Take no part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

²³Do not drink water only, but take a little wine to help your digestion, since you are ill so often.

²⁴The sins of some people are plain to see, and their sins go ahead of them to judgement; but the sins of others are seen only later. ²⁵In the same way good deeds are plainly seen, and even those that are not so plain cannot be hidden.

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Cross references

*5.18 a: Dt 25:4 5.18 b: Mt 10:10; Lk 10:7
*5.19: Dt 17:6; 19:15